I n the Marriott Rewards Insiders forum, carat — who is apparently a representative of the Marriott Rewards frequent guest loyalty program — posted that “…as of 1/15/17, ShopMyWay no longer participates with Marriott Rewards. Any orders placed on or after this date will not earn Rewards points.”
Shopping Option Eliminated Without Notice to Earn Marriott Rewards Points
ShopMyWay is an Internet shopping portal which offered a way to earn Marriott Rewards points by shopping for items which you would purchase anyway at many retailers. Weeks would elapse until points were credited to a Marriott Rewards account; but it was an inexpensive way to keep Marriott Rewards points from expiring ever since a new expiration policy for Marriott Rewards points was announced back in August of 2015 and became effective as of Monday, February 1, 2016.
Prior to that expiration policy becoming effective, Marriott Rewards points generally did not expire.
“While it is entirely possible (likely even) that I missed any communications, I don’t recall ever receiving notice of this service ending”, according to this article written by Kyle Harada of Jeffsetter. “And while it’s totally in their right to do so per terms & conditions, it is rather disappointing.”
He is not the only one who has not received notice of this stealth elimination of a way to earn Marriott Rewards points. “I searched my email and had no notification of this change”, according to this article written by
Add me to the list of members of the Marriott Rewards frequent guest loyalty program who did not receive the news either. Apparently, no advance warning or notice has been given regarding the elimination of earning Marriott Rewards points via the ShopMyWay shopping option; nor has any reason been given as to why this option has been eliminated.
Summary
The options which remain with earning Marriott Rewards points while simultaneously extending the expiration date for another 24 months include — but are not limited to — qualifying stays at hotel and resort properties; booking meetings and events; signing up for the Marriott Rewards credit card, and renting cars from Hertz.
Purchasing 1,000 Marriott Rewards points for $12.50 may now be the least expensive way to keep those points from expiring — assuming that you are not engaging in any other partner activity.
I personally would like to see the Marriott Rewards frequent guest loyalty program add a different shopping portal to its program; but perhaps it is emulating the Starwood Preferred Guest program — which is now part of Marriott International, Incorporated since its acquisition of Starwood Hotels and Resorts — which does not have a shopping portal as one of its options to earn points…
…and if that is indeed the case, then do not look for a shopping portal to return in the foreseeable future — and that is a shame if that indeed is the case.
Source: ShopMyWay.
