Rewards Cards

The idea of rewarding customers for supporting an establishment is a way to acknowledge their business as well as to keep them coming back.

Many stores and restaurants have implemented rewards cards to entice customers. Ann-Taylor Loft has a nifty deal around certain holidays where if you buy an item for $50 you can get $25 off your next purchase. The cool thing about it is that it can be off of any purchase in the store. Some places have that rule that you must purchase something at regular price to get a discount. I actually bought a jacket that was originally $50 bucks for $35 all because I had a reward card. It also helped that the item was on sale so I got double the savings.

Banana Republic has a similar practice where if you buy for a certain amount, they will send you gift cards in the mail for like $10, or $25 off your next purchase.

I do wish more restaurants would hop on this bandwagon. TGIF's has a points system with their Gold Points and each time you dine there you build points on your card and after you hit a certain threshold you are eligible for a free appetizer, and other benefits. I am a card-carrier myself and have benefitted.

Not too many food service places have the rewards program. I know many times I will go someplace where I can use a rewards card to reap the benefits. After all, I would rather get something out of my experience than nothing.