PC Optimum Discussion Thread 2022

PC OPTIMUM FAQ

What is PC Optimum?
It's a new loyalty program launched by Loblaws. It is basically merging both the PC PLUS program and Shoppers Optimum program into a single new program. The best of both worlds has been combined into one program.

Are there any benefits to joining?
Yes. Free groceries!

Do points expire?
No. Your points do not expire. However, your account can be closed, if you do not earn or spend any PC Optimum points at least once every 2 years or if you don’t have an open PC Financial Mastercard® registered to your account. For more details, please see the PC Optimum program

What is a PC™ ID?
A PC™ identification is a universal login that can be used to access your accounts across a variety of Loblaw and Shoppers Drug Mart Inc. websites. If you are registered with joefresh.com , beautyboutique.ca or online grocery websites, you already have one. Your PC™ id is your email address and password and you should use it as your login information for your PC Optimum account. If you were only registered with PC Plus you will need to create a PC™ id in order to register for PC Optimum.
By grocery websites, I'm assuming their banner grocery websites, like realcanadiansuperstore.ca

I already have a PC MC. Do I need a pc optimum card?
No. But it is in your best interest to register for the new program and load your offers for even more points.

Account Issues
Help! I'm having issues registering!
You can try calling in for help with registering your account. The folks there will try to assist you in signing up.

Help! I forgot my card at home! Can I bring in my receipt to get the points?
Unfortunately nope. Points cannot be applied retroactively, so try to remember your card!
You can also download the app to your phone so you'll never forget it.

Can I give the cashier a picture of my card? Isn't the same as giving them the app or my card?
No, The cashier can scan your card but you will not be able to redeem any points if you give them a picture of your card. If someone else in your household wants a card, please don't be lazy and actually get them a card or key fob available in store at your local participating pc optimum store.

Can I give them my phone number for my points?
Please don't be lazy and actually dig out your card. The cashiers can do phone number if it's attached to your linked registered profile, but cashiers will only do it for big orders and you can't find your card at all. In other words it's a last resort for folks buying a ton of stuff. You can do a points inquiry for any missing offers once you get home for your smaller orders. This is a new thing so many cashiers don't know how to do it, nor are they encouraged to do so, so please please remember your card!.

It says email already registered!
That means you probably already registered for a click and collect account or a pc insiders account. I recommend checking your email for a PC id email. If you've gotten one in your pc plus email, then you've most likely already had one and you'll need to do forget password or login with your details, and register for pc optimum that way. Simplest way if you get that message is to do forget password and register for pc optimum that way.

Why can I no longer view my points balance? What about Supplementary Card PC Mastercard holders?
If you are an Authorized User of a PC Financial Mastercard®, you will not see or have access to your primary cardholder’s points balance unless the primary cardholder chooses to add you to their Household. Please speak to the primary cardholder of your account.
If you’re still having trouble, contact PC Optimum Member Care for assistance or call 1-866-727-6468 for help.
The best workaround currently is to attach a plastic pc optimum card to your account and give your supplementary card holder a plastic card attached to your account and tell them to scan the plastic card and only use the mastercard to pay.

Can I present my PC Optimum Card at any time in the transaction?
Let's not temp fate again and do it at the beginning until they've worked out the kinks again. Hopefully the crashes won't happen but again let's not tempt fate

The option to change my plastic pc optimum cards to earn only is gone!
No worries, it's still there. you just need to call in and have them change it for you.
Update: The feature is now available on the website

What if the system went down? I didn't get my offers!
See below.

What if I loaded an offer and did not receive points for a particular offer?
If you are using the PC Optimum™ app:
Go to the Points section of your app and locate the transaction you are missing points from. Click on that transaction and select “Points Inquiry”. Complete the points inquiry form, submit it and we’ll look into your missing points right away.
If you are online at pcoptimum.ca:
Go to My Account and select “Points Inquiry” from the Transactions section. Complete the points inquiry form, submit it and we’ll look into your missing points right away.
If you are emailing
Please include:
Offer Name:
Amount Spent on Offer:
"CODE" at the bottom of your receipt:
Store Name:

Erumuh wrote: ↑ For those who are missing points, DO NOT submit points inquiries - the system is not working properly.
Your best bet is to use online chat (also very buggy, so do other things while waiting in the queue, and it may not work properly when you get to the front of the line, so you have to try again) and ask the person for help.
Have your receipt with the barcode number handy.

