I reached the Optimum Rewards top tier!

~ stashy

One of my unspoken goals this year was to try to hit the top tier of the Shoppers Drug Mart (SDM) Optimum Rewards Program – and I’m proud to announce that as of this past weekend, I did!
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This was no small task given my No-Buy.  For those who are not familiar with SDM or Optimum Points – SDM is the main drugstore here in Canada* – they sell everything from diapers to hair dye to granola bars. Besides drugstore makeup, SDM also carry high end cosmetics brands in their Beauty Boutique including Guerlain, Chanel, Clarins, Shiseido, Smashbox, Benefit, Lancome, Clinique, Anna Sui, etc.

SDM offers a loyalty program where for every dollar spent, 10 points is earned. These points can then be redeemed for almost anything in the store as follows:
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Technically speaking, to reach 95,000 Optimum Points, it means spending $9,500 at SDM!  But in reality, no one does this because SDM constantly offers bonus points – some bonus points are tied to specific brand offers (“buy 2 Revlon lipsticks, get 3000 bonus points”) but the better bonus points are the multiplier offers, such as: spend $50, get 20x the points.  Leveraging just the 20x the points offer, it means one can reach 95,000 points by spending $475 (redeemable for $170 of free products).  That’s amazing when you think about it as a percentage: it’s like getting 36% of what you spent back in free products.
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I was hovering at 60,000 points for ages and had all but given up on the possibility of achieving 95,000 points this year.  But then, the SDM mobile app launched in the summer.  At first, I wasn’t so disciplined to check the app for offers / coupons but I soon realized that it gave me exclusive offers based on my previous purchases / shopping habits.  I received a lot of product specific offers as well as lower thresholds to receiving 20x bonus points (last week I had a spend $20 get 20x offer).  Once coupons appear on my app, all I do is load them onto my card:
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For those of you who collect Optimum Points, I urge you to download the app – that’s really how I was able to achieve the highest tier relatively easily and quickly (my weekend purchases that pushed me over to the top tier consisted of razor blades / shaving foam for the bf, and feminine products for moi).

So, earning points is one thing – but redeeming is another!  One could just redeem the 95,000 points at face value for $170 of free product. But, those in the know, save them up for SDM redemption events!  That’s right, SDM offer special “Spend Your Points” days that increases the value of the points so that instead of $170 worth of free stuff, it’s worth even MORE!
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The most I’ve ever seen was the SUPER redemption event where $170 was worth $250. 😮  Typically, the top tier would be increased to be worth $220 and there should be a “Spend Your Points” event before the end of the year.

So, I’m formulating my wish list to redeem these points before the end of the year (yup, another No-Buy loophole!) – on the top of my list are (some of these are from my lemmings post):

Clinique Take the Day Off Cleansing Oil – $32
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Clinique Cheek Pop in Nude, Fig or Heather Pop – $24
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Clinique Pop Lip Colour and Primer in Melon Pop – $21
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Benefit Rockateur Box o’ Powder Blush – $36

Guerlain Meteorites in 03 Intense – $71
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Anna Sui Lipstick G in 350 Powder Pink – $29
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Grand total: $213  😀

*  Apologies for non-Canadians, please don’t be jealous of our super awesome loyalty program. You guys get all the breaks with amazing discounts and access to lots of brands we don’t have, and free shipping from so many sites. (that last line doesn’t apply to Australians – you guys get shafted when it comes to makeup!)

I just wanted to share my excitement with you guys – anyone else sitting on a bunch of points to redeem?  What’s on your wish list?

53 thoughts on “I reached the Optimum Rewards top tier!”

    1. Yes, maybe in the end it balances out! 😛 I love watching drugstore hauls from Americans! I’d love to use coupons too – we don’t get nearly as many coupons as you do!

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        1. I visited Ulta in Chicago and it is by far my favourite beauty store in the US! I love how they lay out products by type, not by brand. And I love the mix of drugstore / mid-range / higher end products – all under one roof! I wish they’d come to Canada!

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  5. I Love SDM points, too! I admit that we spend enough at the drugstore (plus I use their personalized coupons all the time) that I have enough for two 95k redemptions. I’m waiting for a good Spend Your Points event, now 😀 Congrats on getting to the max redemption and I hope you get to get your goodies, soon!

