M&S Sparks card

Me neither. I have never used any of the offers and the Sale preview had nothing I wanted.
Having to choose your offer every couple of weeks is too much of a palaver.
It is just a way for them to track your spending habits.

I keep refusing a Sparks card, but then the assistant on the checkout told me that they would be replacing the voucher system and I would need to take one out shortly or miss out on my % money-back.

I am another one who hasn't taken advantage of the offers and also have stopped looking but thanks for the heads up about replacing the vouchers. I had £50 worth to spend at Christmas.

No I don't know how to use it either- I hand it over they swipe it I get e-mails telling me I have an offer to choose I choose it (food) and when I buy food nothing happens- its me isn't it?

I didn't even know there was such a thing

I'm not sure if that is correct though annsixty, it was told to me by a relatively new employee at a new food store.
I think your vouchers have an expiry date on the back if you have a look.

Have got one for all the good it does. You have to be very pro-active and regularly select 'offers' also I never remember to use it in store...unlike other retailers, M&S staff never ask for it....so all in all its pretty useless.

Interested to read that other G'ners have had much the same experience of Sparks as I have. Found one Sparks offer a few weeks back that was an improvement on 20% off sarnies i.e £10 off food if you spent £50 so decided to use it. At the check out no £10 off appeared. Supervisor appeared,interrogated till and told me I'd opened it, selected it but hadn't saved it. Grrrrrrr! Have been told that giving more details of yourself ( for 25 more Sparks) will help a lot to personalise offers but not sure I can be bothered....

I have recently got one of these and now they email me constantly. Wondering if it's like Nectar. I tend to let the points on that card accrue and then redeem them around Christmas in Sainsburys Every little helps or is that Tesco?

I didn't bother to activate mine. I like loyalty cards like the Boots one. Swipe it and then use the points. Makes life simple!

x

I've got one, apparently I have 6000 points/sparkles/whatevers but no idea what benefits they bring
I definitely don't buy sandwiches/ champagne/ party platters so starting to think it's a gimmick. I certainly haven't had any discounts on anything so rather bemused.

Not as good as the Waitrose card where I get instant gratification with the free coffee, paper & money off at the till. I also dislike the other M&S money off if you spend so much in about a week's time. I either forget or lose them or don't find them until I'm past the till.
I do however like the Oxfam M&S £5 off vouchers, though increasingly no good because of the number of sales & %age off goods available which don't count in the £35 min spend. Wish they'd just cut the prices & save the hassle.

There is a solution to all these problems.
Just don't shop at Marks and Spencer.
I can't remember the last time I did.

Glad I'm not the only one to be confused by Sparks!

I agree that the simple 'points' accrual system is the best. You can use Boots points to buy most things in their shops and at least the Tesco Clubcard gives you cash coupons as well as money-off vouchers.

Chose - and saved - my offer for 20% off sandwiches as we planned an 'in car picnic'. The sandwiches in the offer weren't available! Give up now.

I am not taking a Sparks card out. I rarely buy clothes there now, mainly food.

Perhaps if we all rebel they will think again.

I had very little interest in bothering with this pointless card, and I have even less inclination after reading all of your accounts . Don't even know what I did with mine. And I don't care

Just had an interesting email from Marks telling me that I could get coffee and cake for £3 tomorrow if I showed my Sparks card and that a few lucky card holders should listen out for the door bell as they may be having a bouquet delivered.
Now should I go into town for coffee and risk missing the delivery of my bouquet?

Decisions, decisions!!

I already get free hot drink vouchers through the premium club but I pay £20 or so a month to be a member. I dont understand the Sparks card idea either. Is it replacing the perks I get by using my M&S credit card? Is it worth carrying on with the Premium Club?
I am so glad you brought this up, Nansy. I thought it was just me.

Jayh I have an ordinary M&S credit card and the Sparks card is separate from this at the moment. You have to choose offers emailed to you and load them on to your Sparks card, bit of a faff!
I decided against joining the premium club as it would cost me more than I got in rewards. They are no longer taking new premium members, so there may be changes soon.

I can go and have a piece of cake and a hot drink tomorrow for £3.00. Is that cheap don't buy cake but I have no idea what the card actually does.

I'm not entirely sure what the point is, either. The offers I've seen have generally been for use within the next five days and as I have a 40+mile round trip plus parking to pay for, it hardly seems worth the effort to buy something I don't want/need with 20% off.