How to Maximize the Plum Rewards Program

Plum Rewards is a loyalty program that gives you a discount on books and other purchases made at Indigo, Chapters, and Coles. You earn reward points that can later be redeemed to save money on purchases from these retailers.

Here, we'll walk you through the ins and outs of Plum and Plum PLUS so that you can maximize your Plum Points and create that home library you've been dreaming of.

What is Plum Rewards?

Indigo, Chapters, or Coles – some of the most popular bookstores in Canada – offer a free rewards program called Plum Rewards. It's free to join in-store or online, though you can pay to upgrade your membership with a Plum PLUS subscription for further benefits.

Plum Points can be redeemed for discounts on future purchases made at these same retailers, either in-store or online.

Plum Rewards overview

Currency: Plum Points

Reward categories: Cash

Pros:

• Earn points at Indigo, Chapters, Coles, Indigospirit, The Book Company, and indigo.ca
• Personalized offers and bonus offers let you earn points faster
• Mobile app access to your digital card and account info
• Redeem points anytime after reaching the lowest redemption level
• Free to join
• Upgrade to Plum PLUS for more points and perks

Cons:

• No points awarded for eBooks or gift cards
• Low value of 0.2 to 0.29 CPP
• Points cannot be shared or transferred between members
• 35,000-point ($100) maximum redemption in a single transaction

Plum Rewards vs. Plum PLUS

Although the basic rewards program is free, you can purchase a Plum PLUS subscription for $39 per year. You'll get all the basic rewards plus extra discounts, access to VIP events, and bonus points for your birthday.

Here's how Plum PLUS stacks up against a regular Plum Rewards membership:

How to earn Plum Points

Any time you make a purchase at a participating store – that's Indigo and indigo.ca, Chapters, Coles, Indigospirit, and The Book Company – you'll earn Plum Points.

Both Plum and Plum PLUS earn you 5 points per dollar, except on these excluded items:

• eBooks and eReaders
• Electronics and related accessories
• Jellycat and LEGO
• Gift cards
• Love of Reading products/donations
• Shipping costs
• Plum Plus memberships

If you're missing points on your account, you can contact [email protected] to resolve discrepancies.

How to redeem Plum Points

You only have one redemption option for Plum Points: cash. Once you've accumulated at least 2,500 points, you can redeem them for a $5 discount on your purchase. To use your reward, simply show your member number to a cashier or sign in to your online account.

You can also save up your points and cash them in for larger redemptions, but the most you can redeem in a single transaction is 35,000 points for $100 off.

Remember: Plum Points expire if you haven't made qualifying purchases in the last 12 months.

How much are Plum Points worth?

The value of Plum Points varies slightly depending on how many points you're redeeming.

The minimum redemption of 2,500 points will give you $5 off for a point value of 0.2 cents. If you save your points for the maximum redemption of 35,000, you'll get a higher point value of 0.2p cents. The more points you redeem, the better your point value.

Cost of reward in $CAD / cost of reward in points x 100 = value in cents per point (CPP)

Plum Rewards calculator

You can use our handy Plum Rewards calculator to determine the value of the points you have saved:

Is Plum Rewards worth it?

If you shop at Plum Rewards retailers regularly, you're not losing anything by signing up for a free Plum Rewards membership and collecting points.

To determine whether the upgraded Plum PLUS membership is worth it, ask yourself this: Will you save at least $39 per year by gaining access to 10% off most purchases and free shipping on all orders? If the answer is yes, sign up for Plum PLUS and enjoy your books and added savings!

FAQ

Do Plum Rewards expire?

Yes, your points expire if you haven't made a qualifying purchase online or in-store in the last 12 months. To keep your Plum Rewards account active, just redeem a few points or make a purchase at some point during the year.

How do I find my Plum Rewards number?

You can log in to your account online or in the app to find your 12-digit member number. If you have a physical membership card, the number will be on the back. If you have the app, just pull it up to see your digital card, points balance, and personalized offers.

How do I use my Plum Rewards online?

To use your Plum Points for an online purchase at indigo.ca, log in to your Plum Rewards account before you start shopping. When you're ready to make your payment and check out, you'll see the option to redeem points towards your qualifying purchase.

What is the difference between Plum Rewards and Plum PLUS?

Plum Rewards offers a free basic membership that gives points and some exclusive offers. Plum PLUS is a paid membership for $39 per year and gets you discounts and exclusive offers. One of its most valuable features is free shipping on any order.