Pepper Rewards is an app that stormed onto the scene earlier this year, selling in-demand brands at rates so low that it single-handedly depressed gift card resale rates nationwide.
They’ve re-jiggered their rewards program several times while creating a confusing, two-tiered system wherein part of the bonus is paid out immediately and a second tranche is delivered in 2-3 weeks. Originally, folks had to manually track how many points Pepper owed them, but they’ve now added a feature to the app that shows all of your past points earning as well as what you’re owed in the future…and it instantly updates with purchases.
Pepper’s daily discounted rates have become gaudier and gaudier which has made Pepper feel positively Ponzi. Our own Pepper, Stephen, wrote a cautionary tale about the developments at Pepper Rewards that I shared in a Saturday Selection a few weeks ago.
Today, Pepper announced yet another revision to its rewards program: newly-earned points will now expire 60 days from the last date of activity.
Disclaimer: Frequent Miler’s Stephen Pepper has no relation to Pepper Rewards…apart from being exceptionally well-named.
Quick Thoughts
Today, Pepper Rewards members got an e-mail stating:
Effective November 15, 2024, points expire if 60 days pass without a purchase. We encourage you to stay active to keep your points balance.
If you’ve already made a purchase, you’ll enjoy a grace period — this policy change will not take effect for you until February 1, 2025.
My guess is that Stephen isn’t the only person perplexed by Pepper. The size of the daily discounts offered (14x on Amazon, 15x on Nike, 14x on Lowes) combined with the two-tiered timing of the payouts have made many folks nervous about how long it will stay solvent.
Most likely, creating a 60-day expiration policy encourages folks who are active to remain so in order to ensure that their points don’t expire, while at the same time allowing Pepper to wipe away some of their rewards obligations via expiry.
If you are using the app regularly, the new policy won’t amount to much, as the activity will constantly keep your points alive. If you had multiple smaller purchases scattered out over several weeks and were waiting for enough to points to exchange them for a high-denomination gift card, it’s worth paying attention to make sure you don’t lose them.
Pepper continues to offer some incredible deals on gift cards, as well as an easy path to very low or no-cost spend. But be careful out there and go in with your eyes open.
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