The Ultimate Guide to Coles Plus Saver

More Australians are feeling the pinch as the cost of living increases, particularly when it comes to grocery shopping. As such, many consumers are turning to paid supermarket subscription programs that offer additional benefits on top of free rewards programs. Woolworths already has its Everyday Extra program, and Coles has rolled out Coles Plus. But the latter has introduced Coles Plus Saver, a new lower-fee monthly subscription program designed to bridge the gap in Coles’ subscription offering.

Not to be confused with the existing Coles Plus program, Coles Plus Saver boasts a different set of perks – namely, one 10% discount per month when shopping at Coles. But the 2x Flybuys points on eligible purchases remains.

Currently, Coles Plus Saver is being trialled in Victoria and Tasmania only. In this guide, we’ll cover all you need to know about the program.

What is Coles Plus Saver?

As the name suggests, Coles Plus Saver is a lower-fee alternative to the existing Coles Plus subscription program, albeit with benefits targeted at different consumers.

Presumably, Coles Plus was designed to rival Woolworths’ successful Everyday Extra program. Both programs offer the ability to earn double points when shopping at select retailers, as well as other perks. But with Coles Plus’ $19/month fee versus the $7/month for Everyday Extra, it’s tough to justify the higher subscription cost unless you’re utilising the free delivery or rapid click-and-collect benefits.

Coles Plus Saver trims these benefits, with a focus on delivering savings for members. The double Flybuys points perk at select retailers, including Coles, remains. But the program offers a 10% discount on one shop per month at Coles, making this a lucrative program for those looking to shave dollars off their shopping. Even better is the program’s reasonable $7 monthly fee, putting it on par with Everyday Extra.

How much does Coles Plus Saver cost?

Coles Plus Saver costs $7 per month. Your membership will renew automatically each month, though you’re free to cancel at any time.

Benefits of Coles Plus Saver

Coles Plus Saver is currently undergoing a trial period in Victoria and Tasmania only, though the program benefits are promising. Here’s what to expect:

• Earn 2x Flybuys points on every purchase at Coles, First Choice Liquor or Liquorland in-store or online.
• 10% off one Coles shop online or in-store per calendar month, up to $50 off.
• Exclusive subscriber-only free products, offers and promotions.

Once you accumulate 2,000 Flybuys points you can redeem them for $10 off your next shop. Or, convert 1,000 Flybuys points to 500 Velocity Points.

Points enthusiasts may find benefit in joining the program solely for the uncapped double points benefit, particularly if you make large purchases regularly at the retailers listed above. The $7/month subscription fee is a small price to pay to boost your points balance, especially if your aim is to convert your Flybuys points to Velocity Points.

Some households may instead prefer the $10 off when you reach 2,000 Flybuys points. Depending on how you use it, the 10% discount benefit could be enough to offset the monthly subscription fee.

Stacking the perks of Coles Plus Saver

One of the benefits of joining Coles’ subscription program is the ability to stack the perks and maximise your rewards. Here’s a rundown.

10% discount

Handily, when redeeming Flybuys points for your shopping (2,000 Flybuys points = $10 off), you can stack the 10% Coles Plus Saver discount to save even more at the checkout.

Coles Insurance and Coles Credit Cards

Certain Coles Financial Services products, like car and home insurance and Rewards Credit Cards, offer bonus Flybuys points when shopping at Coles.

• Coles Car, Home or Landlord Insurance policies – up to 4 Flybuys points per $1 (1 base point + 1 bonus point per Coles Insurance policy held)
• Coles Rewards Credit Card holders – up to 3 Flybuys points per $1 (1 base point + 2 bonus points)

Note that a maximum cap applies when earning bonus points from Coles Insurance and Coles credit cards.

When holding a Coles Plus or Coles Plus Saver subscription, the bonus points earned from these stack on top of the bonus points earned from a Coles Financial Services or Coles Insurance product. Bonus points earned from Coles Plus and Coles Plus Saver have no limit.

For example, if you hold a Coles Rewards Credit Card, you’ll earn the following when making eligible purchases at Coles supermarkets:

• 1 Flybuys point per $1 as a Flybuys member
• +2 bonus Flybuys points per $1 with a Rewards Credit Card
• +1 bonus Flybuys point per $1 with a Coles Plus
• Total: 4 Flybuys points per $1

Credit card points

By using a points-earning credit card to pay for your shop, you can double-dip on rewards. You’ll pocket additional Flybuys points at Coles with a Coles Plus Saver subscription, as well as points from your credit card spend. For instance, the American Express Platinum Edge card earns 3 Membership Rewards points per $1 spent at major supermarkets, including Coles – so you can certainly stack those points at the checkout!

Also read: How to make the most of the Flybuys-Velocity partnership

What’s the difference between Coles Plus and Coles Plus Saver?

So, what’s the difference between the existing Coles Plus program and the new Coles Plus Saver subscription? We’ve broken down both program’s offerings in the table below.

Evidently, the programs are targeted at different consumer groups. For instance, if you don’t do your grocery shopping online or purchase alcohol online, then the benefits of Coles Plus probably won’t appeal to you. But if you do shop online often, the $19 monthly fee can be a small price to pay for the convenience of unlimited free delivery on orders of $50 or more or speedier click-and-collect services.

Similarly, if you’re looking to simply shave dollars off your grocery bill and boost your Flybuys points minus the frills, then Coles Plus Saver could be a better fit for your needs. It all comes down to your personal circumstances.

And if both programs fit your needs? Go right ahead. It’s possible to sign up for Coles Plus and Coles Plus Saver to take advantage of both of the program’s benefits. There’s no discount when purchasing both memberships, though, so you’re looking at $26/month in fees. But the points bonuses do stack. Here’s what you’ll earn when you hold both of Coles’ subscription memberships:

How to join Coles Plus Saver

If you already have a Coles account, you can join Coles Plus Saver using your existing login details. You’ll be prompted to enter a credit or debit card or your PayPal account details for the monthly subscription fee.

If you don’t have an existing Coles account, you can still follow this link to sign up for Coles Plus Saver and create a new account.

Also, you don’t need to have a Flybuys account to join Coles Plus Saver. Though without one (or if you choose not to link your Flybuys account to your Coles Plus Saver account), you won’t be able to avail of the double Flybuys points on eligible purchases – one of the main drawcards of the Coles Plus Saver program.

At the time of writing, only Victorian and Tasmanian residents can sign up for Coles Plus Saver.

Summing up

Coles’ new initiative, Coles Plus Saver, is a great way to access additional benefits at the checkout. With a no-frills approach and geared towards budget-conscious shoppers, Coles Plus Saver fills a gap in Coles’ subscription program offerings, putting the new program on par with Woolworth’s successful Everyday Extra program.

For many, the 10% monthly discount at Coles has a strong appeal. And you could easily recoup the cost of the $7 subscription fee by using your discount on a large shop. Plus, if you’re looking to boost your Flybuys points balance, whether you’re chasing a $10 discount on shopping or converting Flybuys points to Velocity Points, the extra points offered with this program can help you achieve your points goals faster.

While only residents in Victoria and Tasmania can access Coles Plus Saver, there are promising benefits of the program already. Hopefully it will be rolled out to more states in Australia soon.

Also read: A beginner’s guide on how to earn Flybuys points

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