Is the Columbia Greater Rewards Program Actually Great?

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If you find a mountain more comfortable than the local mall or a lake more relaxing than your living room, chances are you shop at Columbia every now and then. Or… every weekend. Don’t worry, you’re not alone.
Fortunately, Columbia offers a membership program that benefits outdoor enthusiasts — but is this program right for you? Let’s take a look.

Columbia Greater Rewards Program is Free

The best thing about the Columbia rewards program? It doesn’t cost a dime. Or a penny, for that matter. The Columbia Greater Rewards program is absolutely free to join. As long as you have an email address, you can reap the benefits of being part of the “in” crowd with Columbia for as long as you’d like.
Most other retailers charge a one-time sign-up fee, even if it ultimately pays for itself. But a free program is just window dressing if the program isn’t actually useful for consumers. So what exactly does the program give you?

Columbia Greater Rewards Shipping & Promotion Perks

Credit: Columbia

The most immediate benefit to signing up for the Columbia Greater Rewards Program is that you’ll enjoy free shipping on all of your online orders. According to the Columbia website, you get “free ground shipping on every order for the life of your membership.” Otherwise, you’re looking at paying for standard shipping on purchases.
You also get access to extra perks and promotions that other consumers don’t. Last February, for example, members of the Columbia rewards program enjoyed an extra 20% off sale items during the store’s Winter Sale. Furthermore, members get access to exclusive semi-annual sales, early access to other sales, donation events and sometimes even first access to certain products.

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Columbia Greater Rewards Points Program

What really might hook you as a Columbia shopper, though, is the system behind earning “points.” Rewards members can shop online or in-store to earn points on every purchase, and they can also get points for sharing their outdoor excursions on social media. Online product pages display how many points a member will receive when purchasing the item in question.
The exchange rate is as follows:

• $1 = 10 points
• $100 = 1,000 points
• 1,000 points = a $5 reward

Effectively, members earn $5 for every $100 spent, which is like using a 5% cash-back rewards card without all of the sticky details. And if you’re an active social media enthusiast, you may not even need to buy all that much to accumulate those sweet, sweet points. Get points for posting your outdoor events, and these posts may even qualify for a chance to win gear.
The best part? You’ll score 1,000 points just for joining, and those convert to a $5 reward 7–21 days after registering.

Join Columbia Rewards

Columbia Greater Rewards: Who’s It For?

Credit: Columbia

Based on the breakdown above, the free-to-join Columbia Greater Rewards program is really for, well, everyone. If you’re already shopping at Columbia, even infrequently, having free online shipping is immediately worth it. If you’re shopping frequently with Columbia, having access to special sales and promotions helps to keep your closet and your wallet packed.
The points program really benefits those who shop at Columbia all the time, and while other rewards programs may offer different point conversion rates, the Columbia program is instantaneous and free.

For fresh, spicy deals from Columbia, visit the Slickdeals Columbia store page. Set a Deal Alert for the gear you’re hunting and consider signing up for Columbia Greater Rewards while you’re at it.

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