SAQ loyalty and recommendation service starts today
Spend $200 and get a $1 rebate
The new loyalty program by Quebec's liquor board starts today.
SAQ Inspire is more of a recommendation service than the usual point-based loyalty program offered by other retailers, although points are part of the equation.
For every dollar spent, a member gets five points. Once 1,000 points are accumulated, a member can get a $1 discount.
In other words, spend $200 for a $1 rebate.
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There are also promotional bonus points for some products. For example, buying Quebec products will net five times as many points from Oct. 8 to 11.
However, the main goal of the program is to track customers' shopping habits and send them targeted recommendations, deals or notices of events such as tastings and cooking classes.
Mark-up more than 100 per cent
The Société des alcools du Québec (SAQ) has been a state-run monopoly on alcohol sales since 1921.
In late August, Lucienne Robillard, the head of Quebec's budget review committee, recommended the monopoly be opened up to competition. Her report criticized the SAQ for being costly and inefficient.
The SAQ responded that it has successfully reduced operating costs over the years.
The agency is often criticized for its high prices.
The markups on its products exceed 100 per cent.
For example, on a $16.20 bottle of wine, the SAQ paid $5.44 to the supplier and added a $7.34 markup, according to the 2014 annual report. The rest of the cost to consumers goes to sales and excise taxes.
