Flybuys Redemption at Checkout, Not Counted Towards Total

MeesusEff on 14/11/2022 - 19:50

I had 2 Flybuys offers running at the same time,

1) spend $50 for 2500 points
2) spend $40 @ Coles X for 1000 points

Headed to Coles X, spent $50.40 and because I have a Coles Mastercard that asks me if I want to redeem $10 off my points I pressed Accept, bringing my total to $40.40.

Now I've only got 1000 points credited. I didn't think that if I redeemed my points that it would not be counted as I classified to be the same as me using a $10 gift card I got elsewhere. Any thoughts on how it works, as I'm pretty annoyed that I lost more points than I redeemed.

Before all the 'have you tried calling/messaging Flybuys', not for this as they've barely contacted me back from my Disney + enquiry and I cant be on the phone for long periods of time.

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Comments

    • MeesusEff on 14/11/2022 - 19:58

      Before all the 'have you tried calling/messaging Flybuys', not for this as they've barely contacted me back from my Disney +

      I specifically went out with my hyperactive toddler for that shop, which I never do, so yes pretty annoyed that I wasted my time and effort for it.

      Anyway, I still feel it's pretty dodge if you redeem flybuys that the redemption bit doesn't count towards your shop. In Woolies, if you redeem your points you still get the whole total.

      • jv on 14/11/2022 - 19:59
        -1

        if you redeem flybuys that the redemption bit doesn't count towards your shop

        and ???

  • CVonC on 14/11/2022 - 20:03
    +1

    Probably cos the $50 spend is after the $10 flybuys redemption? That's how it is with Woolies I think?

    • MeesusEff on 14/11/2022 - 20:05

      Yeah but I thought that the $10 Flybuys redemption would just be treated as a payment method, like if I used a gift card to pay. Because that automatic redemption was meant to be a 'perk' that the card has so we didn't have to go redeem the physical cards

  • magster on 14/11/2022 - 20:18
    +1

    The only time this was an issue for me was when the spend $40 is on a paper voucher. For some reason, they don’t stack like if both are email/app offers. I’m guessing this might be the case for you? I don’t think the it’s redemption of the flybuys dollars. Flybuys support is pretty good at manually crediting the points though, just hold times can be a bit long.

    • MeesusEff on 14/11/2022 - 20:23

      Nah I did another shop previously with 2 offers stacked and got it. I looked back at the other times I've redeemed my points and realised that I've only got FB points for my total after redemption.

      So if people redeemed their physical Flybuys cards, if it worked the same then no one would get points for their shop? Seems to be a pretty crappy system

  • WookieMonster on 14/11/2022 - 21:14
    +9

    The most likely explanation is the instant redemption option you opted for at the checkout.

    The $10 instant redemption option you opted is for is treated as a discount, not a payment method. Bonus points offers such as the spend $50 offer you were wanting to trigger have the following statement in the fine print:

    Spend $50 in one transaction, after all savings, discounts and vouchers

    Flybuys would have calculated your eligible spend amount after factoring in the $10 discount, so your eligible spend amount for that transaction was actually $40.40.

    If you instead opted to pay $10 from your Flybuys Dollars balance by selecting Card on the checkout screen and swiping your Flybuys card on the EFTPOS terminal, the redemption of $10 in Flybuys Dollars would be treated as a payment method, not a discount, which would mean that your eligible spend amount for that transaction would instead be $50.40.

    An alternative explanation (but less likely) is that there was a clause buried in the terms for one of the two Flybuys offers that states it cannot be stacked with any other offer. I have only seen this twice (20x points on fresh beef, 20x points on fresh pork), so I am doubtful this applies to your situation.

    • MeesusEff on 14/11/2022 - 21:23

      On the Coles MC website :

      Instantly take $10 off your Coles Supermarket shop, every time you redeem 2,000 Flybuys  points in-store at the checkout.

      With instant redemption, it pops up right after you press checkout. I don't think it is right to classify it as a discount or a voucher as I effectively got 'charged' for it. It's not a 'free $10 off Coles shop when you use this card' which I would understand. Pretty sure at Woolies, even when you use Rewards $ to pay, that you are credited the total of your order (could be wrong haven't redeemed in a while)

      • WookieMonster on 14/11/2022 - 21:37

        I honestly agree with you that the instant $10 off and Flybuys Dollars should be treated in the same way (i.e. as a payment method). I think Coles implemented the instant $10 off as a discount, because that was the most convenient way to program this in the checkout system. That is how team member discounts are also programmed in their checkouts.

        Personally, I would call up Flybuys and ask where the 2500 bonus points are. You never know, you may be able to get a goodwill gesture out of a staff member, especially if you play dumb and/or express confusion.

        You are correct at Woolworths (and BIG W and BWS and participating EG locations) that the redemption of Everyday Rewards Dollars is treated as a payment method, not a discount.

        • MeesusEff on 14/11/2022 - 21:43
          +1

          Thanks, I wanted to confirm so that when they do eventually get back to me that I have a leg to stand on.

          I just looked through my previous transactions and realised that everytime I redeemed my $10, it does only give me the points of total after redemption. Feels pretty scammy! Coles is the only place that instant redemption works on so their system should be able to work it out.

  • randomusername2017 on 14/11/2022 - 22:21
    +3

    You need to convert points to dollars then spend to qualify for targeted spends.
    Must catch a lot of people out because they're quite quick to credit the points as a "goodwill gesture".

