Discount apps are popular among regular customers. According to the product testers, however, the benefits are rather manageable – comparing prices is more worthwhile. © Oliver Berg/dpa
In the past, discount stamps were glued, but today customers are lured with discount apps, among other things. Finanztest has taken a close look at the advantages and disadvantages of digital savings offers.
Munich – More and more consumers are no longer using the customer card when shopping, but the retailer's app on their smartphone. You get a discount for that. But how much actually? Finanztest has now investigated this question.
Discount apps scrutinized by Finanztest
Anyone who used to show their customer or discount card in retail is now supposed to pull out their smartphone with the appropriate discount app. In order to make the changeover palatable to customers, the drugstore chain dm, for example, lured customers with a ten percent saving on all purchases – but only in January. Since February, there has only been a discount if individual coupons are activated on certain items or product groups.
What do you get as a customer of discount apps?
The experts at Finanztest have now taken a close look at customer loyalty programs and compared them (see table). Here is a summary of the most important results of the study.
How much discount is there?
According to Finanztest, not a single one of the discount apps examined brings such great price advantages with every purchase that bargain hunters should definitely have them on their mobile phones. The minimum discount that is regularly possible with the collection and redemption of points and coupons is often only 0.5 to one percent. Higher discounts are possible through special promotions. In addition, according to the experts, Rossmann stands out – with ten percent discounts on purchases via coupons.
Test shows: The apps are extremely data-hungry
What about data protection?
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The test showed that all apps are extremely data-hungry. On average, 2200 printed A4 pages would result in the data produced by a single discount app from Android. But there is also good news. Finanztest did not find any serious security gaps in any of the discount apps, but in some cases there were deficits in the privacy policy (e.g. at H&M, Müller and Media Markt). This means that it is difficult for customers to see, among other things, whether and to whom their data is being passed on. Overall, all retailers and app providers received the grades "satisfactory" and "sufficient" on the topic of "basic protection of personal data".
Discount apps tested: Experts advise a close comparison
What do the experts advise?
If you really want to save money when shopping, you can only do so to a limited extent with discount apps, according to the financial test. They only make sense if you are a regular customer of a dealer and regularly take advantage of special promotions. This is because the usual discounts are negligible at little more than one percent. In addition, a discount is not automatically a guarantee of a low price. "It's better to compare prices before you go shopping. It may be that a product is cheaper at another retailer – even without a discount campaign," the experts advise. But you can improve the cost-benefit calculation. You can reduce your privacy footprint by disabling digital tracking, so-called tracking, in the app's settings.
Author: Wolfgang De Ponte
Discount apps in comparison
| App Providers | Minimum Discount & Redemption | Other services (selection) |
|---|---|---|
| Obi (hardware store) | 1 percent in participating stores and in the online shop | Coupons, market and product scanners |
| Galeria (department store) | 0.5 percent for annual sales up to 2000 euros by redeeming at least 100 points (2 euros per point) in branches; 1 percent from 2000 to 5000 euros turnover, 2.5 percent from 5000 euros. | Coupons, discounts on selected products, events |
| H&M (Clothing) | 2 percent from 250 euros in sales in the form of a 5-euro voucher | free delivery in the online shop from 29.90 euros, events |
| Peek & Cloppenburg (clothing) | 1 percent by redeeming bonus points from 200 euros annual turnover, 2% from 1000 euros, bonus credit is distributed twice a year | Exchange without receipt, 50% discount on express shipping and alteration tailors |
| Tchibo (coffee, etc.) | 2 percent by redeeming beans (2 beans per 1 euro turnover) from 50 euros turnover | Digital coffee stamp card (11th hot drink for free) |
| Lidl (discounter) | 1 percent from 400 euros monthly turnover, redeemable in all branches within ten days of receipt of the coupon | Three selected free items with a monthly turnover of 400 euros or more |
| Douglas (perfumery) | Between 1 and 3.3 percent, depending on sales: 1 euro for 100 points collected, 100 euros for 3000 points | Coupons to earn Beauty Points |
| Müller (drugstore) | 1 percent by redeeming flowers (1 flower per 1 euro turned) in all branches C | Coupons, digital receipt |
| Rossmann (drugstore) | 10 percent on in-store purchases by redeeming coupons, limited to two purchases every two months (four purchases with registration) | Coupons, discounts on selected products |
| Media Markt (Electronics) | 0.5 percent by redeeming at least 10,000 points (5 points for 1 euro turnover) | interest-free loan for up to ten months, low price guarantee* |
| DeutschlandCard (customer loyalty) | 0.5 or 1 percent per 2 euros or 1 point per 1 euro of sales. Redeem at least 100 points at Edeka, Marktkauf, Esso, Rofu, Netto, Hammer and Sonnenklar.TV | Points multiplication, coupons |
| Payback (customer loyalty) | 0.5 percent through 1 point for every 2 euros turned, redemption of at least 200 points at Rewe, Penny, Alnatura, Nahkauf and Thalia | Points multiplication, coupons |
(Source: Finanztest, issue 6/2023)