Woolworths backflips - QF points are coming back

[docjames]

I think they also need to work on their range mix (house label vs brands) and pricing if they want to drag shoppers back from Aldi. The F points is one piece of a puzzle so it wont be the "golden bullet" for them to win back market share, it needs to be tied to other improvements.

We were rusted on WW shoppers, got sick of the out of stocks, expensive pricing and then the FF points went around the same time as we happened to be shopping in a different suburb and "trialled" Aldi (we are a family of 2a+2c).

Our weekly shop went down by 35-50% in price. And Aldi ended up with >90% of all our supermarket shopping (with Coles getting most of the rest - WW used to be 95%+).

We've since been back to WW a few times recently and whilst there have been some improvements, the pricing is still more (although much closer), the service has improved (they opened a checkout unprompted before we could even get to the counter and saw us coming with a huge trolley last night) and the FF points aren't yet back.

So the FF points returning (albeit a reduced rate) will likely get us back more as long as the pricing remains close (not necessarily less) and their range isn't constantly out of stock!

 

[cove]

When you have 5% off gift cards and 0.435 points to QF per dollar you are closer to the game.We get the Woolies gift cards from RACWA.
Flybuy points from Coles are pretty useless and they are 0.4 points per dollar. Sure I get 5% Coles discount cards from a helper but those are difficult to obtain. I get them for my wife's parents as they have shopped at one Coles store for decades.

 

[OzEire]

Cove, are you saying Coles is "0.4 EY pts per $ spent" ?

Because if you redeem actual $ off your Coles shop, it works out at a baseline 0.5c off for each dollar spent, but often much better due to bonus offers (triple pts is 1.5c / $, 1000 bonus is like $5 off the shop, etc).

The new WW scheme copies FB and will IMO be ok if they offer similar or better bonii.

For the Aldi converts, don't you find it hard not to be able to swipe a 3-4ppd Amex for supermarket spend ! (Because Aldi don't take Amex). And yes, I do see that a >20% actual cost saving far outweighs the value of Amex MR points, but this is AFF

 

[cove]

We still don't have an Aldi store within cooee of our home in Perth but I am sure they will come. The bonus points are pretty minor compared with getting a new credit card sign on bonus. I did read that Aldi in Sydney had beef cheeks at brilliant pricing.
I hope Costco open a north and south store in Perth as I am ready.

 

[Radio8tiv]

We don't get much choice either, we don't have an Aldi store here. Actually we don't have much in Townsville no Masters, Krispy Kream, Starbucks, Aldi, David Jones, Tiger air, the list goes on. I'm glad to see points come back to wow, I never left since Mrs.Radio has a staff discount card which helps, also with the Amex points and local champion "game" makes shopping a bit more bearable

 

[medhead]

Our weekly shop went down by 35-50% in price. And Aldi ended up with >90% of all our supermarket shopping (with Coles getting most of the rest - WW used to be 95%+).

Based on that we'll definitely be trying the Aldi that is due to open within 5 minutes drive.

Our normal Woolworths is within walking distance of home, which is good for SWMBO to walk there, go to the gym and then I drive up to do the pick up. We also get excellent service as we know most of the staff. One check out guy we've known since he was in high school and is now in 3rd year at uni - he is also the guy who would scan the whole sheet of bonus offers, even if it was supposed to be one only.

Anyway, the next closest woolworths shopping centre has expanded, an Aldi is due to open shortly and Dan Murphy's opened last weekend. That could be the new go to shopping location.

 

[Lonely Flyer]

It's worth noting that there have been two emails. One from QFF and one from WOW. The latter contains more information than the former and details the WOW points --> WWRupiah --> QFF points exchange rates.

It seems 2000 WOW points = $10 WOW money = 870 QFF points x 5 =4350 points
10000 Coles points convert to 4000 Etihad points/miles

So not as lucrative as original 1 for 1 over $30 QFF but slightly better than Coles/Etihad.

I believe Etihad points cannot be prevented from expiry as against QFF can be kept alive by continual earning if only a handful at a time.

Problem I have (plenty of QFF and almost enough Velocity for my needs) but only just enough Coles $ to convert to 28000 Etihad.

Do I stick with Coles or return as the prodigal son to WOW.:arrow::?::arrow::idea:

 

[RAM]

It seems 2000 WOW points = $10 WOW money = 870 QFF points x 5 =4350 points
10000 Coles points convert to 4000 Etihad points/miles

So not as lucrative as original 1 for 1 over $30 QFF but slightly better than Coles/Etihad.

I believe Etihad points cannot be prevented from expiry as against QFF can be kept alive by continual earning if only a handful at a time.

Problem I already have plenty of QFF and almost enough Velocity for my needs but just enough Coles $ to convert to 28000 Etihad.

Di I stick with Coles or return as the prodigal son to WOW.:arrow::?::arrow::idea:

As the W Q points have to be transferred across manually (so it seems) then the only time you'd do that is when required or when a devaluation is threatened.

