Points or stamps? How to choose your loyalty mechanic
Before choosing software, decide how your program will actually work. Nearly every loyalty system is built on two core mechanics, and they behave very differently.
Stamps: simplicity and a clear finish line
A stamp card has one goal — collect N units, get a reward. It is strongest where purchases repeat and are similar in value: coffee, lunch, a barber, a car wash.
- Pro: the customer always knows how far the reward is.
- Pro: staff have nothing to calculate.
- Con: it ignores basket size — a €2 and a €20 receipt earn the same.
Points: flexibility that reflects value
Points scale with spend, so they fit variable baskets: retail, fuel stations, restaurants with broad menus, salons with different services.
- Pro: bigger purchases earn more.
- Pro: you can run double points on selected products or hours.
- Con: value is harder to picture if the rate is unclear.
Setting reward value
A practical rule: the cost of your loyalty program should fit within 2–5% of revenue. The maths is simple — if every tenth €3 coffee is free, you give away 10% of one product, and only to customers who came back nine times. The real margin impact is far smaller than it first looks.
For points, start with a rate you can say out loud: "€1 = 1 point, 100 points = €5 off" is a 5% return. Avoid rates with fractions.
When both make sense
In chains with mixed formats (café plus shop), one mechanic will not cover everything. Points then act as the base layer and stamps as a campaign for a specific product. The rule of thumb: a customer should never face more than two rules at once.
Three common mistakes
- A finish line that is too far. Twenty stamps to a reward and half your customers quit around the seventh.
- An invisible balance. If customers cannot see points on their phone, they do not count them and do not return for them.
- Silence. A program without reminders works for about three weeks and is then forgotten.
An extra layer: games and coupons
Once the base mechanic works, add an irregular element — a prize wheel, a scratch ticket, a seasonal mission. It lifts engagement in periods when purchase frequency naturally dips. Keep it as an add-on, never the main program.
Loyalty.lt supports both mechanics in one profile, plus coupons and games. See what each plan includes on the pricing page.