Loblaws announces plan to make you pay (!) for PC points

The Globe and Mail reports Monday night that Loblaw is planning on testing a fee-based membership program. The company is calling it a “fee” and likening the charge to Amazon Prime and Costco Wholesale programs. Loblaw is said to have unveiled the pilot program called PC Insiders for its PC Plus loyalty members who also have a President’s Choice Financial MasterCard. The plan is to require a $9.99 monthly or $99 yearly fee to get a range of perks any time they use their MasterCard, including:

  • 20 per cent back in PC points on the essentials such as diapers, infant formula, and all PC Organics products in-store and online.
  • 20 per cent back in PC points on all Joe Fresh products in-store and online at joefresh.com.
  • 20 times the PC points every day when customers shop online at beautyBOUTIQUE.ca.
  • Free Click & Collect pick-up service at nearly 200 locations.
  • Free shipping on all beautyBOUTIQUE.ca and joefresh.com purchases.
  • $99 PC travel credit once a year when booking a trip on pctravel.ca (annual subscriptions only).

The program is expected to expand next year beyond select PC Plus members who also have the MasterCard.  Globe & MailCBC.