Online chat shows "not available"? Reload the page until it shows "chat now" or "available," then leave it open. Some attempts to connect may not register properly, so you have to come back to that page and click the "Chat now" button again.

Be polite - remember that Loblaws knows how screwed up the system is and is trying to fix it, so customer service is motivated to help you WHEN you get a hold of them. But a lot of other people are also trying. Be one of the nice ones and you'll get your points for sure.

It is much recommended that you do a points inquiry via the website as it seems to be gotten to a lot faster than just emailing.

Here is a link to the help faq for pc optimum for additional questions.

https://www.pcoptimum.ca/help-and-support/faq

PC OPTIMUM TOS
https://www.pcoptimum.ca/company-policy ... conditions

Placeholder #3

PLACEHOLDER

NEWS & EVENTS …

POINTS DAYS - PCO BIRTHDAY BASH 2022

It’s the PCO Program’s 4th Birthday Celebration.

What we know so far :

DATE = January 27th thru February 2nd, 2022

It’s a weeklong event this year (Thursday thru Wednesday … corresponds with the Flyer & PCO Offers cycle )

PARTICIPANTS = All PCO Partners ... Groceries, SDM, Beauty Boutique, Joe Fresh, and Esso / Mobil
Over 4500 locations

Will most likely also include promos for joining PC Financial & PC Insider

POSSIBLE PROMOS :

* Bonus Points for Gas Purchases @ Esso / Mobil
* Bonus Points for Total Spends ... WUS Offers @ the major Partners (like Joe Fresh)
* Redemption Events
* Bonus Points for Sign Ups with PC Financial Banking
* Bonus Points for Sign Ups for a PC Financial Credit Card
* Bonus Points for Sign Up for the PC Insiders PAID Membership
* Bonus Points for Total Department purchases (like Produce)
* Bonus Points & Sales for major brands (like Proctor & Gamble)

WATCH THIS SPACE FOR MORE INFO ... as it becomes available

EDIT / ADD = As of January 25th

More info now coming in various places:

Website or App = https://www.pcoptimum.ca
Log in for more info

4500 Locations Participating :
Stores = https://www.pcoptimum.ca/stores/locator
Gas Stations =https://www.esso.ca/en-ca/find-station/

PC Insiders (PAID add on Membership) website = https://www.pcoptimum.ca/insiders/en/
Log in for more info

PC Insiders Report (for what’s new @ PC+ Loblaws Group)
In particular … this article

https://secure.pcinsiders.ca/insiderspr ... oints-days

Flyers … for early bird info check various online flyer websites like:
* Here on the RFD Home Page = https://www.redflagdeals.com
* Flipp = https://flipp.com
* Etc

Link for the Atlantic Superstore Flyers that @simplyton found
pc-optimum-discussion-thread-2022-2520761/#p35638330

Link for the SDM flyer that @simplyton also found
pc-optimum-discussion-thread-2022-2520761/#p35638332

===================================================================

Hi @bluebellrose

Looks great.

Wonderful to see you back at the helm for another year.

As we discussed, I have added some PLACE HOLDERS...

If at any time you feel you need a hand getting info put up here on the first page let me know, and I will get her done,

Again thanks for all you do for the RFD Community, I know I speak for many PCO Members when I say, you do a truly awesome job keeping us all informed on what’s happening with the PCO Program

And it’s so cool to have someone who works the front line from inside the Company to share their knowledge.

Here’s to a great 2022

Cheers!

Points Hubby

WELCOME

Welcome Everyone to the 2022 PCO MegaThread

If you are new to the PCO Program besides the website = https://www.pcoptimum.ca/

Start your journey here on RFD with this thread … the front page is always a good read chock-a-block full of info (and some worthwhile links)

Including some of the other PCO relative / related threads here on RFD

PC Insiders - PCO’s add on PAID Subscription Service = x
Esso / Mobil = x

The rest of this MegaThread is dedicated to discussion, current findings, tips & tricks … and the exchange of info & ideas.

Remember, there really are no dumb questions … cuz although the PCO Program is great, it does have its quirks … and every partner tends to handle things their own way (aka … how they interpret the rules )

I know there is always myself, @bluebellrose and a bunch of other RFDers willing to help.

So welcome to the 2022 PCO MegaThread … we hope you’ll stick around & join the conversation.

Cheers!

