Payback: Is it worth it at all? All information and tips

With the Payback card, you can collect and redeem points when shopping. Read in this practical tip whether this is worthwhile.

How does Payback work?

The first question is what Payback is and how it works:

• If you show your card or the Payback app when paying with Payback partner companies, you collect points. You can then redeem these and buy products in the Payback Shop for less.
• Payback GmbH belongs to the Loyalty Partner Group from Munich, a subsidiary of American Express. In addition to Payback, the group also looks after Lufthansa’s Bahncard and Miles and More program.
• If you show the Payback card to a partner company while shopping, Payback saves your purchase and knows what you are interested in.
• Partner companies can request data from a specific target group from Payback in order to play out targeted advertising or offers. For example, men who live in Frankfurt and frequently buy PC games to send suitable advertising.

Payback: Is it worth earning points?

The easiest way to tell whether it is worth collecting points with Payback is to use a simple example calculation:

• Collecting is rarely worthwhile because you have to collect for a long time to get products cheaper. There are always special coupons where you can, for example, collect 10x points, but you always have to activate them in the app first. These coupon offers are not automatically credited to you.
• At Rewe, for example, you get 1 point (without coupon) for every 2 euros spent.
• Example: If you shop at Rewe for € 50 a week, you will receive 25 points. That corresponds to 25 cents. So every month you get credit worth one euro.
• If you save for two years, you can save a one-off payment of 24 euros on one purchase.
• Alternatively, you can redeem points for products. For example, a WMF pan costs 3, 500 points. So you have to save almost three years on this pan.
• These times refer to the weekly purchases of 50 euros assumed at the beginning. If you spend less money, you have to save longer.
• The premiums paid are therefore disproportionate to the data collected.

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You can currently apply for the free American Express PACKBACK credit card with a starting credit of 40 euros. This also scores points for shops that are not official PAYBACK partners - such as Amazon or Aldi. With PAYBACK partners you score twice. The offer: Free PAYBACK card with 40 Euro starting credit

If you are still interested in Payback, the next practical tip will tell you how to register for Payback.