Loyalty programs are designed around a simple incentive: keep customers coming back to one brand instead of comparison shopping - which can genuinely benefit a shopper, but only when the program's real value is understood rather than assumed.
Two programs advertising similar point-earning rates can differ enormously in what those points are actually worth when redeemed - checking the real redemption value, not just the earning rate, tells you what the program is actually worth.
Many programs give outsized rewards to shoppers who concentrate spending with one brand rather than spreading it around - which only pays off if that brand's regular prices are already competitive, not just its loyalty perks.
Points or status that expire after a period of inactivity are easy to lose without noticing. Loyalty programs that reward genuinely frequent shoppers work well; for occasional purchases, the expiration terms often erase most of the benefit before it's used.