Asda makes major change to discounts – and shoppers are furious
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ASDA has made a major change to discounts and shoppers are furious.
The supermarket giant is cutting the perks offered to those with a Blue Light card.
Before today, Asda Rewards members with Blue Light cards earned an extra 10% back into their cashpots when making purchases on a number of different items in-store.
This included:
- Clothing
- Homeware
- Fresh food
- Non-fresh foods
- Pet and laundry products
- Health and beauty
- Baby items
- Outdoor goods
- Toys
But from today, the same customers will only be able to get an extra 10% cashpot boost back on fresh food purchases.
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Fresh products include all fresh meat and fish, fruit and vegetables, food to go, ready meals, chilled and dairy, bakery and flowers products only.
Furious shoppers have vented about the change on social media.
One person said on Twitter: "So Asda went from giving Blue Light Card members 10% off their total shop to giving them 10% back into their 'cashpot', and now only virtual money back on a very specific group of products?"
Another said: "Aye cheers Asda, now only getting the Blue Light 10% on fresh items from tomorrow.
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"Talk about short notice when loads of folk plan their big shop for the weekend.
"This was literally the only reason I shopped there. Not worth my while now, back to Aldi I go."
"Asda slowly withdrawing the Blue Light Card benefits because they only care about NHS and key workers when they can use them for their publicity stunts," said a third shopper.
The Blue Light incentive is only available in-store at Asda's supermarkets and shoppers have never been able to get the 10% boost from purchasing:
- Online groceries
- Alcohol
- Tobacco
- Lottery tickets
- Gift vouchers
- Formula Milk
- Cash-back
- Fireworks
- Photo prints
- Postage stamps
- Top-up mobile phone cards
- Financial services and insurance
- All items within the Just Essentials by Asda
The 10% cashpot boost is also not available in Asda petrol stations, and Asda cafes.
How does Asda's loyalty scheme work?
To take part in the loyalty scheme, you'll need to download the Asda Rewards app which you can find on the and .
You'll need to have an account - if you don't, it's pretty easy to sign up.
You'll just need to pop in your name and a couple of other quick details.
Then, you can earn cash rewards known as Asda Pounds when shopping in store and online.
You'll just need to scan the barcode on the app at the checkout.
If you're shopping online, just make sure you're logged into your account, and then browse as normal.
Usually you can buy certain "star products" which are a mix of branded and Asda own-brand items.
You can see a full list in the dedicated section of the Asda Rewards app, but they're also marked when you're shopping online at Asda.com.
Just be mindful of how much you're spending - not every deal will be worth the money you spend to get it and remember to look around other shops to see what deals they have to compare.
Rewards you earn can be accessed in your "cash pot" within the app.
What is the Blue Light Card?
The Blue Light Card offers exclusive discounts to a range of emergency workers.
You can grab discounts on clothes, holidays, insurance and cars.
You can buy a physical copy of the card for £4.99 or a digital card is free. Once you've got one it lasts two years.
You can use the digital card by downloading the Blue Light Card app via Google Play or the App Store.
It has a useful interactive map feature to help you find local discounts closest to your chosen location too.
You can also keep tabs on how much you've saved with the card which is useful if you're looking to budget ahead of Christmas.
The money-saving card was launched in 2008 and now features a number of partners, including Apple, Alton Towers and Asda.
Who is eligible to get the Blue Light Card?
Only those in certain emergency service or key worker roles can apply for a Blue Light Card.
A full list of those who are eligible includes anyone in the following roles:
- Ambulance service
- Blood bikes
- Fire service
- Highways traffic officers
- HM armed forces
- HM armed forces veteran
- HM coastguard
- HM prison and probation service
- Home Office (Borders and Immigration)
- Independent lifeboats
- MoD civil servant
- MoD fire service
- MoD police
- NHS
- NHS Dental Practice
- Pharmacy
- Police
- Red cross
- Reserved army forces
- RNLI
- Search and rescue
- Social care
- St Andrews ambulance
- St John ambulance
To be eligible for a card you have to prove your profession by uploading a form of valid ID or recent payslip.
To sign up, just head to the Blue Light Card website where you'll have to fill out a form.
Bear in mind, you'll be asked a couple of questions, for example, about your job title and where you work.
Where can you use the Blue Light Card?
The retailers that participate in the Blue Light Card scheme can change regularly, meaning there isn't a comprehensive list of stores you can use it at.
So it's worth checking whether the discount is valid on the store website if you're shopping online, or asking a member of staff when at the till in-store - the worst they can say is no.
Some of the current participating brands include:
- Apple
- Hotpoint
- JD Sports
- My Protein
- New Look
- Odeon
- Ray Ban
- River Island
- Samsung
- Starbucks
- Superdry
- Cineworld
- Domino's
Always make sure to shop around for better offers before making a purchase to be sure you're getting the best deal possible.
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Blue light cardholders can also make big savings on their holidays with the following websites:
- Booking.com
- EasyJet Holidays
- Eurocamp
- Expedia
- Hotels.com
- Jet2 Holidays