M&S introduces Sparks change for customers which has shoppers 'fuming'

Marks and Spencer has AXED its popular Christmas giveaway to Sparks customers. M&S, which operates stores in Birmingham and Solihull, has axed a popular Christmas giveaway offering freebies and a top £10,000 prize.

The retailer has confirmed its "12 Days of M&S" digital advent calendar won't be making a return this festive period. It was available through the Sparks app, seeing shoppers open 12 virtual doors, one for every day between December 1 and 12.

After opening all 12 doors, customers were entered into a competition to win a £10,000 M&S gift card. But now in an updated statement, M&S has confirmed the digital advent calendar won't be making a return this year in a blow for shoppers, which the Sun newspaper says will leave them "fuming".

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A spokesperson added: "This Christmas, all of our Sparks customers will enjoy festive offers to add some magic and sparkle to their festive shopping experience, however and whenever they choose to shop with us. This is just one of the ways we’re simplifying the shopping experience for our customers throughout the festive period and continuing to transform our loyalty scheme, Sparks – to make it even better and more relevant to our customers."

The spokesperson said shoppers can get festive offers via the Sparks app from today in-store and online. Last year saw over half a million customers have redeemed their free gifts or festive offers which have included everything from Christmas decorations, pyjamas, slippers to chocolates and boxes of biscuits.

And the giveaway included the hugely popular Christmas light up Liqueurs and bottles of Prosecco, plus a special saving on Christmas Jumpers, just in time for the big day. Customers who opened all 12 doors, were then automatically be entered into the draw for the chance to win a magical M&S Christmas with a £10k M&S Gift Card, plus thousands of other prizes up for grabs too.