    I don’t have much on my SDM wishlist…maybe the Meteorites like you have on your list, a Clarins lipgloss, and some Chanel lipstick & nail polish.

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    1. I know someone else sitting on a pile of points too! I guess if you’re not itching to spend them, you can be patient to wait. There’s GOT to be one coming up in Nov / Dec, I’m thinking! I need to formulate a strategy or else I get over excited and end up coming home with a bunch of stuff I didn’t plan on getting! 😛 Yeah I want Clarins stuff too. And Shiseido… ugh too many products, not enough points!

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  6. Congrats!! Earning Shoppers points is so much easier than any other stores, and especially considering you can redeem it for high-end products, I feel like makes it the best reward system we have. I would personally use it to treat myself to the Guerlain Meteorites on your list 😉

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    1. I love the fact that more and more Shoppers now carry the high end brands. It used to be that only a few did but now a lot of them are renovating to have a Beauty Boutique! I use to trek to Murale to redeem since they have amazing brands but it’s SO far away from me. I can’t wait until I get my paws on the stuff… ahhhh.

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  7. I’m so excited for you! That’s a great list; and a nice treat during your “no-buy”. Have you noticed that since Loblaws bought SDM, the offers haven’t been as good and they haven’t had a bonus redemption day in a really long time.

    I’m at 77,000 points / $115. I haven’t finalized my wish list yet, but I’m thinking of a nude moisturizing lipstick and something luxurious… (I just redeemed $100 worth of HBC points for a Clinique eye serum and Philosphy cleanser.)

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    1. I actually noticed the opposite – lately the offers have been AMAZING. But, yes I have noticed there haven’t been as many redemption days in a long time. It used to be a lot more frequent.
      Yeah HBC points are good too. I’m going to focus on both Optimum and HBC points come the new year. I’ll only go to Sephora for brands I can’t find at either of those places OR when they have a VIB sale (20% off whole store).

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  12. Very impressive! I need to shop @ Shoppers more often, my default for higher-end products is always Sephora because I love the samples but getting money to spend on whatever you want is obviously much better! You’re going to have a blast on your free shopping spree!

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  14. I to am sitting on a boatload of points!! I am hoping that they do a bonus redeemption soon! I would love to use my points to get a few holiday gift sets, I love trying out alot of things from different brands. None of the SDM close to me carry Guerlian or Nars otherwise I would be all over them. Smashbox, Benefit, Stila, Clinique and Urban Decay. Which reminds me I wanted to try out the cheek pops to. The list is getting longer.

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    1. It’s a good idea to get holiday gift set! None of the SDM around me carry Nars or else I’d be ALL over that. Yes, I forgot they also carry UD – I don’t have any UD only my wish list right now. The wish lists never END! 😛

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    1. I used to think it was impossible to reach the top tier until I learned the tricks. I’ve reached the top tier several times before and LOVED all the free stuff I’ve gotten. Yes, I own a couple of the Clinique Cheek Pops already when they first launched but I’m super excited to try the new shades they released this year! I remember you featured one on your blog. 😀

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      1. Yeah! I love it! That post is also one of my most popular Youtube videos too. So crazy! As for Shoppers, I buy $100 Shoppers Gift Cards which you get 1000 points for, then go shopping on those crazy points days! LOL! Every little bit counts. I can’t remember the last time I paid cash for Dior! YAY Shoppers!

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  16. congrats! i’m hanging on until i hit the top tier & then will do the same to trade-in for some hi-falutin’ b-e-you-tay! 😀

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    1. This nerd-o just looked up last year’s holiday redemption offer at Murale… looks like it’s gonna be a Black Friday offer 😀

      Bonus Shoppers Drug Mart Optimum points redemption event at Murale from Nov 27 to 30.

      Redeem 38,000 points for $70 off, a $10 bonus
      Redeem 50,000 points for $105 off, a $20 bonus
      Redeem 95,000 points for $210 off, a $40 bonus
      Redeem 134,000 points for $300 off, a $60 bonus

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  17. Yeah, I’ve known SDM through my aunt (again!) . But I never knew about the points but maybe she also avails one for she often buys most of what’s in her Balikbayan Box there.

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