Is there a twist behind the Coles $25 gift card trick?
By
Seia Ibanez
- Replies 6
The world of retail is filled with little secrets that can help you save money, and one such trick is currently making waves among Australian shoppers.
Coles, one of the country's leading supermarket chains, is offering a deal that could potentially save you $25.
But is it as good as it sounds? Let's delve into the details.
From today until 23 February 2024, Coles is offering a promotion that rewards you with 2,000 bonus Flybuys points when you purchase a $100 or $250 Coles Mastercard Gift Card.
This might seem like a straightforward deal, but there's a twist: the gift cards come with a service fee—$5 for the $100 card and $7 for the $250 card.
So, how does this translate into savings? Let's break it down.
The 2,000 Flybuys points you earn can be redeemed for a $10 discount on a future shop or converted into 1,000 Velocity Points.
According to Finder Editor-at-Large Angus Kidman, ‘So, if you buy one of the $100 cards and take the $10 off option, you're essentially getting $5 for free after paying the service fee.’
He added that if you max out the promotion by buying five $100 cards (the maximum allowed under this promotion), you could effectively get $25 for free via Flybuys.
However, it's worth noting that the $250 card offers less value. Despite the higher service fee of $7, you don't earn any additional points for purchasing this card.
For those who frequently travel, converting Flybuys into Velocity Points could offer more value.
‘Personally, I favour converting my Flybuys into Velocity Points. Spending those on flights will get me more value, even after I take the $5 off,’ Kidman said.
This trick could be a useful way to earn some extra cash or points, but it does come with challenges.
The biggest hurdle is likely to be finding a Coles branch that has the gift cards in stock, as they must be purchased in-store.
However, if you miss out this time, don't despair. According to our records, Coles ran this deal seven times last year, so there's a good chance it will be offered again.
One important thing to remember is to actually spend your gift cards.
Research from Finder shows that the average Australian has $198 in unused gift cards. In its recent survey, approximately one in four people, or an estimated 4.9 million Australians, have received a gift card but never used it.
The survey also found that men had more money left on unspent cards—an average of $243 compared to $160 for women—and were less likely to let the funds expire.
These unused cards represent wasted money, so make sure to put yours to good use.
Have you tried the Coles gift card trick? Let us know in the comments below!
Coles, one of the country's leading supermarket chains, is offering a deal that could potentially save you $25.
But is it as good as it sounds? Let's delve into the details.
From today until 23 February 2024, Coles is offering a promotion that rewards you with 2,000 bonus Flybuys points when you purchase a $100 or $250 Coles Mastercard Gift Card.
This might seem like a straightforward deal, but there's a twist: the gift cards come with a service fee—$5 for the $100 card and $7 for the $250 card.
So, how does this translate into savings? Let's break it down.
The 2,000 Flybuys points you earn can be redeemed for a $10 discount on a future shop or converted into 1,000 Velocity Points.
According to Finder Editor-at-Large Angus Kidman, ‘So, if you buy one of the $100 cards and take the $10 off option, you're essentially getting $5 for free after paying the service fee.’
He added that if you max out the promotion by buying five $100 cards (the maximum allowed under this promotion), you could effectively get $25 for free via Flybuys.
However, it's worth noting that the $250 card offers less value. Despite the higher service fee of $7, you don't earn any additional points for purchasing this card.
For those who frequently travel, converting Flybuys into Velocity Points could offer more value.
‘Personally, I favour converting my Flybuys into Velocity Points. Spending those on flights will get me more value, even after I take the $5 off,’ Kidman said.
This trick could be a useful way to earn some extra cash or points, but it does come with challenges.
The biggest hurdle is likely to be finding a Coles branch that has the gift cards in stock, as they must be purchased in-store.
However, if you miss out this time, don't despair. According to our records, Coles ran this deal seven times last year, so there's a good chance it will be offered again.
One important thing to remember is to actually spend your gift cards.
Research from Finder shows that the average Australian has $198 in unused gift cards. In its recent survey, approximately one in four people, or an estimated 4.9 million Australians, have received a gift card but never used it.
The survey also found that men had more money left on unspent cards—an average of $243 compared to $160 for women—and were less likely to let the funds expire.
These unused cards represent wasted money, so make sure to put yours to good use.
Key Takeaways
- Coles is offering 2,000 bonus Flybuys points for purchasing either a $100 or $250 Coles Mastercard Gift Card until 23 February 2024.
- There is a service fee associated with the gift cards: $5 for the $100 card and $7 for the $250 card, which affects the net benefit of the promotion.
- The bonus points can be either used for a discount on future shops or converted to Velocity Points for more valuable spending, such as flights.
- The promotion is potentially beneficial for those looking to get extra value, but the availability of the cards in-store might be challenging; Coles has done similar promotions several times in the past year.