Guide: 5 Tips to Save at Shoppers Drug Mart with PC Optimum
The PC Optimum program at Shoppers Drug Mart is one of the best ways to save on everyday purchases. With more than 1,300 locations across the country, Shoppers Drug Mart offers points-earning potential that few people fully take advantage of.
In this guide, we present 5 practical tips to get the most out of your PC Optimum points at Shoppers Drug Mart. To compare the cards that earn the most points, see our page on the best credit cards.
How Does PC Optimum Work at Shoppers Drug Mart?
By scanning your PC Optimum card at checkout, you automatically earn 15 points for every dollar spent at Shoppers Drug Mart. So, if you spend $10 at Shoppers Drug Mart, you will earn 150 base points (15 points x $10).
You can redeem these points for discounts at Shoppers Drug Mart, but also at Esso, Maxi, Provigo, Joe Fresh, Loblaws, No Frills, Real Canadian Superstore, and more. Simply ask at the checkout while using your PC Optimum loyalty card.
For every 1,000 points, you get $1 off. With 100,000 PC Optimum points, you therefore get $100 off.
PC Optimum Points Redemption Chart
- 10,000 points = $10
- 40,000 points = $40
- 60,000 points = $60
- 100,000 points = $100
- 250,000 points = $250
Why is Shoppers Drug Mart more advantageous?
Shoppers Drug Mart offers more generous promotional offers than other banners in the Loblaw network, both for earning and redeeming points. To save at the network’s grocery stores as well, see our guide on how to save at Maxi and Provigo with PC Optimum.
5 tips to maximize your points
1. Activate personalized offers
The PC Optimum app is the most cost-effective tool for maximizing your savings at Shoppers Drug Mart.
These personalized offers must be activated weekly, simply by opening your PC Optimum mobile app. This five-second step can earn you thousands of extra points. For other earning strategies, see our best PC Optimum tips.
2. Take advantage of 20X points events
The best promotion takes place on certain weekends thanks to the 20x the Points event, when you make a minimum purchase.
For example, if there is a 20X promotion on purchases of $75 or more in-store on Saturday and Sunday, you will earn the following on a $75 purchase:
- 1,125 base points: $75 x 15 base points
- 21,375 bonus points: $75 x 15 base points x 19X points
- Total: 22,500 PC Optimum points
- 30% return: a value of $22.50
Points accumulate much faster this way.
Here are some other recent promotions (20X points promotions remain among the most advantageous):
- Surprise Points Event (get 20,000 or 30,000 points when you spend $60 or more at Shoppers Drug Mart)
- 20% off regular-priced items
- A $20 St-Hubert gift card with a minimum purchase
- Seniors Day with 20% off regularly priced items
- 2-day Flash Sale: Buy eggs for $2.99 and butter for $3.99
- Spin the Savings Wheel to discover your promotion of the week
- Get 25X points when you pay with a PC Financial card like one of these:
| Credit card | Annual fee | Welcome offer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0 | |||
| $0 | |||
| $0 |
3. Maximize points on cosmetics
Shoppers Drug Mart stands out in this area with its beauty events. Here is the recommended strategy:
- Beauty events: Buy $100 or $125 worth of cosmetics, skincare, beauty accessories, or fragrances and get 30,000 or 40,000 points
- Gift sets and Discovery Boxes: Take advantage of gift sets, Advent calendars, and holiday-season Discovery Boxes that offer extra points
- Shoppers Beauty: Check the Shoppers Beauty website, which often offers promotions when you buy certain products or meet a minimum purchase amount (not available for delivery in the province of Quebec)
4. Combine simultaneous promotions
You can combine multiple promotions and offers at the same time to earn far more points on a single purchase.
