SAINSBURY’S should “urgently” move it’s Nectar promotion online due to the coronavirus lockdown in England, Martin Lewis has warned.

The annual Double Up Nectar Rewards scheme sees shoppers exchange loyalty points for digital vouchers worth twice as much as they do outside of the event.

Martin Lewis has called for Sainsbury's to let customers spend Double Up vouchers online

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Martin Lewis has called for Sainsbury’s to let customers spend Double Up vouchers online Credit: Rex Features

But the vouchers, which are to be spent on certain products such as clothes, tech or homeware, can only be spent in stores between November 11 and November 17.

Crucially, the coupons can’t be used to knock money off online orders.

The MoneySavingExpert founder said the supermarket should change the “perverse” rules to stop shoppers unnecessarily heading to stores during England’s national lockdown.

Mr Lewis said: “[Sainsbury’s] really shouldn’t need to be told this. Many people wait and hold on to their Nectar points to use them in the pre-Christmas period double-up.

Supermarket loyalty schemes – which has one?

MOST UK supermarkets have loyalty schemes so customers can build up points and save money while they shop.

Here we round up what saving programmes you’ll find at the big brands.

  • Iceland: Unlike other stores, you don’t collect points with the Iceland Bonus Card. Instead, you load it up with money and Iceland will give you £1 for every £20 you save.
  • Morrisons: Morrisons’ More gives customers five points per £1 spent in store. When customers earn 5,000 points they receive a £5 voucher.
  • Sainsbury’s: While Sainsbury’s doesn’t have a personal scheme, it does own the Nectar card which can also be used in Argos, eBay and other shops. You need 200 Nectar points to save up £1 to spend on your card. You need to spend at least £1 to get one Nectar point.
  • Tesco: Tesco Clubcard has over 17million members in the UK alone. You use it each time you shop and build up points that can be turned into vouchers – 150 points gets you a £1.50 voucher. Here you need to spend £1 in Tesco to get one point.
  • Waitrose: myWaitrose also doesn’t allow you to collect points but instead you’ll get access to free hot drinks, and discounts off certain brands in store.

“To force them to go to a store now, rather than spend in ease and safety via the web, is simply putting people’s health at risk for no reason.”

But Sainsbury’s said it had “reviewed” its policy but won’t be changing the terms and conditions of the points bonanza.

The tough new restrictions have been introduced in an attempt to curb rising coronavirus cases and are not due to end until December 2.

Supermarkets are among the essential stores allowed to remain open throughout lockdown, while clothes, tech and toy shops have been forced to close.

The grocery giants have avoided even stricter restrictions, such as a ban on selling non-essential items which was forced onto stores in Wales during its two week firebreaker.

Normally, Sainsbury’s loyalty members earn one Nectar point for every £1 spent at Sainsbury’s, which is worth 0.5p to make a purchase.

Customers need a minimum of 1,000 points worth £5 before they can spend them, but in the double up event, they’re worth £10 when you shop.

Outside of the shopping bonanza, you would need to spend £2,000 in store before earning enough points to claim a £10 voucher.

The idea behind the popular scheme is to offer customers a helping hand ahead of the festive season, although the vouchers can’t be used to pay for petrol or online groceries.

They can’t be exchanged in other Nectar shops either, such as Argos.

Digital vouchers can be claimed at anytime during the event, but shoppers who prefer physical vouchers had between October 28 and November 3 to order them.

The vouchers become invalid if they are not spent during the week-long promotion.

A Sainsbury’s spokesperson told The Sun: “We have reviewed our Double Up promotion in light of the latest restrictions.

“Many of our customers have told us they are relying on the savings it will give them and so after careful consideration we will continue to offer it.

“We understand that some of our customers may not be able to redeem their vouchers in the way they would have liked to this year and we’re sorry for the disappointment this may cause.”

The supermarket added that any customers who ordered the vouchers but can no longer get to a store to spend them because they are self-isolating can contact its customer services team for a refund of the points.

Martin Lewis lays out all the money help you can claim this lockdown

This post first appeared on thesun.co.uk

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