Best Rewards Programs: Regal, Papa John's, More

1. Ace Hardware

Sign up for Ace Rewards, and you’ll get 10 points for every dollar you spend. Accumulate 2,500 points, and you’ll earn a $10 reward — which is equivalent to getting 4 percent back.

You also receive 1,000 points just for signing up, plus coupons and sale reminders.

2. AutoZone

Join AutoZone Rewards, and you’ll earn one credit every time you make a purchase of $20 or more. Once you earn five credits, you’ll get a $20 reward. That could equate to as much as 20 percent back, depending on the total amount of your five purchases of $20 or more.

3. Best Buy

Join the My Best Buy program, and you’ll earn 0.5 points for every dollar spent. Once you hit 250 points, you get a $5 reward.

That is a pretty modest reward — just 1 percent back. However, rewards increase as you spend. For instance, if you make $1,500 in purchases during a calendar year, you’ll become an “elite” member and earn 1 point for every dollar you spend. That bumps the reward up to 2 percent.

Spend $3,500 in a calendar year, and you become an “elite plus” member with a rate of 1.25 points for every dollar you part with.

As an elite or elite plus member, you’ll also enjoy other benefits, such as free two-day shipping with no minimum purchase requirement.

4. CVS

 Sign up for the ExtraCare rewards program, and you’ll score 2 percent back on purchases. Rewards are paid out four times a year — in January, April, July and October.

However, it’s worth noting that you must spend $50 per earning period — or earn at least $1 in ExtraBucks Rewards — to get your rewards. Also, some items at CVS — including prescriptions and copays — do not qualify for the 2 percent back, according to the ExtraCare frequently asked questions page.

5. Dick’s Sporting Goods 

Members of the Dick’s ScoreCard program get one point for every dollar they spend. With 300 points, you get a $10 reward. That amounts to 3 percent back on every purchase.

ScoreCard members also enjoy exclusive coupons and access to special events.

6. Kohl’s

Enroll in Kohl’s Yes2You Rewards program, and you’ll get a point for every dollar you spend. Once you accumulate 100 points, you’ll receive a $5 reward. In essence, it’s like getting 5 percent back on every purchase you make.

You’ll also receive eight other offers during the year, a special gift on your birthday and opportunities to earn bonus points.

7. Office Depot/Office Max

Sign up for Office Depot/Office Max Rewards, and you’ll get 2 percent back on purchases.

Spend $500 within a 12-month period, and you’ll earn VIP status. That gets you 5 percent back in rewards on ink, toner, paper and copy/print/ship services.

You’ll also get free shipping with no minimum purchase requirement, and receive free product samples and a gift on your birthday.

8. Papa John’s

Is pizza always on your menu? What about garlic Parmesan breadsticks? Enroll inPapa Rewards, and you will get one point for every $5 you spend. As few as 10 points can earn you a reward. You’ll also collect 10 points on your birthday. 

9. Petco 

Pets can be expensive, but you can keep them from taking a bite out of your wallet by joining Petco’s Pals Rewards program. Members get one point for every dollar they spend, and a $5 reward once they reach 100 points. That’s a 5 percent savings on every purchase.

10. Regal Entertainment Group

If you love the movies, join the Regal Crown Club. When you do, you’ll get 100 credits for every dollar you spend on tickets and concessions. You can use the credits for things such as free admission or free food.

The more Regal movies you take in, the greater your reward. For example, once you see 20 movies during the year, you’ll earn “Diamond” status — the highest of three bonus levels — and get 1,000 extra credits for each visit.

11. Staples

Members of Staples Rewards earn either 2 percent or 5 percent back on in-store purchases, depending on how much they spend in a 12-month period.

Members also get free next-day shipping on orders of more than $49.99, and other perks.

12. Starbucks

In the Starbucks Rewards program, you earn two stars for every dollar you spend. You will also enjoy perks such as free in-store refills and a birthday reward.

Earn 300 stars and you will qualify for Gold Level status. Customers at this level get added perks like a reward of a free eligible beverage or food item for every 125 stars.

13. Ulta Beauty

Join Ulta’s Ultamate Rewards program, and you will earn one point for every dollar you spend. Once you reach 100 points, you will be eligible to redeem them for $3 off your next purchase.

That means Ultamate Rewards members get the equivalent of 3 percent back on their purchases — although members get even more back if they accumulate more points before redeeming them. For example, 2,000 points earns you $125 off your next purchase. That’s the equivalent of 6.25 percent off.

You also can earn up to five points on some special offers. And not only will you receive a birthday gift, but you also can earn double rewards for all purchases you make during your birthday month.

Big spenders can achieve Platinum or Diamond status. These members earn 1.25 points or 1.5 points for every dollar spent, respectively, among other perks.

For more Ulta savings tips, check out “8 Easy Ways to Save at Ulta Beauty.”

Do you know of other great rewards programs? Share them by commenting below or on our Facebook page.