Here is a concrete example for a purchase at Shoppers Drug Mart:
- 20X points event: with a minimum purchase of $x
- Personalized offer: for example, 100 points for every $1 spent on a frequently purchased item
- In-store points: for example, 10,000 points for every $25 spent on Dove products, Avène, baby diapers, or other popular brands
- PC Optimum credit card: Put the purchase on a PC World Elite Mastercard to earn even more points
Read our review of the PC World Elite Mastercard to learn about its many benefits.
- Annual fee
- $0
- Our valuation
- $20Milesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$20Total$20Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- Milesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$20Total$20Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- Welcome offer
- 20,000 points
on PC Financial's website
Also, subscribe to PC Optimum text messages. Once or twice a week, you will receive an offer valid for only a few days (10,000 bonus points on a purchase of $40 or more, 20X PC Optimum points on a purchase of $60 or more, etc.). To choose the card that suits you best, see our comparison of PC Optimum credit cards.
5. Redeem at the best times
The best time of year to redeem PC Optimum points is during Black Friday.
The redemption chart is much more advantageous then. Here is an example from previous years:
- 50,000 points = $75 off (instead of $50)
- 130,000 points = $200 off (instead of $130)
- 250,000 points = $400 off (instead of $250)
This redemption bonus represents an additional value of 50% to 60% on your points. This is equivalent to getting 1.5 to 1.6 cents per point instead of the usual rate of 0.1 cents. For a family that has earned 250,000 points over the year, this means an extra $150 in savings just by waiting for the right promotion.
This is a strategy we recommend every year, as described in our article on our best expert tips for saving on groceries.
Mistakes to avoid
- Forgetting to scan your card: Without scanning at checkout, no points are earned on your purchase
- Ignoring limited-time offers: Many expire in just two days
- Redeeming points during a 20X event: Redeeming reduces your total and can cause you to miss the promotion’s minimum threshold
If there is a 20X points event on a minimum purchase of $75, and your total is $80 and you redeem 20,000 points for a $20 discount, your new total will be $60. So, you’ll miss out on the 20x the Points promotion for that purchase.
Bottom Line
By applying these 5 tips, you will turn your regular purchases at Shoppers Drug Mart into a source of significant savings with PC Optimum. Start by activating your personalized offers each week, then plan your larger purchases around 20X points events.
To go further, see our comparison of grocery loyalty programs and our page on the best credit cards. To receive our analyses and promotions each week, subscribe to our newsletter.
- Annual fee
- $0
- Our valuation
- $20Milesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$20Total$20Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- Milesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$20Total$20Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- Welcome offer
- 20,000 points
on PC Financial's website
PC Optimum Shoppers Drug Mart — Frequently Asked Questions
Do PC Optimum points expire at Shoppers Drug Mart?
No, PC Optimum points never expire as long as you earn or redeem points at least once every 24 months.
Can PC Optimum points be combined with other loyalty programs?
No. However, you can use your PC Optimum points at many banners (Maxi, Provigo, Loblaws, No Frills, Real Canadian Superstore, etc.), for clothing at Joe Fresh, or for gas at Esso stations.
What is the real value of a PC Optimum point at Shoppers Drug Mart?
One PC Optimum point is worth exactly 0.1 cents (1,000 points = $1 discount on the bill). However, the effective value can rise to 1.6 cents per dollar spent during the best promotions, such as Black Friday.
How to receive more personalized PC Optimum offers at Shoppers Drug Mart?
To maximize your personalized offers, vary your purchases across different categories (cosmetics, health, personal care), check the PC Optimum mobile app each week, and enable all notifications.
Do medications earn PC Optimum points at Shoppers Drug Mart?
No. You cannot earn or redeem PC Optimum points on the purchase of prescription medications. Check your item’s price tag: if you see an X on it, it will not count.
Which credit card earns the most PC Optimum points at Shoppers Drug Mart?
The PC World Elite Mastercard offers 50 points per dollar spent at Shoppers Drug Mart, i.e., a 5% return. To compare all options, see our guide to PC Optimum credit cards.
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- Annual fee
- $120
- Our valuation
- $990Milesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$990Total$990Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- Milesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$990Total$990Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
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