Shoppers are calling for grocery giant, Woolworths, to ‘fire upper management’ and revoke the decision to terminate its partnership with Qantas Frequent Flyer after eight years.
Over the weekend, Woolworths confirmed a new $500 million customer loyalty program which excludes Qantas Frequent Flyer in favour of rewarding shoppers with ‘Woolworths Dollars’ – points that can be used on food and liquor discounts.
To compensate for removing people’s chances of shopping their way up to free flights, the new program offers a higher earn rate or discount of 1.25 percent compared to the current 0.42 percent.
Qantas has remained positive throughout the announcement, saying it’s still in discussions with the grocer.
@JamieMol Hi Jamie, Woolworths has been a long term partner with Qantas and we are in discussions with the retailer. Regards, Rach
— Qantas (@Qantas) October 26, 2015
However, the entire situation isn’t sitting well with a number of Woolworths customers who have taken to the company’s Facebook page to express their disappointment and call for an immediate change.
Among them is Robert Mitrevski from Cairns who earned 272,500 points in around five years from the Woolworths Everyday Rewards joint venture with Qantas.
Mitrevski says he’s ‘had enough’ of Woolworth’s ‘bad decisions’ and is even contemplating selling his shares in the company.
“You’re going to lose 1000’s of customers from this stuff up.”
Robert Mitrevski, Woolworths Customer
Another Facebook user, Cindy Dall, described Woolworth’s decision as a ‘terrible business move’ before sarcastically congratulated the grocery chain for ‘losing another regular customer’.
She continued, saying she sees no ‘real value’ in the new program.
“By cancelling your deal with Qantas and replacing it with effectively nothing, there is now no reason for loyal customers to remain loyal.”
Cindy Dall, Woolworths Customer
Happily retired, Pat David, wasn’t so happy when he heard about the change, saying the partnership with Qantas Frequent Flyer was ‘the main reason’ for being part of the reward programme.
“Regret your decision Woolworths and I believe that you need to do more than just offer this new reward card.”
Pat David, Woolworths Customer
And the comments kept coming from people like Andrea:
And Darren:
And the extremely disappointed Karen:
There were a few people with a more positive outlook on the change, such as Bronwyn Halligan, who said she wasn’t sure she liked the new rewards system but wasn’t too disappointed by it.
“I more like being able to pick when I use my rewards.”
Bronwyn Halliga, Woolworths Customer