Boots Advantage card: how maximise your loyalty points

As Boots cuts back on its Advantage loyalty scheme, we explain how you can make the most of a bad situation and maximise the points you earn.

Reducing the points on offer from the Boots Advantage card

The Boots Advantage loyalty card allows you to earn loyalty points when you shop at Boots, which can then be cashed in for a range of rewards.

However, the Advantage card is becoming less rewarding.

Previously scanning your Advantage card when you spent at Boots meant you would get four points for every £1 spent either in store on online with Boots.

Every point is worth 1p, so once you’ve built up 100 points you will have £1 to spend.

This has now dropped down to three points for each £1 you spend.

Put another way, you're effectively getting 3p back for every £1 you spend (albeit in points rather than cash), which is more generous than most other loyalty schemes, especially Tesco Clubcard and Nectar points.

Pete Markey, chief marketing officer at Boots, said that shoppers wanted to be “rewarded with on-the-spot lower prices and instant value”, which is why along with the reduced points levels, further specific discounts will be on offer in different ways.

For example, cardholders will get 10% off Boots own-brand items, while Price Advantage ‒ which allows cardholders to get exclusive discounts of up to a third off on certain items ‒ will be expanded to more than 800 products.

Here are some tips on earning extra Boots Advantage points to make the most out of the loyalty scheme.

Earn points as you shop with a reward credit card

Cash in on special points events

Boots periodically holds points events online and in-store, and can allow you to get far more points when spending cash.

These usually apply to certain types of products or themes (such as sun protection, after sun and sunglasses) but if you can take advantage you can earn up to 12 points for every £1 you spend.

Keep an eye on email alerts and posters in-store to find out about the next one.

Don’t just shop for toiletries

Boots sells more than sun cream and shower gel.

You can also buy big-ticket items like hairdryers and even kitchen appliances.

Let’s say you spent £279 on a Beko freezer. That would mean you earned 837 points, worth £8.37.

Just make sure you’ve compared prices elsewhere to ensure you are getting a good deal before heading to the checkout.

Don't just delete the emails

Boots sends out regular emails to Advantage cardholders packed full of ways to earn extra points.

That might be details of the latest mega points event or a coupon to use to earn bonus points on selected purchases.

Get the Boots App

The Boots app is available to download from the Google Play and Apple App Store.

You can use it to see your points balance on the go plus it provides personalised offers which you can load onto your Advantage card to use in store.

The app also allows you to shop for your favourite items, print photos, make an appointment and find your nearest store – making it simpler to focus your spending with Boots to maximise your points.

It might even automatically send you offers when you're out and about.

Boots has also said that as part of the Advantage revamp, there will be further opportunities to earn more points through the app. For example, there will be a new ‘scratch to win’ function.

Join the clubs

Boots has a couple of clubs available exclusively to Advantage cardholders.

The Parenting Club offers those who are pregnant up to when their child turns three a higher eight points for every £1 spent on baby products.

It also dishes out personalised offers for you and baby plus free gifts at certain times of the year.

Meanwhile, members of the More Treats for Over-60s club also get eight points for every £1 they spend on Boots-branded products.

You can bag a further 200 points for having a hearing check-up.

Use your eyes

Advantage cardholders can earn one point for every £1 spent at Boots Opticians.

So, the next time you need an eye test or new prescription glasses it’s worth heading over to a store.

You could also earn regular points by getting your contact lenses with Boots Opticians.

Print your snaps

Want to print some holiday snaps or make a personalised gift? It’s worth doing it through Boots Photo to earn extra points.

You can earn three points for every £1 spent at Boots Photo, while members of the Parenting Club can earn eight points for every £1 spent.