10 Stores With Super Stellar Rewards Programs

If you love coupons, cash back and secret sales as much as we do, you may want to consider enrolling in the reward programs offered by your favorite stores.

The perks of signing up for a rewards program vary from store to store: Some tout major members-only deals and steals, while others dole out small but frequent rewards that can quickly add up. In general, joining a loyalty program at a retailer you love makes a lot of cents — er, sense, that is. After all, if you’re going to shop, it pays to shop smart.

We’ve rounded up some of the best retailer rewards programs and outlined the most important details for you to know. All these rewards programs earn their Rockstar status by hitting the following marks:

• User Friendliness: All the programs below make it easy to earn, know how much you’ve earned, and cash in the rewards you’ve earned.
• Extra Perks: In addition to points, the reward programs that made our favorites offer other perks, including birthday freebies.
• High Value: You won’t need to grind for years, scraping up enough points to buy something. All the rewards programs below let you earn rewards at a fast clip or offer exclusive discounts that let you save money even if you don’t spend a lot.
• No Fee or Reasonable Fee: The programs are either free to join or have a reasonable fee worth paying because membership gets you 10% off or more on all purchases.

1. Kohl’s Rewards

The Points: When you sign up for Kohl’s Rewards, you’ll earn 5% on every purchase — $5 for every $100 spent. Your earnings will be added to your Kohl’s Rewards balance, which is issued on the first day of the following month and is valid for 30 days. Kohl’s will send you reminders when you have Kohl’s Cash to spend, which can be used on anything in-store, online or through the Kohl’s app.

Other Perks: Kohl’s Cash can be combined with other coupons or special offers. Plus, you can earn an additional $10 Kohl’s Cash for every $50 you spend when you shop during a special Kohl’s Cash earn period. You’ll also be treated to a birthday gift and personalized perks to help you earn rewards even faster.

Why It’s a Great Rewards Program: We love that the program benefits everyone, from new Kohl’s customers to longtime loyal shoppers. Plus, you earn rewards whether you spend a little or a lot. Conveniences, like printing out the remaining balance on your shopping receipt and email reminders about available Kohl’s Cash coupons, help make the Kohl’s Rewards experience easy and enjoyable.

2. Macy’s Star Rewards

The Points: Members of Macy’s Star Rewards loyalty program — and there are more than 30 million — earn points on every Macy’s purchase (except gift cards, services and fees). Every time you hit 1,000 points, you’ll get $10 in Star Money. When you shop in a store, any Star Money you’ve earned will be available to apply at checkout.

Shopping online? Just sign in to your account to access your rewards. Star Money is valid for 30 days after it’s issued. The program has four different membership levels. Bronze is the first level, and it’s open to everyone. Silver, Gold and Platinum memberships are available only to Macy’s credit card holders and are awarded based on how much you spend annually.

Other Perks: Being a member dials you into special deals and savings, as well as surprises tailored to your interests and shopping habits. Macy’s Star Rewards members also receive 25% Star Passes semi-regularly to use on select purchases.

Why It’s a Great Rewards Program: We love Macy’s Star Rewards because you can use Star Money on all purchases, even on top brands, beauty and designers that rarely go on sale. Another plus? Macy’s offers special Star Money Bonus Days when Star Rewards members can earn rewards even faster. Cha-ching!

3. My Best Buy 

The Points: My Best Buy is free to join, and there’s no ongoing membership fee, although Best Buy offers two other membership tiers for a fee. You begin getting points for qualifying purchases as soon as you join the program, and the points become usable 15 days after purchase. You get 0.5 points for every $1 spent at Best Buy or Best Buy’s website. When you accumulate 250 My Best Buy Points, you’ll receive a reward certificate — 250 points equal a $5 reward certificate. Members qualify for Elite or Elite Plus status — and even more benefits — based on how much they spend annually.

Other Perks: As part of you’re my Best Buy membership, you have access to special pricing on some of the latest tech products; strikethrough pricing on product pages shows the exclusive My Best Buy member pricing. You also get free shipping on orders over $35. Write a review and you’ll score 25 additional points! Points accrued can be found when you are signed into your account online.

Why It’s a Great Rewards Program: We love that My Best Buy members get access to exclusive prices and special sales, which makes it a worthwhile program for anyone who regularly purchases video games and systems, TVs and tablets, computers, and cameras. Plus, you can tailor your membership to fit your needs by signing up for student deals or applying for a My Best Buy credit card.

4. Sephora Beauty Insider 

The Points: Join Sephora’s Beauty Insider program to earn points on all your Sephora purchases and redeem those points for sample-size beauty products you select from Sephora’s fabulous Rewards Bazaar. For every dollar you spend, you’ll earn 1 point.

There are three membership tiers: Insider, VIB and Rouge. Insider is open to everyone, but to become a VIB, you must spend $350 a year; $1,000 a year gets you Rouge status. All members can access two shopping events a year where you can save big. The higher your membership tier, the better the savings.

Other Perks: In addition to the two special savings events, members are treated to an exclusive end-of-year deal and a free birthday gift. Rouge and VIB can get a free monthly gift from a top brand with a purchase. As for shipping? Insiders get free shipping over $50, VIB members get free shipping over $35, and Rouge members get free shipping with no minimum purchase.

