With the cost of living hitting many households in Australia, it can be challenging to keep up with groceries and other essentials. More retailers are becoming creative with incentives to keep customers coming back, with Coles rolling out its new subscription program, Coles Plus.
For a monthly fee, customers can unlock additional benefits not covered by the free Flybuys program when shopping at Coles. In this guide, we’ll dive into everything you need to know about becoming a Coles Plus member.
Watch this video or continue reading below to learn more:
What is Coles Plus?
Coles Plus is a monthly paid subscription rewards program. Customers can enjoy extra perks when shopping at Coles, Coles Express, First Choice Liquor and Liquorland. A lower free delivery threshold and the ability to earn at least double Flybuys points on eligible purchases are some of the highlights of the program.
Although you can pocket additional Flybuys points with a Coles Plus subscription, it’s worth noting that there is a difference between the two programs. Flybuys is a free, points-based rewards system allowing you to earn points when shopping at Coles stores, Coles-branded retailers, and partner retailers such as Bunnings and Officeworks. Coles Plus provides benefits at Coles and Coles brands only, namely Coles Express, First Choice Liquor and Liquorland. In short, the perks of Coles Plus membership don’t extend to all retailers that are part of the Flybuys program.
That being said, if Coles is your supermarket brand of choice, you may find value in signing up for a Coles Plus subscription.
How much does a Coles Plus subscription cost?
Coles Plus has a flat fee of $19 a month. The subscription is month-to-month, and you can cancel at any time.
At the time of writing, Coles Plus offers a one month free trial for new customers, which is useful if you don’t want to lock into a subscription straight away.
Benefits of Coles Plus membership
Members enjoy extra benefits on top of Coles’ Flybuys program. Here’s what to expect.
- Free delivery on orders over $50.
- Earn 2x Flybuys points when shopping online and in-store with Coles, and in-store with Coles Express, First Choice Liquor and Liquorland.
- Earn 10x Flybuys points when buying liquor online with Coles, First Choice Liquor and Liquorland.
- Free access to Click&Collect Rapid, allowing you to pick up your online order within 60-90 minutes.
One of the key incentives of this subscription is unlimited free delivery with a minimum spend of $50. At the time of writing, the free delivery minimum is $250 for non-Coles Plus members. Coles’ online delivery fee ranges between $2 to $11, depending on the day and your chosen delivery slot. With Coles Plus, you’ll not only receive free delivery on smaller purchases, but the savings can easily offset the monthly subscription fee after just a couple of orders.
While the 2:1 Flybuys points-earning ratio on your grocery shop at Coles is less than the 3:1 Everyday Rewards points earned via Woolworths’ Everyday Extra, it’s worth noting that double points can be earned in-store at other Coles brands, too. Plus, there’s the ability to earn 10x points when making liquor purchases online, which can boost your points balance significantly.
And if you’re wondering about how to redeem Flybuys points, 2,000 points is equivalent to $10 off your shop. Alternatively, thanks to the Flybuys and Velocity partnership, you can transfer Flybuys points to Velocity Points at a rate of 2:1 and fly Business Class with Virgin Australia and other airlines.
Don’t forget that you can maximise your rewards by using a points-earning credit card when shopping. You can pocket points towards a frequent flyer program so you can take off on your next holiday sooner.
How to join Coles Plus
As mentioned above, you can trial Coles Plus free for one month before committing to the $19/month subscription fee. In fact, there’s no option to join without completing the free trial.
Follow the prompts on the Coles Plus website to begin your free one month trial. If you already have a Coles Online account, you can simply log in to add Coles Plus. If you don’t have an account, you’ll be required to create one.
Ensure your Flybuys number is added to your Coles Online account so you don’t miss out on earning valuable points!
Summing up
A Coles Plus subscription provides a host of additional benefits when shopping at Coles and selected retailers. While the program isn’t for everyone, the $19/month fee can easily be offset by the savings on delivery costs. And for points collectors, the bonus Flybuys points earned on eligible purchases can help you reach your goal, whether it’s a $10 shopping discount or more Velocity Points in your stash.
Also read: How to earn Velocity status credits with Flybuys
FAQs
A Coles Plus subscription costs $19 per month.
The value of the program depends on the individual. If you regularly shop at Coles, Coles Express, First Choice Liquor or Liquorland, you may find benefit in earning bonus Flybuys points on your purchases. Customers who often use Coles’ online shopping service can pick up their orders quicker, or have them delivered for free with a lower minimum spend than non-Coles Plus members. To determine if the subscription is right for you, Coles Plus offers a one month free trial for new customers.
When you sign up for Coles Plus, your subscription is month-to-month. This means you’re not locked in and can cancel your Coles Plus subscription at any time.
For example if you spend $300 at Coles per week = $15,600 per year.
Without Coles Plus, this would earn 7,800 Velocity points.
With Coles Plus, you would earn 15,600 Velocity Points.
The subscription costs $240 per year, to earn 7,800 points (at a rate of 3c each). If you value a Velocity point at 1.8c each, this isn’t great value.
7,800 points gets you a one-way basic domestic reward flight. For $240, you could pay for x2 economy lite fares.