Woolworths and Coles supermarkets are both offering bonus points to customers that remember to bring their own re-usable shopping bags. The bag points giveaway comes as both supermarkets struggle with a public backlash to their recent plastic bag bans.
Woolworths was the first supermarket to phase out single-use plastic bags on 20 June. Woolworths is now offering 2 Woolworths Rewards points for every bag that you bring with you to the supermarket, up to 60 points per shop. To earn the bonus points, just tell the checkout staff how many bags you have with you and make sure you’ve scanned your Woolworths Rewards card. This offer is available until the end of the year at all Woolworths and BWS stores, excluding in Tasmania. Woolworths Rewards points are worth half a cent each.
Woolworths is also offering 30 bonus points to customers that opt for crate-to-bench service when ordering groceries online. However this service costs an extra $3.50 per order, or $2.50 more than the plastic bag option. The environmental benefits of this service are clear. But it’s not worth paying an extra $2.50 for this service just to earn points worth 15 cents.
Coles, which stopped issuing free single-use plastic bags on 1 July, is also offering bonus points for bringing your own bags. Coles will give away 30 bonus Flybuys points per shop (worth 15 cents) if you don’t purchase any bags at the checkout. However, this is only a limited-time offer that expires on Tuesday 17 July. The Coles offer has no minimum spend requirement, but you won’t earn the bonus points if buying only gift cards or tobacco products.
The number of points on offer to customers that remember their re-usable shopping bags is relatively small. But will the plastic bag points giveaway be enough to change consumer behaviour and attitudes towards the ban?
Join the discussion on the Australian Frequent Flyer forum: Coles, Woolworths to Give points to those who bring their own shopping bags
