FlyBuys loyalty programme ending

Forums › Off topic › FlyBuys loyalty programme ending

1 | 2 | 3

6704 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Subscriber

#3242705 30-May-2024 13:32

The RNZ article suggests that Loyalty NZ is completely winding down, which will be more job losses that the Wellington region doesn't need right now.

I remember when Loyalty NZ used to have a marketing data analytics consultancy operation, and it's a shame that couldn't have continued beyond the existence of Flybuys.

quickymart

13935 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

#3242706 30-May-2024 13:38

I remember when Fly Buys launched way back in 1996. A woman I worked with at the time was quite skeptical about the whole thing, describing it as "spending $3000 to get $600 worth of travel", which it was.

My then-partner and Dad were all over it, but I never took an interest in it, I found I never went to any of the places that had rewards points, and after her and I separated I cancelled the card as I had no use for it.

Found it strange a few years ago when they could no longer offer flights (can't remember the reason for it) but they still carried on with the "Fly" part of the name?

Gordy7

1906 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Lifetime subscriber

#3242750 30-May-2024 15:48

Good riddance!

Gordy

My first ever AM radio network connection was with a 1MHz AM crystal(OA91) radio receiver.

Batman

Mad Scientist
29762 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#3242764 30-May-2024 16:32

so these retailers that have built in a margin for flybuys, are they going to reduce the price by that 1-2% after this?

Lizard1977

2061 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

#3242765 30-May-2024 16:34

Batman:

so these retailers that have built in a margin for flybuys, are they going to reduce the price by that 1-2% after this?

Well obviously! Just watch the stampede to reduce prices! /sarcasm

Ragnor

8219 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#3242766 30-May-2024 16:37

Most places that reward Flybuys can instead reward Airnz Airpoints ie: Caltex/Z, New World etc

heavenlywild

5060 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#3242768 30-May-2024 16:52

Fly Buys is as good as cut out discount coupons. Never even bothered putting in my membership number when buying from Noel Leeming, the only retailer I know that offers Fly Buys.

Lenovo

Shop now for Lenovo laptops and other devices (affiliate link).

mattwnz

20149 posts

Uber Geek

#3242783 30-May-2024 17:38

Many retailers have introduced their own schemes or moved to others I have found. The problem is that you now need multiple cards, and you need the card to get the better prices. If you don't go to that effort you end up paying more, but in exchange for that, you give the companies a lot of your data. Also now many have moved to apps which are even worse, and less people use them, including the elderly

DjShadow

4085 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

#3242784 30-May-2024 17:40

Not surprised by this announcement, over the years it has been coming more difficult to collect points as the big companies like Genesis, Spark, 2degrees all pulled out of the Scheme.

Would get the odd point from New World however I changed my card over to Air NZ Airpoints but that'll stop now since NW Metro in WLG Railway Station closed. Don't really go to Z or Caltex since the likes of Waitomo, Gull, etc keep undercutting them even after their 6 or 10c/l discount is applied.

Goosey

2829 posts

Uber Geek

Subscriber

#3242965 31-May-2024 07:04

It was something for nothing, just like any other loyalty scheme.

nobody was forcing you to shop at the partners……that choice was always up to you.

to be honest, if all the loyalty schemes were scrapped then it be cheaper for all the companies involved, the amount of admin and cost to run loyalty schemes is quite up there and it’s all in the name of data collection.

With that said data collection on consumer behaviour has come a long way since the 1990s, hence the demise of the O.G. of data collection schemes such as fly buys.

Simple eh?

jonathan18

7413 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

#3243030 31-May-2024 09:00

Goosey:

It was something for nothing, just like any other loyalty scheme.

nobody was forcing you to shop at the partners……that choice was always up to you.

Yeah, but as pointed out above these kinds of schemes rely on there being some people who don't crunch the numbers and will indeed chase the points no matter what that costs them. I recall years ago friends of my parents did all their shopping at New World, solely so they could the Flybuys. Imagine what that cost them over a decade or two!

Flybuy's demise seems to be part of the ebb and flow over time of all such loyalty and discount schemes, as you see it in other areas such as with discounts on eating out - it wasn't too long ago that the Entertainment Book was really popular; we've also had the era of GrabOne and similar sites, and now it seems First Table is the flavour of the month...

quickymart

13935 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

#3243054 31-May-2024 09:27

I think another thing too is there are better rewards options available now than when Fly Buys came along - although I do remember Telecom Talking Points; they were really good too, until they closed that scheme down and changed to, yes, Fly Buys instead.

Today I don't think Spark do any sort of rewards system at all - if they do, I've never heard about it.