Many shops offer loyalty cards ideal for students, but are they really worth it? Chrissy investigates which Top 10 loyalty cards students should have stacked and ready.
Being a scholar or a student can often mean being broke on a regular basis. Thus the introduction of loyalty cards in your wallet can sometimes help to avoid the feeling of having ‘too much month left at the end of the money.’
Many restaurants, banks and stores have introduced loyalty cards/systems as a way of attracting customers, and a lot of these really do pay off.
Here is a list of the Top 10 loyalty cards every student should consider having, with particular focus on the Rondebosch tribe.
Pick ‘n Pay Smart Shopper
If you’re a student and regular shopper at Pick ‘n Pay, this is a must for you. You can sign up for your free card in store. You earn points for every shop, get additional discounts on selected items in-store, and you can then redeem points on your next shop for anything from the Pick ‘n Pay store (or donate the points to charity).
Also, you can earn points when buying Webtickets online, along with many other partners (e.g. Primi Piatti, YuppieChef).
- Price: free
- Earn 1 point for every R1 spent
- 100 points earned = R1 cash back loaded onto your Smart Shopper card instantly
- Check your current point balance on your receipt (Smart Shopper summary)
Contact Details:
Web: https://www.picknpay.co.za/smartshopper-about
Tel: 0800 11 22 88
Woolworths and MySchool Card
You can score and sign-up for the free card in-store or online and get WRewards. Swipe your card before your items are rung up, and every purchase will count towards to your yearly spending.
- Price: free
- You can save up to 20% (depending on your tiering level which is calculated according to how much you spend at Woolworths each year)
- You can collect rewards by shopping in-store as well as online
Contact Details:
Web: https://www.woolworths.co.za/store/fragments/wrewards/wrewards-index.jsp
Tel: 0861 502 050
The Clicks Clubcard
Sign up for free in-store or online and earn points with every shop – make sure you swipe your card before your purchase. On some days you can score double points, so keep a look out for them.
You can also earn points at Clicks partner stores, for example at Sorbet, SpecSavers and Avis. Also, make sure you use your Clicks Card to get a discount when watching movies at NuMetro cinemas (Mon, Tue, Thur, Fri). Going to the movies these days isn’t cheap, so take full advantage! To view all Clicks partners, click here.
- Price: free
- Earn 1 point for every R5 spent
- For every 100 points earned = R1 cash back loaded onto your card to be used on your next in-store purchase
- Check your receipt for other discounts and rewards
Contact Details:
Web: https://clicks.co.za/clubcard
Tel: 0860 254 257
Dis-Chem Loyalty Card
Earn points every time you shop at Dis-Chem (a percentage of your spend is also donated to the Dis-Chem Foundation). You can sign up for free in-store or online. You can also score more discounts or multiply your points with partners stores. Yup! Check out who they are here.
- Price: free
- Earn 15 points for every R10 spent
- 100 points earned = R1 cash-back loaded onto your card which can be used on your next purchase in-store
Contact Details
Web: https://dischem.co.za/dis-chem-benefits-loyalty-programme
Tel: 0860 347 243
Discovery Vitality Club Card
If you are with Discovery medical aid, getting a Vitality membership is a smart way to save. Your benefits depends on your tiering status (based on the number of points you have)… but there are plenty! Have a look at all the rewards here.
- Price: R 185 per month
- Earn points for buying healthy food
- Save on gym memberships & fitness (eg. Virgin Active, Planet Fitness, Curves)
- Save on international and local flights (eg. Kulula)
- Get discounted prices for SterKinekor movie tickets
Contact Details:
Web: https://www.discovery.co.za/portal/individual/vitality-how-it-works-overview
Tel: 0860 99 88 77
Banking Rewards
Most banks have cottoned on to the fact that people want rewards. They are so worth it, because you can use the points on things you need to get anyways, like petrol or airtime.
