Dear SHC, I've noticed despite your poorly executed advertising that you have expanded your SYW program to include points for shopping online at other retailers such as KMart competitor Target. In fact, you can earn 4% & 5% back in points shopping at retailers such as Hot Topic which is a higher % than shopping at your own stores. Your own stores that you now call Partners, the same as you call Hot Topic on your site.
After moving past your lack of loyalty to your own formats, such as at least elevating Sears & KMart into premier partner status, I have been plagued with this question.
WHAT is the incentive for the members to chase points if all they can buy with these points is overpriced poor quality items?
Which is what you currently carry in your stores and it seems to be getting worse as vendors leave you & you try to cut costs beyond what is reasonable.
The points conversion to merchandise is the same as when you win tickets at Chuck E Cheese or the arcade and for 20,000 tickets you can get a small stuffed animal and a sticky frog. But at least you had fun playing so the prize doesn't matter. I guess people can buy odds & ends in your stores but how long is this sustainable? Arcades are seasonal. Most people don't go too often. Have you thought this through?