Many people don’t pay a lot of attention to the perks that come with their credit cards, store membership, insurance policies, car rentals, etc. Although many of these perks may not on your mind when you first select a service or a product, you knowledge of them can become handy when they are most needed.
A simple example is roadside assistance that is often offered by credit-card companies and insurance companies, even if you’re not buying auto insurance from them. Familiarising yourself with these perks can be anything from saving you a few dirhams on a meal to a lifesaver such as in the roadside assistance example.
Does that mean that you need to scan through all the inserts, booklets and emails that you receive from your bank, your loyalty shopping stores, etc? Although that may seem like a good option for you to know every single saving opportunity, it is unrealistic and time-consuming. What’s more important is to keep track of the big perks that appeal to your lifestyle before and after you make a decision of selecting a particular vendor or company.
Here are a few ways to get the best out of these perks and offers.
Check before you buy
Whether you’re buying an insurance policy, signing up for a credit card or getting a loyalty card, check out the offers and perks that come with it. Although many of the offers may change from month to month, you will be able to get a sense of how relevant these offers are to your lifestyle and needs. These offers or perks may not be the only determining factor for your choice of one service or offer over the other, but they certainly will help you pick one of two equal options.
Note, clip, save
It is not uncommon that you remember that you’ve a dining discount coupon at home only when you’re picking the check after you’re done with your meal. That coupon won’t be much help, right? If you take the time to scan offers, make sure that you’ve them handy in your car, on your phone, etc for when you need them. Similarly, if your offer or perk is a service, make sure that you’ve the right phone number to call and that you’ve taken all the steps required to sign up for that service in advance.
Read the fine print
As with many attractive offers, exclusions can be a source of disappointment. Always make sure that you fully understand that perk including any costs attached, you understand exclusions and you’re sure that it applies to you. There is nothing more disappointing than subscribing to a service that you didn’t really need to find out that there is some fee or ongoing charge attached to it. To do your due diligence, read the fine print and inquire about what that service, status, perk, upgrade or the like entails.
Compare costs
Don’t always be tempted to take an offer that lands in your inbox or mail without comparing prices of similar products or services. For example, a 10 percent discount at a clothing store may sound attractive, but are you sure that there isn’t a larger discount offered directly by the retailer or a different retailer?
The point is: It is important that you don’t settle for taking offers from one source or another for granted. It is always advisable that you do a quick check for other offers, especially if you’ve time and you’re planning to purchase an expensive item or service.
Customise your offers
Check with your bank or store if customization is an option. Some do offer an array of offers where you can pick and choose what you’d to be notified of. By doing so, you’re more likely to receive offers that are relevant to your lifestyle without spending too much time scanning through others.
Rania Oteify, a former Business Features Editor, is a Seattle-based editor.