Here are some of the examples of rewards programmes and how they work:
Standard Bank – Ucount
- Price: R 20 per month
- Earn a percentage of the amount you spend with your Credit or Cheque card back in points (percentage depends on your tiering level)
- 10 points = R1 which can be redeemed for purchases at the UCount online mall, for fuel at a Caltex garage or converted as cash if transferred into a savings account
Contact Details:
Web: https://ucount.standardbank.co.za/content
Tel: 0860 82 68 68
FNB – eBucks
- R 200 per year (comes to about R16 per month)
- Earn a percentage of the amount you spend with your Credit or Cheque card back in points (percentage depends on your tiering level)
- 10 eBucks = R1 which can be redeemed for purchases at the EBucks online shop, for fuel at an Engen garage, or to buy airtime and electricity. If you swipe your card at partner shops, you get more eBucks! See who they are here.
Contact Details:
Web: https://www.ebucks.com/web/eBucks/
Tel: 087 320 3200
ABSA Rewards Programme
- Price: R21 per month
- Earn a percentage of the amount you spend with your Credit or Cheque card back as cash credited into your account (percentage depends on your tiering level)
Contact Details:
Web: https://www.absa.co.za/Absacoza/Individual/Banking/Absa-Rewards
Tel: 0861 78 88 88
Cocoa Cafes – Reward Stamps
With 4 cafés in and around Cape Town, this has become one of the most popular hang-out spots for students to chill with a delicious Cocoa Crush or even do some work (free Wifi, baby!).
- Price: free
- 10 stamps (can be collected on Crushes, Cookies, Cake slices, Coffees) = any 1 of them for free
Contact Details:
Tel:
Cocoa Oola (Kloof Str. Tamboerskloof) 021 422 3638
Cocoa Wah Wah (Main Rd Rondebosch) 021 686 3639
Cocoa Cha Chi (Lower Main Rd, Observatory) 021 448 3637
Cocoa Expresso (Foreshore) 021 421 7000
Col’Cacchio Pizzeria Vouchers
With an extensive menu comprising inventive pizzas, pastas and salads this is a great casual dinner spot. With a rewards program that is on your phone you will be scoring free food in no time.
- Price: free
- Register online and earn digital vouchers every time your bill is R220 or more. Show your voucher code to your waitron at your next visit and get instant discounts.
Check it this video to see how it works:
Contact Details:
Web: https://pizza.toget.me/Account/Register
Tel: 087 803 4000
Vida e Caffè Loyalty Card & App
One of Cape Town’s most loved coffee shops has now also turned digital with its loyalty program. If you’re into your regular cuppa vida, you should absolutely have this card, or if you prefer the digital style, get the App!
- Price: free
- You can earn back 5% on all your Vida purchases in loyalty points which can be used to pay in-store or to send vouchers to friends.
Contact Details:
Web: https://vidaecaffe.com/loyalty-card-2/
Tel: Use the store locator to find the number you need
Kauai
It’s one of the first smoothie bars in Cape Town that implemented the loyalty card. They are currently in the process of updating to a digital loyalty app, but this is not available at all stores (yet). In any case, if you regularly have coffee or smoothies at Kauai, start collecting those reward points or stickers.
- Price: free
- 12 smoothies = 1 free smoothie (max R35)
- 12 coffees = 1 free coffee (max R24)
Contact Details:
Web: https://www.kauai.co.za/promotions/kauai-loyalty-app-0
Tel: 0861 152 824
*Bonus*
The Creamery
Located in Dean Street, Newlands (conveniently just next to the Jammie stop) as well as in Durham Ave, Salt River (just above the Old Biscuit Mill) this is no ordinary ice cream shop. Anyone who has tried this delectable dairy delicacy knows there is nothing better! Except eating one for free, perhaps.
- Price: free
- 10 ice creams = 1 free ice cream
Contact Details:
Web: https://thecreamery.co.za/
Tel: 021 447 7690
EduConnect 2cents
If you know someone who is going to a shop at which you have a loyalty card and he or she doesn’t, ask them to do you a cool favour and swipe your card for their purchase. You can do the same for someone else. Or if someone is on a tight budget, why not use your reward card to redeem a free item, like a coffee or smoothie, and take your friend for a treat!