1. Ace Hardware

Sign up for Ace Rewards, and you’ll get 10 points for every dollar you spend. Accumulate 2,500 points, and you’ll earn a $10 reward — which is equivalent to getting 4 percent back.

You also receive 1,000 points just for signing up, plus coupons and sale reminders.

2. AutoZone

Join AutoZone Rewards, and you’ll earn one credit every time you make a purchase of $20 or more. Once you earn five credits, you’ll get a $20 reward. That could equate to as much as 20 percent back, depending on the total amount of your five purchases of $20 or more.

3. Best Buy

Join the My Best Buy program, and you’ll earn 0.5 points for every dollar spent. Once you hit 250 points, you get a $5 reward.

That is a pretty modest reward — just 1 percent back. However, rewards increase as you spend. For instance, if you make $1,500 in purchases during a calendar year, you’ll become an “elite” member and earn 1 point for every dollar you spend. That bumps the reward up to 2 percent.

Spend $3,500 in a calendar year, and you become an “elite plus” member with a rate of 1.25 points for every dollar you part with.

As an elite or elite plus member, you’ll also enjoy other benefits, such as free two-day shipping with no minimum purchase requirement.

4. CVS

 Sign up for the ExtraCare rewards program, and you’ll score 2 percent back on purchases. Rewards are paid out four times a year — in January, April, July and October.

However, it’s worth noting that you must spend $50 per earning period — or earn at least $1 in ExtraBucks Rewards — to get your rewards. Also, some items at CVS — including prescriptions and copays — do not qualify for the 2 percent back, according to the ExtraCare frequently asked questions page.

5. Dick’s Sporting Goods 

Members of the Dick’s ScoreCard program get one point for every dollar they spend. With 300 points, you get a $10 reward. That amounts to 3 percent back on every purchase.

ScoreCard members also enjoy exclusive coupons and access to special events.

6. Kohl’s

Enroll in Kohl’s Yes2You Rewards program, and you’ll get a point for every dollar you spend. Once you accumulate 100 points, you’ll receive a $5 reward. In essence, it’s like getting 5 percent back on every purchase you make.

You’ll also receive eight other offers during the year, a special gift on your birthday and opportunities to earn bonus points.

7. Office Depot/Office Max

Sign up for Office Depot/Office Max Rewards, and you’ll get 2 percent back on purchases.

Spend $500 within a 12-month period, and you’ll earn VIP status. That gets you 5 percent back in rewards on ink, toner, paper and copy/print/ship services.

You’ll also get free shipping with no minimum purchase requirement, and receive free product samples and a gift on your birthday.

8. Papa John’s

Is pizza always on your menu? What about garlic Parmesan breadsticks? Enroll inPapa Rewards, and you will get one point for every $5 you spend. As few as 10 points can earn you a reward. You’ll also collect 10 points on your birthday. 

9. Petco 

Pets can be expensive, but you can keep them from taking a bite out of your wallet by joining Petco’s Pals Rewards program. Members get one point for every dollar they spend, and a $5 reward once they reach 100 points. That’s a 5 percent savings on every purchase.

10. Regal Entertainment Group

If you love the movies, join the Regal Crown Club. When you do, you’ll get 100 credits for every dollar you spend on tickets and concessions. You can use the credits for things such as free admission or free food.

The more Regal movies you take in, the greater your reward. For example, once you see 20 movies during the year, you’ll earn “Diamond” status — the highest of three bonus levels — and get 1,000 extra credits for each visit.

11. Staples

Members of Staples Rewards earn either 2 percent or 5 percent back on in-store purchases, depending on how much they spend in a 12-month period.

Members also get free next-day shipping on orders of more than $49.99, and other perks.

12. Starbucks

In the Starbucks Rewards program, you earn two stars for every dollar you spend. You will also enjoy perks such as free in-store refills and a birthday reward.

Earn 300 stars and you will qualify for Gold Level status. Customers at this level get added perks like a reward of a free eligible beverage or food item for every 125 stars.

13. Ulta Beauty

Join Ulta’s Ultamate Rewards program, and you will earn one point for every dollar you spend. Once you reach 100 points, you will be eligible to redeem them for $3 off your next purchase.

That means Ultamate Rewards members get the equivalent of 3 percent back on their purchases — although members get even more back if they accumulate more points before redeeming them. For example, 2,000 points earns you $125 off your next purchase. That’s the equivalent of 6.25 percent off.

You also can earn up to five points on some special offers. And not only will you receive a birthday gift, but you also can earn double rewards for all purchases you make during your birthday month.

Big spenders can achieve Platinum or Diamond status. These members earn 1.25 points or 1.5 points for every dollar spent, respectively, among other perks.

For more Ulta savings tips, check out “8 Easy Ways to Save at Ulta Beauty.”

Do you know of other great rewards programs? Share them by commenting below or on our Facebook page.