With FB it is a case of managing your points flow accordingly. The EY conversion needs some digging in to so we can 'enhance' the result for everyone - just like Q does...

 

[whatmeworry]

When you have 5% off gift cards and 0.435 points to QF per dollar you are closer to the game.We get the Woolies gift cards from RACWA.
Flybuy points from Coles are pretty useless and they are 0.4 points per dollar. Sure I get 5% Coles discount cards from a helper but those are difficult to obtain. I get them for my wife's parents as they have shopped at one Coles store for decades.

Coles MC pays 2 fb points per dollar. Might be useful for some with ATO bills.

 

[andye]

.....I believe Etihad points cannot be prevented from expiry as against QFF can be kept alive by continual earning if only a handful at a time....Di I stick with Coles or return as the prodigal son to WOW.:arrow::?::arrow::idea:

You only need to transfer from FB to EY when you need them-they will never expire while in Flybuys

I wouldn't choose a shop based on regular earn, but am tempted by offers

One thing to note with Aldi's undoubted cheapness is that you are mostly buying 'own-brand' (as there is no choice) whereas I don't tend to do that at WW or Coles. Having said that I've been very happy with many of the Aldi staples (less so with food and veg)

 

[franjelley]

i wouldnt choose a shop based on regular earn either. but i am pleasantly surprised that ive accumulated enough qf miles doing promos and intro offers for a couple of business class tickets from hkg to maa on CX. better than a poke in the eye with a burnt stick. i'll keep chugging along and then there will be enough miles for something else. obscure routes always work out best/

 

[docjames]

You only need to transfer from FB to EY when you need them-they will never expire while in Flybuys

I wouldn't choose a shop based on regular earn, but am tempted by offers

One thing to note with Aldi's undoubted cheapness is that you are mostly buying 'own-brand' (as there is no choice) whereas I don't tend to do that at WW or Coles. Having said that I've been very happy with many of the Aldi staples (less so with food and veg)

The F+V is Aldi's weak point no doubt.

The meat is pretty good and the tinned/boxed staples are for the most part indistinguishable in taste compared to "brand" names (for family dinners I mean - I guess unless you're Matt Preston or the like!).

 

[franjelley]

the best deal is the fillet steak, (i agree, moderator, we are getting off topic). the aldi fillet steak: buy the single piece, slice horizontally, make the best steak sandwich you ever ate...
but back to woolies ... i just wish they would stop frigging around with their stock..no sooner do i discover something, than it is withdrawn

 

[nickfromeastryde]

You only need to transfer from FB to EY when you need them-they will never expire while in Flybuys

I wouldn't choose a shop based on regular earn, but am tempted by offers

One thing to note with Aldi's undoubted cheapness is that you are mostly buying 'own-brand' (as there is no choice) whereas I don't tend to do that at WW or Coles. Having said that I've been very happy with many of the Aldi staples (less so with food and veg)

That's what I have found to. The home brand stuff I do buy is mainly staples and is the same price approximately wherever I go and I don't care what people say, but most of the home branded items are far inferior against the branded equivalent. I do tend to buy fresh veg, fruit and meat from a local fruit shop and butcher as none of these items seem to last when bought from the supermarkets and in the case of the meat especially is clearly superior though you do pay a premium for that

 

[Lonely Flyer]

You only need to transfer from FB to EY when you need them-they will never expire while in Flybuys

I wouldn't choose a shop based on regular earn, but am tempted by offers

One thing to note with Aldi's undoubted cheapness is that you are mostly buying 'own-brand' (as there is no choice) whereas I don't tend to do that at WW or Coles. Having said that I've been very happy with many of the Aldi staples (less so with food and veg)

My concern is will Coles at some stage not allow accumulation beyond a certain amount. I have a little over 70000 in my first year

Also I am not inclined to move from Coles because of their bonus offers. Just completed a 10000 point offer and on another within a week or so.

 

[Dr Ralph]

My concern is will Coles at some stage not allow accumulation beyond a certain amount.

I think that this is very unlikely. I'm aware of some people with more than 2 million points currently in their accounts.

 

[drross]

It seems 2000 WOW points = $10 WOW money = 870 QFF points x 5 =4350 points
10000 Coles points convert to 4000 Etihad points/miles

Problem I already have plenty of QFF and almost enough Velocity for my needs but just enough Coles $ to convert to 28000 Etihad.

Di I stick with Coles or return as the prodigal son to WOW.:arrow::?::arrow::idea:

how can having plenty of QFF points be problem???

 

[cove]

We haven't had a problem holding too many QFF points.

 

[Lonely Flyer]

We haven't had a problem holding too many QFF points.

It can be if you cannot get a couple of J seats when you want them but my bad sentence construction.

 

[UP4014]

how can having plenty of QFF points be problem???

It's all right while they are making a billion a year but would having plenty of Ansett points in 2000 have been a problem......