800 flybuys points for under $6? I’ll take that
Your next points boost might be just a razor away.
One of the easiest ways to increase your Velocity points total is by transferring points from flybuys. And one of the best ways to maximise that process is to take advantage of large bonus point offers on individual products, but you do have to assess each offer carefully.
A recent example demonstrates this. I received an email from flybuys offering 800 bonus points for select Gillette razors and blade cartridges:
These offers are usually distributed via email and through the flybuys app. They're targeted, so not absolutely everyone will receive them, but I'd guess the Gillette offer was pretty broadly distributed. (There's also inevitably a condition that you can only score the bonus points once per household.)
There are two considerations with this kind of deal. The first is: can I actually use the product? In this case, I'm happy to pop a spare razor in my travel washbag.
The second is how much you'll have to pay. 800 flybuys points convert to 348 Velocity Points for a regular conversion, or 400 if you wait for a 15% bonus offer, as I always do. Following my well-established rule of getting at least $20 of value for every 1,000 points I redeem, those points will be worth at least $8.
In this case, I picked up a single razor for $5.60. That means that I'm still coming out ahead, provided I eventually redeem my Velocity points for a flight or an upgrade. But if the razor had cost $8, it would have been a lineball proposition. Similarly, if only 200 points had been on offer, it wouldn't have been worth making that purchase, unless I had to buy a new razor anyway.
Incidentally, this is why I'm very rarely tempted by "multiplier" offers, where you get (for instance) 10 times the normal flybuys points when buying particular products. A $10 purchase that earns me 100 flybuys points still isn't going to give me more than $10 in value.
The lesson? Bonus points are good, but not all bonus points are equal. Now, excuse me while I repack my travel bag.
Angus Kidman's Findings column looks at new developments and research that help you save money, make wise decisions and enjoy your life more. It appears regularly on Finder.
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