The very best and worst worth objects
Tim Hortons kicked off its revamped rewards program final week. Now, as a substitute of getting a free merchandise on each eighth go to, clients will get 10 factors for every go to, and might earn in direction of completely different merchandise. Whereas the unique program rewarded loyal clients with a espresso, tea or baked good, the brand new program permits clients to redeem for extra objects, together with breakfast and lunch sandwiches, chilly drinks like Iced Capps, or perhaps a field of Timbits.
However with the brand new system comes some added issues for the common shopper. With such all kinds of merchandise now accessible, it may be a considerably daunting to make sure you’re getting essentially the most worth out of your factors.
The excellent news is, I’ve executed the mathematics for you, and have decided which objects you’ll be able to choose to get essentially the most worth out of your factors — and which of them to keep away from.
The Rewards Program
Underneath the brand new program, there are six completely different factors tiers you’ll be able to redeem at: 50, 70, 100, 140, 180, 220. You’ll be able to solely redeem at these factors values in case your card is registered and also you’re utilizing the Tim Hortons app in your cellphone; in any other case, you’ll proceed redeeming for a espresso, tea, or baked items (excluding bagels) robotically after buying 120 factors.
To pick your reward, go into the app and choose the kind of reward you wish to redeem for:
When you attain that quantity of factors and also you make a purchase order with one of many objects in your chosen reward tier in your order, you’ll robotically redeem your factors for that merchandise.
The Methodology
To find out the most effective worth objects, I created an inventory of all of the potential objects that may be obtained by way of this system, which you’ll see beneath the Terms and Conditions on the corporate’s Canadian webpage. I then went by way of the app to determine the entire sizes accessible for every merchandise, if relevant, and what it value. All costs have been primarily based on the costs from my native Tim Hortons in Toronto — costs do range by market, however usually stay constant relative to different menu objects, so whereas the worth could also be completely different the place you might be, the worth in comparison with different menu objects ought to stay the identical. I used to be unable to seek out the Fruit Chill or Giant-size sandwiches in my market, however in the event you discover the costs for these at your native Tim Hortons, please let me know within the feedback.
Every value was then divided by the variety of teams of 10 that went into that tier’s level worth (that’s positively not the mathematically correct strategy to clarify that, however I’m a humble rewards factors fanatic, not a mathematician). For instance, if the worth of the merchandise was $2.99 and it was accessible for 70 factors, I calculated 2.99/7. This gave me the worth per 10 factors for the merchandise.
I then in contrast the worth per 10 factors for every merchandise throughout all tiers, and decided which was the very best and the bottom.
The Greatest Worth Rewards
In case your worth per 10 factors is $0.27 or larger, you’re getting good worth for redemption. Very like Starbucks’ rewards program, your greatest worth is mostly an additional giant espresso or tea, as they’ve the very best value however are redeemed at one of many lowest tiers. For all merchandise, you’ll be able to redeem your factors for any measurement, though any add-ons like whipped topping or an espresso shot aren’t included.
These are the objects with the very best points-to-cost ratio:
5) Merchandise: Fruit Smoothie or Creamy Chill (Giant)
Value: $4.39
Reward Value: 140
Worth per 10 factors: $0.31
These comparatively new menu objects for Tim Hortons seems to be good worth on your factors, even in the event you redeem for a Medium as a substitute (at a worth per 10 factors of $0.26). When you have been on the fence about attempting a Tim Hortons smoothie or milkshake, you’ll be able to not less than do it with out paying now and nonetheless get good worth on your factors.
4) Merchandise: Espresso/Tea (Additional Giant)
Value: $2.19
Reward Value: 70
Worth per 10 factors: $0.31
Should you have been a Rewards member earlier than the swap to the revamped program, redeeming for a espresso or tea stays the identical worth. Since all sizes value the identical in reward factors, going for the most important will get you the most effective level worth (and the most effective level values total).
3) Merchandise: Hash brown
Value: $1.59
Reward Value: 50
Worth per 10 factors: $0.32
For all of the individuals who add a hash brown alongside to their morning espresso, this one’s for you. Out there for redemption on the lowest tier, it solely takes 5 visits to earn sufficient for a free hash brown and get good worth on your factors.
2) Merchandise: Specialty Bagel
Value: $2.29
Reward Value: 70 factors
Worth per 10 factors: $0.33
This little revelation is nice information for anybody eager on 4 Cheese bagels — you’ll be able to redeem your factors for one and get terrific worth for it. It ought to be famous although: if you wish to add cream cheese or peanut butter, that may value additional.
1) Merchandise: Cinnamon Roll
Value: $2.49
Reward Value: 70
Worth per 10 factors: $0.36
The very best worth merchandise you’ll be able to redeem for might not be accessible in all places, however in the event you’re eager to get essentially the most worth on your factors, you need to discover a cinnamon roll. It’s the most effective worth merchandise by a full cent greater than the following highest merchandise.
The Worst Worth Rewards
Apparently, the worst worth for redemption primarily exists within the 140-point tier. There are some good worth merchandise available for this quantity, however as you’ll see, the greenback worth on a lot of them are very low, and in lots of instances value greater than the merchandise in lower-point tiers.
5) Merchandise: Field of 10 Timbits
Value: $2.39
Reward Value: 140 factors
Worth per 10 factors: $0.17
Keep in mind when 20 Timbits value a toonie? These days are lengthy gone, and this reward tier isn’t your greatest worth both. In actual fact, for less than 10 factors extra, you will get three doughnuts as a substitute (what’s the ratio of Timbits to a doughnut, anyway?).
4) Merchandise: Basic Tea Biscuit
Value: $1.19
Reward Value: 70 factors
Worth per 10 factors: $0.17
Should you’re going to redeem for a baked good on the 70 level tier, this isn’t the one to get, as each different baked good is price not less than $0.21 per 10 factors.
(Dis)honourable point out additionally goes to Oatmeal (common measurement), which can be valued at $0.17 per 10 factors within the 140 level tier.
3) Merchandise: Tea Latte (Small)
Value: $2.09
Reward Value: 140 factors
Worth per 10 factors: $0.15
Should you completely will need to have your London Fog, go for the Giant as a substitute to get some higher worth out of your factors, though at a worth of $0.19 per 10 factors, you’re nonetheless not going to maximise your level potential.
2) Merchandise: Frozen Lemonade (Small/Medium)
Value: $1.79/$2.19
Reward Value: 140 factors
Worth per 10 factors: $0.13/$0.16
This summer time mainstay is scrumptious, however received’t get you excellent worth. The Giant measurement is reasonably higher at $0.18/10 factors, however you’d be higher off getting a Fruit Smoothie or Creamy Chill for a similar factors, as a substitute.
1) Merchandise: Single Espresso
Value: $1.29
Reward Value: 140 factors
Worth per 10 factors: $0.09
The double espresso isn’t significantly better, with a reward worth of $0.14, making it one other of the bottom worth rewards, though nonetheless not as dangerous as a single. It’s a little bit perplexing why the espresso is on this rewards tier except for all the opposite espresso drinks being on this tier, too.
After all, it doesn’t matter what’s highest and lowest worth objects are in the event that they’re not one thing you’d be focused on shopping for, anyway. A deal is barely a deal in the event you have been going to purchase that merchandise within the first place, proper?
Have you ever found out any hacks with the brand new Tim Hortons reward system? Tell us within the feedback beneath.