Another cut in the rewards program!!!

[shamit]

It now looks like it now takes 200 points for each entry for a $100 gift card sweepstakes.  And instead of 20 winners there are now only 15.  The cuts keep coming and the membership dues keep rising.

[Kulabio]

I share the disappointment in AARP changes to the rewards program, making it harder to earn points and win sweepstakes, as if it wasn't hard enough already.

[SereneSeagull]

I don’t find it  hard to earn points.  Exceedingly easy, actually.  And as far as sweepstakes, the probability of winning is lower than redemption of points for cards, so I take those games of chance with a grain of salt and use throw away points with extra points banked if I do them

. Do you play the lottery, go to casinos?  The house is always favored, that’s how I look at instant wins and sweepstakes .  While there are true winners, the probability of me being that winner is low.  I’ll snag a better chance getting gift cards for points.  😀

[shamit]

Sorry Serene but I don't entirely agree with you.  I do earn the maximum points most days.  But now it will take longer.  It still isn't to the point that I will quit but it is getting closer.  I don't play the lottery or go to casinos for just the reason you stated. I get my 3 redemptions each month.  I have also won 2 sweepstakes last year and multiple instant wins.  But with the changes starting this month, I think I will have fewer wins and more points to get cards.  For one thing I will not be able to enter as many sweepstakes, If you get 10 entries every day for 1 Sweepstakes it will now take you 15,550 points more this month (31 days).  And you have a 25% less chance of winning. You would need to get the total maximum points for a member on 2 more days just to enter 1 sweepstakes.  But if you are already getting the maximum there just isn't 2 more days in the month. Talk about horrible odds.

Yes changes occur but this latest is way out of proportion to the rate of increases in other items.  And this is not the first.  Since the change over from the previous administrator this program has been gutted.  But the current administrator had gutted other rewards programs until they are ended.  Usually about 5 to 6 years after they take over.  I keep going since I think it won't be long until this rewards program ends.  I appreciate what I can get but it is getting worse, and this is way out of proportion.  Too big of a change. 

[SereneSeagull]

I hear what you’re saying, but sweeps and instant wins are not good odds..for me at any rate.  What other company gives away gift cards?  None that I know of.  If im going to sit and watch tv anyway, might as well get free cards for just sitting there.  I’m still ahead.  

[RenateW69623]

And what happened to all of the gift cards that were still available yesterday? I thought they carried over any gift cards that were still available from one month to the next. Have they changed that?  I didn't bother to check the web site at the end of the day, but I find it hard to believe that these all sold out and aren't showing because of that, but maybe that's what happened.

[WebWiseWoman]

Hi, Renate! I can tell you the $5 Walmart GC for points was available and NOT sold out at 23:59 31-Dec-2025 and not there at 00:00 01-Jan-2026.

I was waiting to redeem as I used my 3 last month, so I know it just vanished at the stroke of midnight.

[a170938b]

Exactly, I too was waiting  for midnight and for a chance to obtain the Walmart gift card. In vain of course.

[sherilee17]

And they messed with the videos again by making most of the short daily ones monthly now. Only 3 short daily ones. This in addition to more points needed to enter the sweepstakes is not worth my time anymore.

[KennethK249742]

Cut down on the weekly ones too.  It just keeps getting worse.  At some point it won’t be worth it.

[SereneSeagull]

I’m more than satisfied with ease and abundance of easy to earn points.  
And if it’s a broken record from me, sorry.  
…But hearing the broken record of complaints I’ll keep saying I’m satisfied.

 I guess it depends on what kind of cards you’re looking for. And how you work the program.

If a video for me is on the long-ish side, or I might not be interested, or have seen before, I’ll walk away, read, watch tv, exercise, or whatever, if not interested, while it plays.  I mean they are giving points for this!  On to the next when it’s done. . And Quizzes don’t have to be correct answers, tap away, …points given. Most of the quizzes and videos are ones we’ve seen before anyway.    I use throw away points I’ve earned on sweeps and instant wins, for fun since the chances of winning those are lower than redeeming points for cards.  It’s proven quite fruitful for me.  

Things will never stay the same, anywhere.  You either go with what you’ve got or you don’t.  

Can someone tell me of another place that does this type of reward system for membership to an organization, with magazine and Bulletin and other articles, games and discussions ?  I’ll sign up for that place too! 🤣😀

[MariaK113398]

I agree with you, the program is not what it used to be but I am still satisfied and I feel every little bit helps these days. I like the recipe videos, they are mostly 2 minutes or less and I have made a few of the dishes and they were pretty good. 

I enjoy some of the puzzles and games and I've learned a lot from articles I've read and videos I've watched. We have to adapt and go with the flow! 

[Struening]

Not very good if you want to keep members.  Eventually they will do away with it altogether.  

[SereneSeagull]

Then if that’s true, get them now while you still can! 

[KennethK249742]

I noticed this too.  And on the first of the month a large portion of the videos and quizzes do not award points!  Get some competent IT people already for gods sake.

[BtW751689]

I was expecting the usual glitch for the extra credit rewards but I was really surprised when it went through 100%.  Of course the rewards offered were minimal and costly....