I’m not usually one to complain, but every now and then, something happens that’s so absurd, I can’t ignore it. Recently, I tried to cancel a loyalty program from one of those big chain drug stores. I signed up because, well, it sounded like a good deal at the time—extra savings, exclusive rewards, all the usual promises these programs dangle in front of you.
But when I realized it wasn’t really benefiting me, I figured I’d cancel. Simple, right? Nope.
Their website wouldn’t let me do it—errors every time I tried. So, I called customer service, and that’s where the real frustration kicked in. Hold times, transfers, verifying my info twice, more hold times. And when I finally got through to someone, they acted like I was crazy for wanting to cancel.
They rattled off all these supposed “amazing benefits,” as if I was making a mistake—like I’d be losing out on something priceless. And that’s when it hit me.
This wasn’t about providing value. It was about making it just difficult enough to keep me locked in.
And here’s the problem—all of this is BAD marketing. Loyalty programs aren't about rewarding customers anymore; they're about keeping them on the hook. What was once a way to build genuine relationships with customers has become just another scheme—another way to squeeze out a few extra bucks under the illusion of exclusivity and value.
What happened to the good old-fashioned concept of offering the best prices and the best service? Why do companies feel the need to wrap their business in a complete fabrication just to make a few extra bucks?
If your product is great, people will come back—no gimmicks required. It’s that simple.
Instead, we get trapped in subscriptions, hidden fees, and “loyalty” programs that are nothing more than glorified money grabs. And you know what? They count on it. They bank on the fact that we’re too busy to notice the extra charges, too distracted to cancel, and too frustrated to fight it when we do.
It’s legalized pickpocketing, and the worst part? Most people don’t even realize it’s happening. They just assume that’s the way business is done now. And that’s exactly why it keeps happening.
Here’s an idea: instead of building businesses around complicated schemes,
how about earning customer loyalty the right way? Deliver real value, be transparent, and treat customers with respect. No hoops to jump through, no fine print—just a straightforward, honest transaction.
The bottom line is this—businesses that focus on real value don’t need smoke and mirrors to keep customers coming back. They know that trust and honesty win every time.
So, let’s stop feeding the corporate machine that thrives on deception and start supporting the businesses that actually deserve our loyalty. No gimmicks. No nonsense. Just honest business.
