How To Maximize The Plum Rewards Program

What’s better than buying new books? A loyalty program that gives you a discount on your book purchases! With Plum Rewards, purchases you make at Indigo, Chapters, and Coles earn you reward points that you can use to save money on your future purchases.

We’ll walk you through the ins and outs of Plum and Plum+ so that you can maximize your Plum Points and create that home library you’ve been dreaming of.

What is Plum Rewards?

If you’re an avid reader, you’ve probably shopped at one of the most popular bookstores in Canada, Indigo, Chapters, or Coles – and you’ve probably been asked if you’re a rewards member.

Plum Rewards is the loyalty program for the 3 stores, rewarding readers with Plum Points that can be redeemed towards dollars off a future purchase. It’s free to join in store or online, though you can upgrade your membership for a cost.

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+ for more points and perks

Cons:

• No points awarded for eBooks or gift cards
• Low value of 0.200 to 0.286 CPP
• Points cannot be shared or transferred between members
• 35,000-point ($100) maximum redemption in a single transaction

Plum Rewards vs. Plum+

Although the basic rewards program is free, you can purchase a Plum+ membership 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+ earn you 5 points per dollar, except on excluded items:

• eBooks and eReaders
• Electronics and related accessories
• American Girl & LEGO Mindstorms
• Plum Plus memberships
• Gift cards
• Food from in-store Starbucks or other vendors
• Love of Reading products/donations
• Shipping costs

If you’re missing points on your account, you can contact [email protected] to resolve the discrepancy.

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 or sign into your account online.

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 0.286 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)

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+ 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+ and enjoy your books and added savings!

FAQ

Do Plum Rewards expire?

Plum Points expire if you haven’t made a qualifying purchase online or in-store in the last 12 months.

How do I find my Plum Rewards number?

You can log into your account online or in the app to find your member number, which is 12 digits. If you have a physical membership card, the number will be on the back.

How do I use my Plum Rewards online?

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

What is the difference between Plum Rewards and Plum+?

Plum+ is a paid membership for $39 per year and earns you bonus points, discounts, and exclusive offers. Plum Rewards is a free basic membership.