    • MeesusEff on 14/11/2022 - 23:54

      I think what gets to me is that Coles MC advertises that instant redemption as part of the convenience of having that card in partnership with Flybuys. It shouldn't be a detriment to the customer to use an advertised 'benefit'. I understand why the system applies it as a discount just because it's easier to program but that shouldn't be my problem. Redemption certainly doesn't qualify as a discount, voucher or savings… Not sure how far I'd get with this though.. I've sent a message to Coles FC for some clarification, see how that goes

      • coffeeinmyveins on 15/11/2022 - 07:25

        you won't get anywhere. It's going to be buried in the T&Cs somewhere that this happens and you're SOL.

        Learn the lesson and move on. Just like the first time someone buys a CC and uses it to guy gift cards and finds out what happens.

        • randomusername2017 on 15/11/2022 - 07:54

          Gift cards are usually ok.. Topping up the TAB account or purchasing crypto usually come with a suprise..

  • jellykingdom on 15/11/2022 - 08:04

    This is the exact reason I don't redeem points into money-off my shop unless I'm completely sure there is no value i'm trying to reach, or some kind of major points multiplier going on. Usually I end up saving them up and getting a "free" case of beer haha

    • MeesusEff on 15/11/2022 - 10:49

      I usually split my shop into $10 lots to redeem my points haha, but this time I had a pretty good deal so I thought. Could have grabbed another nappy pack or formula ahhhh.

  • revheadgl on 15/11/2022 - 10:58
    +1

    I have had this happen with Flybuys on a Coles shop a fair while ago. I redeemed some points to part pay for my shop.

    When I didn't receive the bonus points, I rang them. Their explanation was the redeemed points was a discount and as such reduced my spend below the threshold. They did however credit me with the bonus points as goodwill that time. This was some time back though. It was also lot easier/quicker to contact them.

    By contrast, I did a shop with Woolworths 2 days ago and had an offer for 2000 points on a $40 spend. I used $20 rewards as part payment on a $50 spend and received the points straight away.

  • silenthillrocks on 15/11/2022 - 13:50
    +1

    Pay with flybuys dollars works

  • MeesusEff on 17/11/2022 - 14:48
    +3

    Pretty quick response for this one!

    "Hi , thank you for taking the time to contact us. You are correct, when using the instant $10 off, this applies as a discount so reducing the amount that you pay. For any offers, the minimum spend needs to be achieved after any promotions or discounts are applied. We have added the points for you this time as a gesture of goodwill, please allow 48 hours to see them reflected in your account. We hope this helps, have a lovely day."

    Guess for Coles MC users its better off to convert the points to actual Flybuy dollars rather than use the instant redemption.

    • silenthillrocks on 17/11/2022 - 16:29

      Yeh stick with flybuys dollars. Works everytime, like a debit card.

      • MeesusEff on 17/11/2022 - 18:10

        Do you actually need the physical Flybuys cards to use it? I rarely carry around my wallet that's why I've been done instant all the time

        • silenthillrocks on 17/11/2022 - 18:37

          That's the only downside, forces you to bring the physical card. You select 'card' payment (same as for bank cards) then swipe it in the card reader.

  • Spending2Much on 16/04/2023 - 13:10

    I'm not sure on this….

    I just saw this thread, from the comment linked here

    https://www.ozbargain.com.au/comment/13630828/redir

    However…..

    Last week I had a spend $30/1200 Flybuys points offer.
    Spent just over $30( I think $32?)
    I then used the instant 2000 points, for $10 off ony shop at the self checkout.
    Paid the the $22 remaining, with discounted e-gift card from Perkbox.
    The 2000 points for deducted immediately as seen on the Flybuys app activity tab.
    End of next day, I see the 1200 points and also the extra bonus points from another offer, purchased in that shop, finally added to my Flybuys balance.
    However, the standard points, I received, only 22.
    The amount after the 2000/$10 instant off.

    Also:
    Thursday night, I received the Flybuys offer as posted here

    https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/768994#comment-13630828

    Friday afternoon, I completed the first of 4 x $50 shops. ($53?)
    Again, used the instant 2000 points/$10 off shop at self checkout option, paying the $43.
    Again, the 2000 points deduction was instantly on the Flybuys app.
    I noted on the paper reciept, it actually says, words to the effect of
    "Congratulations, you've completed your first shop"
    I note on the app, I only received 43 standard points….

    • WookieMonster on 16/04/2023 - 13:41

      Hmmm it sounds like Flybuys have half-fixed the situation… and it sounds like a relatively recent fix, because my neighbour told me their $102 grocery shop two weeks ago did not trigger a 3,500 points / $100 spend Flybuys offer after they redeemed $10 as an instant discount. (If you were wondering, Flybuys refused to credit the bonus points.)

      Out of curiosity, does the $10 instant discount for these two transactions show up as a discount on the receipts (assuming you have the receipts)? Considering you are getting 10 less standard points than you expected, it sounds like the $10 instant redemption is still a discount, but Flybuys now adds the $10 instant discount back when determining whether you are eligible for bonus points offers.

      You could ask Flybuys what is going on, but I would advise against it, as you run the risk of the Flybuys rep helping you actually reversing the bonus points if they think you have received the bonus points in error. Flybuys has reversed points in the past where they believed it was awarded in error…

    • MeesusEff on 16/04/2023 - 14:11

      I did confirm with the flybuys rep at the time that the Coles Mastercard instant $10 off is treated as a discount, not a redemption. Although they did credit the points upon query. Maybe they have patched it but I personally wouldn't risk it again as it might be a sometimes situation

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