Warning as shoppers have just a WEEK left to earn points on video game retailer loyalty scheme

SHOPPERS have just over a week left to earn points on a retailer’s loyalty scheme before it is axed for good.

Game, owned by the Frasers Group, is winding down two of its rewards programmes on July 31.

Getty

Game is winding down its two loyalty schemes[/caption]

The video game chain is dropping its Game Reward and Game elite schemes.

Both let customers earn points on purchases made in-store or online which can be redeemed for money off future shops.

Shoppers have until 11.59pm on July 31 to use up any points they have accrued on either scheme.

However, they can only earn points up until 11.59pm on July 15, just over a week away.

Game said it would be shutting both the loyalty schemes in June, with plenty of video game enthusiasts having reacted to the news since.

Posting on X, formerly Twitter, one recently said: “Can you tell us what’s actually happening with Game itself because as I see it it’s not looking good for Game I hope I’m wrong but what’s happening?”

Another said: “Since deciding to cancel the rewards/elite scheme I wont be shopping with Game any longer.

“I know me alone won’t make a difference but I’m sure many will be the same.”

A third disgruntled video game fan added: “Game (is) taking away one of the last reasons to go shop with them.”

Meanwhile, a fourth commented: “I wonder if Game will survive the year to be honest.”

Customers should receive an email by July 16 telling them their remaining balance if they are part of either scheme.

Emails will be sent to the address they used to sign up to either of the two loyalty programmes.

Any points accrued will need to be redeemed before the end of the day on July 31 otherwise they will be wiped and your account closed.

You can only redeem points once you’ve built up 400, worth £1.

Anything less than this and you won’t be able to exchange the points for a Game product.

Customers can redeem their points by using the Game Reward card or via the app on the Apple App Store or Google Play.

Customers signed up to the Elite scheme can pay for their membership monthly or yearly, at a cost of £36 per year.

If they have bought a 12-month membership, it will close on July 31, unless it is due to expire before then.

Any customers who have paid for a yearly membership will receive their remaining balance as rewards points.

For example, if you paid £36 but only end up using the membership for five months before July 31, you would have £21 outstanding.

If you had £7 worth of Game Reward points in your account, you would be awarded an additional £8 worth of points.

All the terms and conditions relating to the closure of the loyalty schemes can be found on Game’s website.

Game isn’t the first retailer in recent months to announce the permanent closure of a rewards scheme.

Stationer The Works dropped its “Together Rewards” scheme in March, with shoppers left gutted.

The scheme first launched in 2013, but in an email to customers earlier this year, Gavin Peck, chief executive officer, said the retailer had decided to drop the scheme “against a challenging economic backdrop”.

Co-op also ditched its points scheme in January meaning customers could no longer get 2p in points for every £1 spent on its own-brand goods.

It comes after the Frasers Group shut a number of Game branches across the UK.

It closed its store in the Clydebank Shopping Centre, just outside of Glasgow, in May.

It also pulled down the shutters on nine branches between October last year and March this year.

It’s not all bad news for the group though.

It has already started opening “new concept” stores in Norwich, Blackpool and Sheffield.

The concept stores hold various Frasers brands like Sports Direct, Flannels, and beauty halls as well as products from USC, Jack Wills and GAME.

The group will also be taking over the former John Lewis site at Queensgate Shopping Centre, Peterborough, at the end of 2025.

And it has acquired Compton House on Liverpool’s famous Church Street, with the location set to open as a giant Sports Direct.

Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk.

Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories