In Switzerland, there are two supermarkets that dominate the market: Migros and Coop. Both have a free loyalty card scheme which, if used properly, can lead to real savings by the end of the year. This isn’t an advert. It’s just that many people, especially those arriving from Spain, don’t realise how important it is until they realise how much money they’ve missed out on.
The Migros Cumulus scheme works like this: for every franc you spend, you earn one point. When you reach 200 points, you receive a 1-franc voucher. At first glance, it doesn’t seem like much, but with regular shopping, the vouchers add up quite quickly. What’s more, there are promotional weeks when the multiplier increases (5x or 10x points on certain items), and the Migros app offers personalised vouchers that many people never even activate. Coop’s Supercard works in a similar way and also has partnerships with affiliated companies: car hire firms, petrol stations and electronics shops.
Both cards are free and can be requested at the till or directly via the mobile app. The problem isn’t getting them: the problem is that many people keep them in a drawer and don’t use them properly. They don’t activate personalised offers, they don’t collect bonus points during special weeks, and they don’t link the card to the app where the additional promotions are available. A family that shops regularly could save between 200 and 400 francs a year just by doing this. Money left in a drawer doesn’t count.