Sainsbury’s has confirmed they have cancelled the Nectar Double Up event in 2021. Here’s everything we know.
£10 sign up bonus: Earn easy cash by watching videos, playing games, and entering surveys.
Get a £10 sign up bonus when you join today.
Join Swagbucks here >>
We knew that Nectar Double Up would get cancelled in 2021. We called it a few days ago.
What first set off our feelers was the recent news that Sainsbury’s was launching My Nectar Prices.
I could sense at the time that Double Up, and other Nectar promotions to boost your points would be cancelled.
Part of their statement when they announced My Nectar Prices on 16th September read:
The launch demonstrates Sainsbury’s strategy to focus more on bringing customers consistently good value all year-round, rather than only running temporary Nectar promotions that typically benefit a small number of shoppers.
Sainsbury’s media website
Maybe I was reading between the lines, but it really felt like they were going to stop anything other than year-long Nectar offers.
Another part of the statement said:
Nectar is a key component of Sainsbury’s ‘brands that deliver’ strategic priority. Alongside Argos, Habitat, Tu and Sainsbury’s Bank, the brand must contribute positively to the business in its own right and support Sainsbury’s focus on putting food first.
Sainsbury’s media website
Again, it sounds like Sainsbury’s wants to push their food rather than all the other bits and pieces they sell. As, essentially, they are competing with their other brands a bit.
However, I wasn’t expecting them to cancel it quite this fast!
Nectar Double Up cancelled
We’ve also been made aware by a few people who’ve heard whisperings.
There was an internal communication released yesterday, and management are telling staff.
One member of staff told us anonymously:
“Our store manager told us.
“Loads of staff are disappointed too.
“I was saving my Nectar Points to double for Christmas myself.”
Sainsbury’s and Nectar have not released a formal statement for their customers to confirm the event has been cancelled.
I approached Sainsbury’s for comment and their spokesperson said:
“At Sainsbury’s we’re committed to giving our customers great food at low prices.
“Fewer customers have been using Double Up over the last few years and so it’s only benefitted a small minority of our customers.
“We know some people will still be disappointed to see it go, but we hope more customers will be able to take advantage of our new Nectar Prices to offer.
“This gives customers access to lower prices and personalised offers year-round.”
What is My Nectar Prices?
Anyone with a Nectar loyalty card can get lower food prices when they shop using the handheld scanning device in store.
Shoppers using the Smart Shop scanner can save up to 30% off on personalised offers each week.
They’ve estimated that their customers can save more than £200 a year through the scheme.
They wanted to start a promotion that could benefit more customers all the time, rather than one-off promotions.
What was Double Up?
The Double Up promotion has been running for several years, usually starting towards the end of October.
Using the offer, you can double the value of your vouchers to buy things from a Sainsbury’s store (although not for food).
While the promotion has been hated by many due to how complicated it can be, it’s also loved by many more.
With it being so near to Christmas, shoppers save their points through the year and use them to buy toys, other gifts and even wine without spending any cash.
So, how does this affect you? Did you ever use Double Up?
While this loyalty scheme is reducing, others are getting better: check out Asda Rewards where you can get money off future shops.
Frequently asked questions
No, Sainsbury’s is not getting rid of Nectar points. You can still collect and spend points, as usual, they are stopping temporary Nectar promotions and focussing on year-long offers.
You can find your Nectar points value with our easy to use calculator.
A Sainsbury’s spokesperson confirmed to us that Nectar Double Up is cancelled in 2021.
With the introduction of My Nectar Prices, it looks like short term promotions like Double Up will be cancelled in future years.
There are lots of ways to spend your Nectar points. You can use them to buy things at Sainsbury’s (either food or fuel), at Argos, eBay or with a few other retailers.
Mora Meek says
I recognise that I am in the minority but I don’t want to use hand held scanners or a phone app to shop in Sainsbury’s nor do I want a self service checkout. I want to buy what I want, go to a manned checkout and make my purchases, I like to think that this may also help someone to keep their job. I now shop mostly at Tesco benefiting from their clubcard discounts having also abandoned Morrison’s for their insistence on using the app for any rewards. I am sick of hearing it is what the customer wants no one has ever asked me what I want.
Anna says
I absolutely agree with everything you have just said 100% with you on this.
FiJayB says
Gutted, I’d been making plans already on what wine we were having for Christmas! Ah well, will take my business to Aldi where the wine is much cheaper anyway and try and use my points for something else
Sue D says
Been saving all year (and with eBay/petrol etc purchases). Should of done the promotion one last time and allowed us to use our points up – waste of time and effort . Spent £50 in points on normal shopping yesterday so I don’t lose out.
Jane Carroll says
I’m loyal to Sainsburys and Nectar but I shop online, so don’t use a Smart Shop scanner. Do they no longer want online customers?
sue francis says
Really disappointed with Sainsburys this year. I was looking forward to using my nectar points in the double up offer as I have done in previous years, for most of my christmas presents. I feel you have disappointed many of your customers who rely on this every year. I doubt it will encourage customers to buy more food as there is only so much you can eat! Big mistake Sainsburys, not much point shopping there anymore, I will be going elsewhere.
Olivia gold says
I’m am livid they have cancelled and not communicated this to their customers I will never shop at Sainsbury’s again!!
