Why bottle shops are the new points battleground
Woolworths and Coles are holding back bonuses, but their liquor outlets aren't.
One of the best ways to top up your frequent flyer points total is with bonus offers from supermarkets. But those offers haven't been particularly prolific in these pandemic times. Both Woolworths Everyday Rewards and Coles flybuys have cut back on some of their bonus offers.
Since the beginning of the 2020/2021 financial year, for instance, Woolworths has run just two gift card offers featuring bonus points. Coles has been a little more generous, with seven. But realistically, supermarkets don't need to offer quite so many incentives. If we're staying home, we're likely buying more groceries anyway.
During this time, for points hunters, bottle shops have proven an unexpected lifesaver. First Choice Liquor and Liquorland (both owned by Coles) and BWS (owned by Woolworths) have been running regular offers with 1,000 or 2,000 bonus points. The conditions vary: usually there's a minimum spend, and often you have to order online. But the offers are recurring very frequently – far more so than their supermarket counterparts.
This week, First Choice Liquor has 2,000 flybuys points on offer if you spend $50 or more online. Go with click and collect and that's an exceptionally good deal. Liquorland is a little less generous, offering 1,500 points if you spend $150. (Full details of those offers are in our round-up of frequent flyer points deals, which we update every day.)
Again, commercial considerations play a big role here. There are far more Liquorland outlets than First Choice Liquor stores, and the latter need heavier promotion, so they get more bonus deals.
Convenience and cost do count here. I wouldn't advocate travelling any distance to a First Choice outlet just to score those points, especially during a pandemic. But if you have one nearby, it's a potentially appealing offer.
Remember, drink in moderation. Evidence on alcohol consumption during the pandemic is mixed, with some people drinking more at home but some age groups seeing drops because socialising isn't possible.
2020 has proved to be a tricky year for earning points and an even trickier one for redeeming them. If you can top up your points when you stock up for an iso BBQ, I'd count it as a win.
Want to keep your frequent flyer points balance growing? Check out the latest credit card sign-up deals.
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