{
  "id": 11007291,
  "title": "Why do so many of us sign up to loyalty programs and then never use them?",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/why-do-so-many-of-us-sign-up-to-loyalty-programs-and-then-never-use",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-30T18:00:07.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Conversation AU",
    "slug": "the-conversation-au",
    "url": "https://theconversation.com/why-do-so-many-of-us-sign-up-to-loyalty-programs-and-then-never-use-them-291138"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In Australia, a staggering 93% of consumers were members of at least one loyalty program in 2026, according to a recent survey. However, only half of these loyalty members actively utilized all their memberships within the past year. This discrepancy raises the question: why do so many of us sign up for loyalty programs yet fail to make the most of them? To uncover the answer, researchers surveyed over 800 customers of major Australian supermarkets like Coles, Woolworths, ALDI, IGA, and FoodWorks. The supermarket loyalty program market has been expanding rapidly, with Woolworths' Everyday Rewards program boasting 14 million registered members and Coles' Flybuys program having more than 9 million members. Experts suggest that customer engagement with loyalty programs hinges on three key factors: trust, commitment, and perceived benefits. Customers are more likely to engage when they trust the supermarket, feel a strong emotional connection, and can clearly see the advantages of participating. By focusing on these factors, both consumers and businesses can unlock the full potential of loyalty programs.",
  "summary": "For some customers, loyalty programs provide clear financial benefits through discounts or points. But emotional benefits – such as feeling valued – also matter.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}