Tesco has confirmed a major Clubcard update that took effect this week, allowing shoppers to earn points when they shop online with more than 500 retailers. The change, introduced on October 14, means customers can now collect Clubcard points through a new shopping portal when buying from a range of popular stores including H&M, LookFantastic, Oliver Bonas and Ticketmaster.
The shake-up enables customers “to earn Clubcard points at multiplied rates of up to 6x the value at some retailers”, according to Money Saving Expert. Shoppers are advised to “Click through to the retailer you’re after, and you’ll be taken to its external website. There, you can shop as normal,” the consumer site said.
How the new Clubcard portal works
The new portal is designed to extend the reach of Tesco’s loyalty programme beyond its own stores and website. Customers who use the portal will be redirected to external retailer sites, where they can complete purchases as usual and earn Clubcard points on their spending. The points are tracked separately and may take time to appear in a shopper’s account.
Money Saving Expert, founded by BBC and ITV star Martin Lewis, notes that “Points can take up to three months to track.” Tesco says purchases should be tracked and marked as “pending” within 48 hours, but points may not be available in the account for 45 to 90 days, depending on the purchase. For travel contracts, the wait can be even longer, similar to cashback websites.
What happens if points go missing
If a shopper completes a purchase and believes their points are missing after the tracking period, they can contact Tesco through its ‘Customer Engagement Centre’ on the app or via the website for help. However, if an order is cancelled or returned, any earned points will be wiped.
The update comes as Tesco continues to expand the ways customers can collect Clubcard points. Beyond the new online portal, points can be earned every time shoppers use their Tesco app, a plastic Clubcard, or Tesco Bank cards when buying in-store or online at tesco.com. Points are also available when shopping on Tesco Marketplace at tesco.com/groceries/marketplace.
Other ways to earn Clubcard points
Clubcard points can also be collected with Tesco Mobile and Tesco Bank, as well as at Tesco petrol stations or Esso sites with a Tesco Express, and in a small number of One Stop stores. The new online shopping portal adds a significant new channel for earning points, potentially increasing the value of the programme for regular online shoppers.
With the portal now live, Tesco customers can start earning points at hundreds of retailers immediately, though they should be aware of the tracking delays and the need to keep orders to ensure points are credited.
