If you’re a regular shopper at Tesco, then the Clubcard Plus could be a tempting offer. But how much does it cost, what are the benefits and is Tesco Clubcard Plus worth it?
Is Tesco Clubcard Plus worth it?
For most families who shop in a Tesco store regularly, Clubcard Plus will save them money. In fact, it could work out cheaper than shopping at Aldi. Of course, this does depend on your shopping habits.
Clubcard Plus
I’m sure many of you remember that back at the turn of the century, Tesco seemed close to taking over the world. They were the largest supermarket in the UK and there didn’t seem to be a product they didn’t offer. Not only did they start to offer financial products, but they were also expanding internationally.
Fast forward a decade or so, and things weren’t looking so rosy. Shoppers had flocked to the likes of Lidl and Aldi and the expansion in the US had failed. The financial side has hit a slight rocky patch too, with Tesco no longer offering mortgages.
But, it appears that Tesco is trying to win shoppers back with Clubcard Plus.
What is the Clubcard Plus?
Plus is a subscription service for Tesco Clubcard holders. It gives you money off your Tesco grocery shopping and various discounts on other selected Tesco brands.
It does not give you access to exclusive Clubcard Prices – this can be done through the standard, free Tesco Clubcard.
According to Tesco, “Clubcard Plus is our way of thanking you for shopping with us”. Which isn’t that generous when you consider this is a loyalty scheme you have to pay for.
What are the Tesco Clubcard Plus benefits?
The major benefit is 10% off your Tesco shop twice per month (up to a maximum of £40 across the two shops).
Not only that, but you will earn 10% off certain brands at Tesco. And if you have a pay monthly mobile contract with Tesco, you can double your data for free.
Membership also gives you access to the Clubcard Plus Credit Card. This card allows you to collect extra Clubcard points when you shop anywhere (not just at Tesco), 0% interest on purchases for up to 24 months and no foreign exchange fees.
Which brands are included in the Clubcard Plus discount?
Buying the following brand using your card anytime will give you a 10% discount.
F&F clothing
Fred & Flo (baby essentials)
Carousel (baby and toddler toys)
Tesco Pet products
Fox & Ivy (homeware)
Go Cook
Can you choose your two big shops?
Yes, you can. Each month, Tesco will send you two big shop coupons to your Clubcard Plus App. When you pay, scan the voucher for 10% off.
Double data from Tesco mobile
If you’re a pay monthly Tesco mobile customer, you will qualify for double your usual monthly data.
Any exclusions?
One or two… the following items are excluded from the discount:
Fuel and motoring-related products
Lottery
Gift vouchers and gift cards
Savings stamps and postage stamps
Tobacco products and accessories
Infant baby formula milk
Prescription medicines
Newspapers and magazines
General merchandise, including:
Electricals
Mobile phones, top-ups and accessories
Sports, bikes and camping
Car accessories and DIY
Luggage and bags
Media and entertainment
Homeware
Kitchenware
Gardening Equipment and BBQ
Stationery, cards and wrapping paper
Party accessories
Toys and nursery
Seasonal non-food
In-store third-party concession products
Bureau de change
Carrier bag charges
In-store café or coffee shop
Alcoholic drinks subject to 25% discount on six bottles
Also worth reading
Find out when the next supermarket deal is for 25% off six bottles of wine.
Can you shop online?
You will only receive a discount in a Tesco store with Clubcard Plus. This may be because the supermarkets lose £5-7 with every online shop. Plus, we’re more likely to be drawn into special offers and to try new products if we go into a supermarket.
How much does Clubcard Plus cost?
The monthly subscription costs £7.99.
Can I cancel at any time?
Yes. There’s no minimum subscription period. If you don’t think it’s worth it, you can cancel without penalty. Plus, you can usually take out a free month’s trial.
How do I cancel my Clubcard Plus subscription?
The Tesco app allows you to cancel your subscription from your Clubcard Plus account. But, if there are any problems you can Tesco on 0800 591 688.
Can I use Clubcard vouchers to pay for Clubcard Plus?
Unfortunately, you can’t. You can use your vouchers for many things, but this isn’t one of them.
Also worth reading
Is Tesco Clubcard Plus worth it?
According to the Office of National Statistics, the average family of four spends £560 on groceries each month. That works out at £140 per week, meaning that a Clubcard Plus member would save £14 on two shops – so £28 each month.
After the subscription cost, the average family would be £20.01 better off. And If you purchase clothes, and have pets or a baby, then the 10% off a Tesco brand means you’ll save even more.
Of course, the savvy among you could always put off purchasing some items until you do one of your “two big shops”, which will save you even more money.
If you can guarantee that you will be able to spend at least £70 in store each month, you will make a saving.
On the downside, you won’t see great value from the mobile offer. Currently, 2GB of data will cost you £7.50 per month. If you need more, 12GB will only cost £2.50 more. In fact, 30GB will only set you back £12.50. Still, I suppose it is something for nothing
Is Tesco really good value for money?
It’s been almost four years since I wrote my first review of Clubcard Plus, and I have changed my mind in that time. Due to the increase in shopping costs, this scheme has become better value for money.
Originally, I suggested shopping at discounted supermarkets like Lidl as they would save you far more than 10%.
However, a recent survey by Which? showed that Aldi is now the cheapest supermarket in the UK. However, their prices were less than 10% cheaper compared to Tesco. So, using Clubcard Plus and factoring into the mix that you’ll earn Clubcard points, surprisingly, Tesco became the cheapest supermarket… well, for at least two shops every money.
So, you could shop two weeks each month at Tesco and two weeks at a discount supermarket.
Clubcard Plus is good value for money and a must for any regular Tesco shopper.
If you found my post ‘is Tesco Clubcard Plus worth it’ helpful, why not look at my post about getting the best value from your Clubcard vouchers?
FAQs
Can the Tesco Clubcard Plus be used online?
No. The discounts can only be applied in store and not used online.
What’s the difference between Tesco Clubcard and Clubcard Plus?
Tesco Clubcard is a free loyalty scheme which allows you to collect points. Clubcard Plus is a paid subscription which gives you access to certain discounts.