Why It’s a Great Rewards Program: Beauty Insider points really add up before you know it. We love all the free samples you get to try — it’s a great way to discover new brands and try out new products. You even get points when you shop Sephora at JCPenney and Sephora at Kohl’s. Plus, Sephora makes it really easy to keep track of your status by logging into your Beauty Insider page online. You can view your year-to-date activity and current points balance, redeem points for rewards and gifts, and learn about your Beauty Insider benefits.

5. Target Circle

The Points: When you enroll in Target Circle, you’ll earn 1% on every eligible purchase to redeem at Target later. Simply sign into your account when shopping online or enter your phone number on the keypad or self-checkout screen when you’re in the store to start saving. Your 1% rewards add up, but they expire if you don’t use them in a year.

Other Perks: Target will email members a special gift on their birthday, and you can always take advantage of special, personalized deals on the Target Circle offers page. You can even save offers to your account and redeem them when you check out. What’s more, every time you check out, you earn one vote to help direct where Target gives back in your community, so there’s the feel-good factor, too.

Why It’s a Great Rewards Program: One thing we love about Circle Rewards is that it’s free to join — no monthly or annual fee. We also dig the personalized recommendations. Target makes it incredibly easy to take advantage of coupons and discounts at checkout, so you don’t miss out on any potential savings. Now that’s smart shopping!

6. Barnes & Noble B&N Membership

The Points: Calling all book lovers! When you enroll as a Barnes & Noble member for free, you’ll start earning points right away. For $39.99 a year, you get even more perks. Throughout the year, you’ll receive members-only offers and free shipping on all orders — no minimum required. Everything in the store, including magazines and cafe items, is 10% off for members. But the best part? Members get one free ebook a month. Sign us up!

Other Perks: Members can shop at special sale prices and sign up for events, like author talks and readings, before everyone else. You’ll get a little something special on your birthday, too.

Why It’s a Great Rewards Program: Did we mention the 40% hardcover bestsellers? 

7. The Nordstrom Nordy Club 

The Points: Savvy shoppers everywhere are signing up for The Nordy Club and earning points toward Nordstrom Notes to spend at Nordstrom. Membership is free. You earn 1 point for every $1 spent. Shop with a Nordstrom credit card and up the ante: 2 points for every $1. Just provide your mobile number at checkout or pay with your Nordstrom card when shopping in-store or online at Nordstrom, Nordstrom Rack and Nordstrom Trunk Club to connect your account. Earn status based on how much you spend on a Nordstrom credit card to unlock even more deals.

Other Perks: Free basic alterations? Check. First to shop “clear the rack” sales? Check. Access to special events? Check!

Why It’s a Great Rewards Program: I recently took advantage of my Nordy Club membership to get a pair of jeans expertly altered for free, so I’m feeling pretty positive about the program right now. It’s also nice that there is no membership fee to join. If you shop often at Nordstrom, points add up quickly.

8. Michaels Rewards

The Points: Each week, Michaels introduces new offers that allow you to accumulate Reward dollars — for example, spend $25 and earn a $5 reward. Michaels communicates these deals through their in-store promotional flyer, on the Michaels website, and in Weekly Rewards emails, which often include exclusive personalized offers and opportunities to earn additional Rewards. The program costs nothing to join.

Other Perks: No receipt? No problem! Michaels Rewards members get receipt-free returns (you only need your Rewards phone number/email), a special birthday perk and other special limited-time offers.

Why It’s a Great Reward Program: Joining Michaels Rewards is like getting paid to shop. Whether you’re an artist or teacher, scrapbooker or decorator, earning rewards through specific product purchases, bonus offers and holiday promotions is easy. You can manage your account on Michaels website and through the Michaels app, where you can also activate the latest Bonus Offers and check out the weekly Rewards Specials. The best part is seeing how much you save when they ring up your total at checkout.

9. DSW VIP

The Points: DSW recently supercharged its loyalty VIP program, making it super easy to accrue rewards dollars and save. VIP Club members get 1 point for every $1 they spend — and you get a $5 reward for every $100 (or 100 points earned). There are three tiers to the program: Club, Gold and Elite. Club membership is free and open to everyone; you achieve Gold status when you spend more than $200 in a year and Elite status when you spend $500 in a year. Gold and Elite members get a $5 reward for every $50 spent, plus additional benefits. All members receive personalized special offers and chances to earn bonus points, which help you earn rewards faster.

Other Perks: VIP Club members get free shipping on any order, $5 off during your birthday month and 20% off just for signing up!

Why It’s a Great Rewards Program: Not your average rewards program, DSW VIP is your free ticket to offers, perks and exclusives created just for you. What’s more, this is a program that encourages giving back — as a VIP Club member, you’ll get 50 points when you donate a used pair of shoes to someone in need.

10. Starbucks Rewards

The Points: When you enroll in Starbucks’ Rewards program, you’ll earn “stars” per dollar you spend on eligible purchases to redeem at Starbucks later. Create a Starbucks.com account with your name and email address and download the Starbucks app to begin earning stars for your purchases. Unused stars expire after six months. Note: Starbucks is making changes to its rewards program on Feb. 13, 2023.

Other Perks: Starbucks Rewards perks are plentiful and include a free drink on your birthday drink, new Rewards sign-ups start with 25 stars, and Double Star Days, where you can earn double stars on purchases, to name a few. 

Why It’s a Great Rewards Program: Starbucks Rewards members can earn Delta SkyMiles by making Starbucks purchases and 1 Delta SkyMile per $10 spent on eligible Starbucks purchases. Plus, members earn stars with the purchase of qualifying Starbucks products at grocery stores. But hold onto your receipt.

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