Points Hubby

SHOUT OUT TO THE MEGATHREAD REGULARS

Hi Everyone,

A big shout out to all the regulars who check in on the RFD PCO MegaThread to report what’s happening, Offers they’ve found, or to pitch in and share knowledge / answer questions.

On behalf of @bluebellrose & I ... just want to say we truly appreciate it.

Y’all make the job of co-hosting this thread both easier, and a lot of fun too.

Here’s to another great year of collecting points & saving money.

Thanks

Points Hubby

Belated welcome to 2022!

Happy New Year everyone and happy Optimum points collecting.

PS: I had to post something or I would not get email notifications if someone posted in this new thread.

bylo wrote: ↑ Belated welcome to 2022!

Lol in this 2022 an Olympic Year …
@bylo wins the Gold
For fastest post after the Welcomes !!!

Alright … let’s get this party started.

Atlantic Superstore flyer arrived for this week with usual range of weekly deals and member points offers plus 4 additional pages with Points Day offers

SDM Points Day offerings

We don't have a Superstore in Cornwall, so....
Could I also expect these points offers at SDM and/or No Frills/Independent if they carry those particular products?

Our Independent also had the exact same 4 page points day insert

Id need to defer to someone more knowledgeable than me as to whether PEI Independent = Ontario Independent but I do know No frills here usually has different Point Day offers than Atlantic Superstore

SHOUT OUT to @simplyton for posting the upcoming Flyers
For PCO Points Days / PCO Birthday Bash

Awesome job!
Much appreciated

I will also add a link to the OP Placeholder for NEWS & EVENTS info on the 2022 PCO BIRTHDAY BASH

Probably the only offer I will use is the 2k for $20 gas. others are just not that great if you don't need to buy them.

krs wrote: ↑We don't have a Superstore in Cornwall, so....
Could I also expect these points offers at SDM and/or No Frills/Independent if they carry those particular products?

simplyton wrote: ↑ Our Independent also had the exact same 4 page points day insert

Id need to defer to someone more knowledgeable than me as to whether PEI Independent = Ontario Independent but I do know No frills here usually has different Point Day offers than Atlantic Superstore

Yes a lot of the Annual Points Days / Birthday Bash offers relate to national / multi national brands
So it’s product placement by the Corps
Hence not unusual for offers to be across various chains

@krs you’ll have to check your local flyers (I use Flipp online )

If there is indeed something BANNER unique
And you want it bad enough you’ll have to drive to an RCSS (we are also in the same boat as you in Eastern Ontario )

Your closest is going to be Ottawa Environs
Or Kingston

Otherwise look at the flyers too for other PC+ Loblaws Group Stores
Like … Your Independent

You live so close to Quebec … so look at chains there too
Although they have no RCSSs
Provigo … is a bit of a cross between an RCSS & a Loblaws Market
Your closest ones according to their website is
Côteau-du-Lac (never been)
Or … Vaudreuil-Dorion (been a few times … other side of Autoroute 40 from the Costco )

Lol, two birds with one stone
Makes it maybe a worthwhile shopping road trip

⬆ Provigo is upscale like Loblaws.
Maxi is the No Frills or RCSS for Québec.

Temporel wrote: ↑ ⬆ Provigo is upscale like Loblaws.
Maxi is the No Frills or RCSS for Québec.

Yes Maxi is part of the Loblaws Discount Division
(No Frills - Maxi - RCSS )

While Provigo is one of the mainstream chains

BUT … when folks say RCSS, I think less about Discount … than I see the fact they are more big box store
Than say No Frills or Maxi

I feel that actually RCSS has more in common with the mainstream brand stores … just BIGGER

You’ll find for example … the full line of Loblaw house brands @ RCSS
Like … PC Black Label - PC Blue Menu - Seaquest - T&T - Red Rooster - Suraj etc
In addition to the more well known widely distributed … No Name & PC / Presidents Choice

Plus then RCSS has usual a full allotment of the other PC+ Associated Partners (departments & kiosks )
PC Home - PC Pharmacy - Health & Beauty - Joe Fresh - PC Mobile - Theodore & Pringle Opticians etc

Some of the mainstream chains … have more of these than others
I’d lump Provigo into this group

Honestly … other than it’s a big box type of store
Freestanding … not a mall anchor (but aren’t most grocery stores built now also )
I don’t see why else RCSS is in Loblaws Discount Division

But, hey … maybe that’s just me