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Countdown Christmas Club Review

Updated 22 January 2023
Countdown Christmas Club Summary
  • How it works: Countdown customers top up whatever amounts they wish whenever they want. On 1 December, the balance of each club account is increased by 5%. For example, if you've contributed $500 to the club, one 1 December your balance will be $525.
  • Cut-off date for getting the 5% bonus: 30 November; any balance added after that will only activate the 5% bonus in the following Christmas.
  • The Christmas Club is similar to that offered by New World and PAK'n'SAVE with a far simpler 5% bonus on any amount contributed. Earning 5% on money credited to the Christmas Club probably beats a bank or term deposit - the best way to maximise bonuses is to deposit money in November and use it December. A $500 contribution would turn into a $525 balance.
  • The balance is not tied to one store - you can use the balance at any Countdown anywhere in New Zealand.
  • We like the freedom of being able to use the money at any time of the year, with no restriction on what items you can buy.
How to participate in the Countdown Christmas Club? 
  1. Register your account and top up whenever you like. More details are outlined here.

What to watch out for: 
  • You can only use it at Countdown stores, but there is almost no restriction on what you can purchase in store (tobacco products and Countdown vouchers/gift cards are excluded).
  • Balances do not expire
  • If items you want to buy are cheaper at another supermarket, you won't be able to use your balance and will either have to pay cash at the other supermarket or accept you will pay more at Countdown and use your balance.

7 Need to Knows About the Countdown Christmas Club:

It's all online and it's easy to top up

You can top up your Christmas Club account through online banking.  Simply log onto your bank account and in the payments section search for Countdown Christmas Club as the payee. Once you register with the Countdown Christmas Club you'll be given unique reference details to insert into your online banking.

Your funds are NOT safe if Countdown goes bankrupt

Usually, when a retailer goes bankrupt, people with gift cards or vouchers find themselves out of pocket. This has been the case with Dick Smith Electronics, Pumpkin Patch and TopShop among others. And the same applies to the Countdown Christmas Club balances - there is no protection on the value you hold. Comparatively, the Christmas clubs operated by PAK'N'SAVE and New World put your money in a trust account which means you won't lose the value if they go bankrupt.

You won't see the bonuses until the end of the "Christmas Club year"

The Countdown Christmas Club Year runs from "1 December of the first year to 30 November of the following year". This means that any credit created during this period are eligible for bonuses, but you won't see it until the end of the Christmas Club Year - i.e. from 1 December.

You CAN use your Christmas Club money BEFORE and AFTER Christmas

Your balance is not locked up until Christmas - you can use them to purchase goods at Countdown any time of the year. The only drawback is you won't receive the Christmas bonus on the amount(s) used. 
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Example:​
If you bought $100 of credit in March, the total balance on the Christmas Club card will be $105 but you won't be see the $5 bonus on the balance before the 1st of December. If you spend $50 of the $100 balance before December the 1st, you will only receive the bonus on the remaining $50 (which calculates to be $2.50).

Once you've bought Countdown Christmas Club credit, you can't withdraw them as cash or get a refund

Christmas Club balances cannot be exchanged for cash. So, once you've decided to credit into the club, all money must be redeemed at Countdown. There is no exception to this rule.

You can use an alternative payment method to part-pay if you don't have a sufficient Christmas Club balance

​If you have insufficient funds in your club balance to complete a purchase, you can pay the balance with cash or EFTPOS.

Balances do NOT expire

Unlike the other supermarket clubs, your Christmas Club balance does not expire.
Related guides: Christmas clubs operated by PAK'N'SAVE and New World