PetSmart Treats is getting a makeover and they’re bucking the trend of mostly negative changes from loyalty programs by actually making their program even better. The changes will take place on April 2nd and they include simplified earn and burn rates, the addition of elite tiers and more. They are also adding “Rewards” to the program name so going forward it will be known as PetSmart Treats Rewards.
New simplified points earning and redemption rates
Over the past few years we have seen some loyalty programs move to odd earn and redeem rates which makes it harder to calculate your actual value, PetSmart is going the opposite direction. The current Treats program is one of those that is more confusing as it is 8 points per dollar earning and 1,000 points for $2 redemption. That’s not exactly the easiest earn to burn ratio to try to figure out in your head! In the end that works out to a 2% return on your spending not including any bonuses.
Typically when a program changes the earn and/or redemption rates it translates to devaluation in the value of the program. In the new PetSmart Treats Rewards program both the earn and redemption rates are changing but the good news is the value remains the same.
When the revamped program launches in April, Treats Rewards members will earn 10 points per dollar spent (up from the current 8 points) and the redemption rate from that point forward will be 1,000 points for $2 (50 cents less than that current program) What they have done here is increase the earn rate and decrease the redemption rate but this new earn to burn ratio retains the same return of 2%. These changes simplify the program as now we have easier numbers to deal with since it works in multiples of 10.
New Elite Tiers:
The PetSmart Treats Rewards program will see the addition of elite level tiers that come into effect in April as well. These levels will be based on annual spend and even though they don’t launch until April, any spend you have in the program from January 1, 2024 will count. Based on your spending that means you may already have or will reach elite status by the time they go live.
PetSmart Treats Rewards Elite Tier Levels
As you can see the elite tiers provide extra points earning on your purchases with Besties getting an additional 2 points per $1 and VIPPs receiving an extra 4 points per dollar. That puts the return on spend at ~2.4% and ~2.8% respectively.
There will be additional benefits for elite members including:
- Choose when to earn DOUBLE points as a Bestie or VIPP
- Birthday or Gotcha Day premium pet gift for VIPP members
For me personally I’ll have to look back at how much I spend at PetSmart but I know I’ll definitely at least achieve Bestie level this year but even possibly VIP.
Best Credit Cards to use for PetSmart purchases
PetSmart is considered a non accelerated category by virtually all credit cards so you’ll want to use a card that has a higher base earn rate for your purchases here. Personally I use the Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card at PetSmart as it earns 2 points per dollar which at a minimum for me is a 2% return but in most cases much more than that. If you take the latest examples from our How you can get amazing value from the limited time Marriott Bonvoy American Express card offers article, there are redemptions that provide 1.37 and 1.88 cents per point, which multiplied by the 2 points per dollar provide returns of 2.74% and 3.76%.
If you don’t have the Marriott Bonvoy Amex Card, any other 2% or 2 points per dollar cards such as the Scotiabank Platinum American Express Card, SimplyCash Preferred from American Express, the Rogers Mastercard or the Rogers World Elite Mastercard (as long as you are a Rogers customer for the last two) are good bets for earning higher returns on your PetSmart purchases.
Wrapping it up
Last fall I wrote an article on how PetSmart Treats is one of RWRDS Canada’s favourite loyalty programs and now that program is going to be even better! With a standard 2% return on all purchases the program offers double if not more what other shopping programs do and with the new elite bonuses the return is even higher. Of course this only applicable if you have pets, which a lot of Canadians do! How about you? Are you as excited as I am about the change in the program? Let us know in the comments below!
Click here to learn more about new PetSmart Treats Rewards