What has happened to Flybuys?

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MikeB4
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#2821371 30-Nov-2021 09:30

I can't help thinking Flybuys is fading into obscurity, it is not what it used to be. We have been using Flybuys for a very long time and it is nothing like it was. Few retailers accept it and many of the organisations we did business with have dropped Flybuys, EG Our Insurance, Genesis, Countdown etc. We swapped to using to using Airpoints mainly and get way more from them.

Here is a crazy notion, lets give peace a chance.

quickymart

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#2821431 30-Nov-2021 09:57

When I used Fly Buys they had a partnership with Burger King (yes, this was a long time ago). I used to eat lots of BK back then. However they dropped the partnership, so I lost interest in Fly Buys at that point. I think I finally got rid of it for good in 2001 - it was something my then-partner had setup and mostly used herself; I had no use for it then and still don't today :)

rscole86

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#2821435 30-Nov-2021 10:04

We've found similar stock issues with the AirNZ Airpoints store.

Appears to be a similar model, where they do not appear to be kept up to date by their suppliers. I can't remember specifics, but we've placed orders and heard back after a week or so there was no stock.

xpd

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#2821439 30-Nov-2021 10:07

Mahon:

I would sooner have cheaper groceries in the first place!!!

No wonder New World is more expensive.

OT, but we're happy to spend the little bit extra to ensure fresh product. Local Countdown here is absolutely shocking with their stock rotation/management, moldy frozen pies, rotten lettuce and more.......

If we want budget stuff we hit Pak n Save.

XPD / Gavin

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#2821445 30-Nov-2021 10:15

In no way a scientifically measured thing but Flybuys certainly seems worse than it was when we arrived in NZ in 2005. Slower to earn and as above the price of things are usually more than paying cash in a retailer.

rugrat

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#2821451 30-Nov-2021 10:25

djtOtago:

Use flybuys card wherever possible, plus my BNZ credit card gives me x amount of flybuys points for every dollar spent on the credit card.

I changed mine to cash back. When I did the calculations many years ago a fly buy point was worth about 30 cents max, most cases around 20 cents, the cash back worked out a bigger return, as well as the benefit of not being limited what to spend it on.

Also had an email from Genesis, can’t remember the date but they are leaving the flybuys program, and said they are going to increase power shouts. Hard for me to measure what extra free hours get, but if they do give more way better then fly buys, as again, reduced bill is extra cash in pocket.

I do wonder what the future is for Flybuys.

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Kyanar

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#2821569 30-Nov-2021 12:24

I think the list of who actually issues and accepts Flybuys points is largely a consequence of the four owners of the company (Loyalty NZ Limited) - these are Foodstuffs (New World, Pak n Save), IAG (Insurance), Z Energy, and BNZ. I'm confused by the person who mentioned Countdown, as they have never been part of the scheme (Woolworths and Coles being arch enemies, with Woolworths being the owner of Countdown and Coles being the owner of the "flybuys" name).

DjShadow

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#2821601 30-Nov-2021 12:50

I want to echo some of the comments about and starting to wonder if Fly Buys has any relevancy now.

We would collect points from Genesis Energy, the occasional times I'd go to Z/Caltex and big purchases from Noel Leeming. I'd also do those Colmar Brunton Surveys which helped push the points balance up quickly.

Now Genesis has dropped Fly Buys and the surveys are super rare so I've noticed my points balance have hardly moved in the past few months.

Also looking at the store and the offerings are not as good, e.g last night my wife suggested I go redeem the points for Movie Tickets but I couldn't find any sign of the big 3 chains (Event, Reading and Hoyts). I might be able to find something useful that gets redeemed from Noel Leeming but that is about it.

I am tempted once I redeem the current points I have to swap our new world club card to a Air NZ Airpoints one as Air NZ seem to be slowly picking up retailers e.g Smiths City and we could swap our power company to Mercury to earn Airpoints Dollars

Groucho

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#2821820 30-Nov-2021 16:39

Mahon:

I would sooner have cheaper groceries in the first place!!!

No wonder New World is more expensive.

But how else are you going to get your "free" knives or corporate branded Lego-esque bricks? ;-)

richrdh18

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#2822283 1-Dec-2021 09:15

We normally accumulate 3000 points a year by just using normal shopping pattern, not going out of our way to collect points. BNZ, Z, T7. This normally allows us to replace a kitchen appliance or get a gift for someone with out laying out any real cash. I consider it something for nothing. I recently had to the pleasure of winning 25,000 Flybuys points, which was a bonus and allowed us to replace items within our household.

Yes if you work out the value of an actual item from points vs real dollars, yes the item is expensive. But if you get points by just shopping normally then, its something for nothing. Same as airpoints. We dont go out of our way to get points.

quickymart

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#2822288 1-Dec-2021 09:21

I found my shopping patterns (when I still had Fly Buys) didn't really allow me enough to accumulate points, and I could get what I needed (groceries, etc) cheaper than going to New World. I guess it depends where you do your shopping and what your shopping profile is.

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Mahon

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#2822308 1-Dec-2021 09:43

Groucho:

Mahon:

I would sooner have cheaper groceries in the first place!!!

No wonder New World is more expensive.

But how else are you going to get your "free" knives or corporate branded Lego-esque bricks? ;-)

I believe this years giveaway isnt a total giveaway and you need to top up with $$$$.

Blurtie

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#2823297 2-Dec-2021 15:25

Just to add my 5cents worth...

I redeemed some headphones using points + cash during their black Friday sale - according to my email, I got confirmation on 25 Nov - with small print saying it should arrive within 8 working days.

Stone cold silence since then, but to my surprise they got delivered today out of the blue.. Would've been nice to have gotten an email to say it's been dispatched.. But I guess they did what they said in that one and only email I got.

andrew027

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#2824978 6-Dec-2021 11:58

Sorry, been working double shifts for a while and only just got back to this thread...

Goosey: ...based on your redemption rate, wouldnt you agree they have met your expectations on every other occasion in your 20 years?

My feeling is they used to be better, but have gotten a lot worse. There has been the odd rare issue with delivery before, but customer service was always quick and professional and dealt with the issue promptly. I think it was the poor customer service that annoyed me most this time. I just got the feeling they were stalling.

"Back in the day" most of the time (admittedly not all) I could redeem points for a reward then collect it from a partnering store the next day. Noel Leeming still let you do this, but it seems every other partner store wants to courier it to you now, which is less ideal IMO.

andrew027

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#2824980 6-Dec-2021 11:59

Arsonist: Wow how are you guys accumulating so many flybuys points! I get maybe a couple hundred a year.

We get most of our points from a BNZ credit card - depends on spending but probably close to 500 a month. Then sometimes specifically look to double points by buying something on the credit card from a retailer who gives you points anyway (Noel Leeming, New World...).

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