What Do You Need to Know About the Tim Hortons Rewards Program?

Hey Alan!

Great comment, thanks for posting. If your Tims experience is going well, then it’s likely because you know not to expect anything magical from the Rewards program and have simply seen it as a free benefit rather than something that costs you time, energy, or money as most rewards programs do. There are definitely some kinks to work out, such as the “swiping race” idea that you describe, as well as the struggle in determining how many rewards you have and where. We also feel for the staff, because these issues probably contribute some stress to their workday and they certainly aren’t getting paid extra to deal with them. Thanks for being a kind patron and a GreedyRates reader as well – we appreciate the perspective.

GreedyRates

Hey Matt,

There are a few key takeaways from your comment that we’d like to point out. First, we agree with you on all counts. Tims has done a relatively poor job making a rewards program that people actually like to use, and it honestly seems like an afterthought rather than a project that they put effort into. However, remember that the program is free. You don’t need to pay anything ever, and so this automatically limits the amount of value that corporate will grant users. We’re willing to bet that if the Tims Rewards Program cost $5 to enter then it would be five times more beneficial.

Second, while it’s true that you can bank a maximum number of rewards, the free food or drink item is supposed to be automatically credited a) when you have the max rewards and b) when you purchase this basic food or drink item. It’s supposed to be convenient, but rarely do people know how many rewards they have at any given time, remember to take out their card (or the employee forgets to ask), or they simply don’t purchase an eligible complimentary item so the rewards are just “stuck” on the card until then. All in all, it’s pretty decent but overall remarkably forgettable.

GreedyRates

Hi Marie,

Wow, that’s a new one among a slew of not-so-great comments about the Tim Horton’s Rewards program. Obviously by now we know that the administration of the program has encountered a few obstacles as employees are trained and the system works out its kinks, but it sounds like you’re vigilant and have confirmed the problems personally. Try to continue keeping an eye on the continuity of your rewards and report back at any time, we’re interested. Also try to remember that it’s a free rewards program, so Tim’s is taking flack for this misjudged venture on two fronts!

Best,
GreedyRates Staff

Hi Igor,

Thanks for your feedback on the Tim Hortons Rewards program. If you forget to use your Tims Rewards card before making a purchase, then you won’t be able to go back and get those points retroactively, because the register needs to record your purchase and add the points to your account. Unfortunate for you that the employee on the cashier didn’t remember to remind you to use the card by asking if you were a member of the Rewards program, as they’re trained to do. Oh well, next time!

GreedyRates

Hey JM,

Thanks for the comment. As you can see by the horde of others in the comments section of this article, the Tim Hortons Rewards Program has not been well-received thus far (to say the least). You’ve noticed that the way it rewards points (per visit, not per item) immediately makes the program not worthwhile for those who spend more than a few dollars in Tims each visit. Like you mentioned, getting a $1.69 croissant after spending $15.00 each of 7 visits returns a value of less than 2.00%. It gets better (relatively) when you’re just stopping in a for a single coffee on the way somewhere, but even then, you’ll need to frequent the same location every visit.

Some customers are reporting that if you go to a different Tims then they won’t have your progress logged into the system, meaning that your Rewards are location-based. Poorly designed all-around, and if you’re looking for something more valuable, then any cash back card will do. Something that offers a 1.50% – 2.00% flat rate of cash back on all purchases is by default more valuable at Tims than its own rewards program. Check out the Cashback World Elite card, or the Rogers World Elite card if this sounds interesting.

GreedyRates

Hey D Costa,

Thanks for the comment. We’re glad to receive positive feedback on the Tims Rewards Program, since many others have seemed a bit disappointed with it. It’s even better that your comment indicates you’re one of those who stops in briefly for a cup of coffee, as this idea reinforces what we’ve been saying about the program all along. It’s great for those who limit their visits to one or two items, because the eventual rewards gain relative value.

With a single visit being the metric by which the rewards are measured, the program primarily benefits Tims fans like yourself, and if you have any other commentary on how you use it let us know! We’d specifically like to understand how you know when your Reward is being used, and also how confident you are that your visits each count towards the total. Some customers report that different Tims locations each have their own count per-customer. Thanks and looking forward to hearing back.

GreedyRates

Hi Serge,

Thanks for the comment. The Tims reward program is working as intended for now, and though it’s raised some concern with customers, we think you probably did receive your reward. We encourage you to check the receipt or login to the account if possible, because on the Frequently Asked Questions page for the Tims program it says, “after seven (7) eligible purchases, a Reward will be loaded onto your account.” That means one potential solution is that the Reward is still in your account! You can “bank” up to 5 Rewards, so do check and let us know.

Another idea we had is that perhaps the Reward was automatically spent already, so you received it and just didn’t notice your receipt total was less than normal. In the fine print it says, “…the next time you go into a Tims and purchase a coffee or tea (any size) or a baked good, except bagels or Timbits, your Reward will be applied to that transaction.” It may be possible to check the account online to see if your Reward was applied. Best of luck!

GreedyRates

Hey Cleo,

Thanks for the post about Tim’s rewards program. If you’ve racked up seven visits you’ve therefore earned a “reward”, which can be one free hot coffee, hot tea, or baked good except for Timbits and bagels. They specify “hot” drink to exclude the option of getting a cold one instead, likely to control costs as otherwise customers would be asking for soft drinks, gourmet iced coffees and other more expensive items. It’s an unfortunate but unsurprising caveat that some readers have been frustrated with alongside yourself, as well as the per-visit rewards model, which can feel not very worthwhile when you’re spending a lot each time you stop in.

In our experience the Tim’s Reward program works best for those who stop in quickly for drip coffee, tea, or a snack on the way to work. Its benefits are peripheral at best, in other cases. Thanks again for commenting.

GreedyRates

Hey Loyal Tim’s Customer,

Thanks for throwing your voice into the mix. The Tim’s Rewards Program is certainly a catalyst for lots of discussion here and elsewhere, and by this point it’s apparent that the community is split on their love for or their disappointment about the program. It shouldn’t surprise people that Tim’s only rewards people per visit, because if it was per food item or drink, then they’d be giving away too much value to people who buy more per-visit. People can still optimize the value of this program by only picking up single items during their visits, but others are still caught by surprise when they go to Tim’s with the family and expect an item for free.

This would be nice, but it’s unrealistic, and you’re right that the program itself is already better than what Tim’s offered before (read: nothing). Ultimately, all we can do it make it clear what the downsides are and let people figure out for themselves if it’s worthwhile. Thanks again!

GreedyRates

Hey Roz,

Thanks for your comment about the new Tim Horton’s Rewards Program. We’re also a bit critical of how Tim’s handled their new deal and agree that if the reward for 7 visits is a free drink or food item, then points you earn towards this reward should come from purchasing items and not from single ‘visits’ which might entail multiple purchases!

McDonalds does have a different system, but you’re still getting lots of value from the Tim Horton’s program as long as you don’t buy a lot each visit. It’s also useful to know that one ‘visit’ ends as soon as 30 minutes has passed, so if you live or work near a Tim’s location it’s easy to pop in and earn multiple points each day without spending too much.

GreedyRates