TJ says
Thanks Sainsburys – that’s cut our Christmas spending budget by about £70 this year! We have loyally saved Nectar points all year for this promotion.
Shoppers are now meant to go around the store buying what Sainsbury’s tell us to buy? I don’t think so. They need to expect shoppers to look elsewhere from now.
Alexandra Pressland says
They should have. Given warning is at least done it one last time when Tesco changed their club card from 4x to 3 they gave ample warning so people could convert it wasn’t great but at least we got to use the vouchers we had been saving no such courtesy from Sainsburys between the family we had saved £400 worth and we use this for all our Christmas presents, annoyed doesn’t even cover it, will no longer be a Sainsburys customers why shop with an app and a scanner to get a few pence off a few items when you can go to Aldi or Lidl without having to do all that? Nope very bad form, I even ring nectar a few weeks ago and they said it was going ahead as usual.
James Perry says
I doubt anyone from Sainsbury’s will read this but I’m postimg wherever I can.
As a result of this, I will be ditching all Sainsbury’s brands, including Nectar and Argos and will shop with Aldi instead.
Diligently using the app to boost my points for a whole year in order to participate in the Double Up scheme, only to have the rug pulled with no notice? Shame on you Sainsbury’s!
You SHOULD have at least given us notice and said this will be the last year – that would be forgivable – this nonsense is plain and simple deceit though – consider yourselves boycotted!
Heather Allen says
This is a real shame, we save our points all year to use the double up scheme. We max out the most points we can to buy Christmas presents and lots of wine!! It was a great offer for us.
This year we have less points as I’ve switched to using Lidl for the big shop. I think I’ve halved my shopping bill by doing that. However I still had enough points saved for the double up scheme. Mostly due to the fact that we also have a Sainsburys credit card. No point in keeping that now.
As I only buy bits and pieces from Sainsburys now I don’t expect the new system will work at all for me.
Helen Simpson says
Absolutely disgusted, as with others I have saved my points to use as we approach Christmas and to withdraw the scheme without notice in a year that is already going to be as financially tight as this, is unforgivable. Tesco behaved far better with its scheme change.
Andy Richards says
Just went online to see when this year’s “double up” scheme was available, only to find that it has been cancelled summarily without so much as a heads-up.
I have been using the Sainsbury delivery service since the beginning of Covid, accumulating Nectar points every week from the offers on the app. I have doubled up for the last three years on wine for Xmas and lauded this to family and friends during this period. WHAT A KICK IN THE TEETH. I will be changing my allegiance to Tesco now, both for home delivery and credit card. Their Clubcard scheme looks far more attractive.
Alice Swan says
I would like Sainsbury’s to divulge the data that suggests that the double up nectar points were not utilized last year, considering online shopping was a must for the population due to covid. I would hope the freedom of information act would cover this request.
Susan Smith says
Yes I too will not venture into Sainsbury’s in 2022
Another underhand decision- should have given notice of intent to stop after Xmas considering what we’ve all been through this year
MISTAKE
Lowerey says
Bad idea sainsbury, only reason I ever buy anything in your shop is to collect points. I saved every point I could all year, even got pet and house insurance from you for the points. Gutted is a understatement. I always use the double up for Christmas gifts and clothes for my children. You should have given a warning, I could have spent my hard earned money in cheaper supermarket all year, I could have bought cheaper insurance. I won’t be in again. Congratulations I guess the amount of customers your about to lose means your staff will have to start job hunting
PG says
Gutted, have saved all year for this! I guess customers will vote with their feet. Complete nonsense that people do not use it. The new system is a waste of time, faffing about on the app in store trying to find a product I want and ending up saving 20p!! Urghh!
JOHN DIDSBURY says
I agree with previous posts that Sainsburys have made a big mistake with their cancellation of the annual double-up scheme. This will cost Sainsburys business and a loss of good will that’s for sure.
Also, fully agree with comments about the Smart Shop app which is a total faff. Surely the technology is already there to give promotional prices on the basis of using a nectar card at the till rather than faffing around with an app and scanning specific products. A joke !
Tesco already do this with their Clubcard so what is the problem?
Whoever thought up the Smart Shop app and whoever gave it the go ahead in Sainsburys has a lot to answer for.
Maxine says
Very disappointed no double up with my nector points…should have done one last year… very stupid move sainsburys…people been saving them all year long..
You will lose alot custom…
Susan says
What a shame Sainsbury have cancelled the double up scheme without warning. I save up points especially for this time of year to buy gifts, I’m so gutted!
Anna C says
BIG mistake Sainsburys !! I have also been saving points for the double up as in previous years, the queues last year of people taking part proves it was still very popular (maybe too popular costing too much?) To let us collect points all year and then do this, I have already shopped elsewhere without all the technology faff and I like it. Shopping at Sainsbury’s’s has been getting frustrating for some time as in no price tickets, wrong prices charged, products on the shelves with the wrong tickets and so many other mix ups, customers will walk.
Ian Taylor says
I also will be taking my shopping elsewhere,having every major ( i include lidl and aldi in that ) supermarket within a mile from home.I personally hate hand held scanners etc and actively seek out real checkout operators with whom i can exchange pleasantries. SAINSBURY’S YOU HAVE KICKED YOURSELVES IN THE TEETH.