Then, a few years ago, I heard a news article about how a company whose products I like, who shall remain nameless, were giving members of their loyalty program a special birthday-themed product on the member's birthday. At least that is what I understood them to say. I really wanted that, but I wasn't into loyalty programs. Some time later, I realized that I now had a computer, and I had access to a smartphone. (I would get my own soon after this.) I really wanted that birthday product, so I finally joined. I admit, I had some problems that included having to reset my password shortly after I signed up, but I felt it was worth it to get that special product.
When my birthday came around a few weeks later, I got an email with extra points to go on my account. That was all. Apparently, that special product was a one-time deal for the company's birthday, or maybe just for that one year. Who knows? All I know is that I didn't get a special gift. I did however start racking up points. It was a hassle to remember to save my receipts, take pictures of them, and send them in to redeem my points. I would have to send a few multiple times as I clipped a vital part out. I forgot a few times. Just earlier this month, I had to scramble through a stack of receipts to find my most recent one, only to find it in a bag where I had put it so I wouldn't forget it. I then preceded to forgot for a few days to submit the photo. At least I had finally crossed the 500 point mark with that receipt. Finally, it was time to redeem.
See, after all the years I had been doing this, I never once redeemed any of my points. While there were plenty of deals involving low amounts of points, such as coupons or free products, the good stuff required hundreds of, if not over a thousand, points to redeem. Even if I had the points, they were be sold out when I opened the notification email. People must have been grabbing them up the second they showed up. I guess it pays to check your email more than two or three times a day. Anyway, I decided to hoard my points, instead of trying for useless gifts such as movie or gas discounts.
This Monday, I got an email announcing the discontinuation of the loyalty program, just one week before my next birthday. Receipts would be accepted for a few more weeks. Already purchased merch would still be shipped out. Any points not spent would be lost, and no new programs were planned. I quickly logged in to see the last rewards that would be posted, thinking that a few really great ones would be offered at the end. I was wrong. There were only four rewards, with the discount coupon for athletic wear from a partner had already sold out. Only three rewards were still available, and none of them would be sold out: digital wallpaper, an entry for a contest that I was barely eligible for and might not even need by the time it was awarded, and behind-the-scenes footage from a promotional movie that made a few years ago that I never watched.
Unless something is added as a bonus for the holidays, I will be forced to download the wallpaper just so I can say I got something from the program. I probably will never install it, as I don't want to mess up my already glitchy computer with anything else. What's worse? I can only get each reward once, and the wallpaper only costs five points. I could have literally bought it at any time, and it wouldn't have affected my score too much.
It's the story of my life. Every time I get an opportunity for something, I wind up not getting it, only to regret it ever after. I either don't realize the chance when I first receive it, or I don't think it is the right time, or I don't think I am good/ready enough yet, or someone convinces me that I should wait. This loyalty program is just another one to add to the list.
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