The PC Express Pass is a membership program for people who love the PC Express service and want to save on fees. For $9.99/month month or $99.99/ year, users can get free pickup and delivery on all orders totalling more than $30.
PC Express is a grocery click-and-collect and delivery service owned by Loblaws. The service offers a convenient way for customers to order their groceries online and either pick them up or have them delivered to their homes.
Below, we'll discuss the specific features of this subscription, compare it with similar services, and provide the info you need to decide if it's the right membership program for you.
Key Takeaways
- PC Express Pass is ideal for frequent grocery delivery users, offering free pickup and/or delivery for a monthly or annual subscription fee.
- The PC Express Pass and PC Optimum Insiders are two different subscription options, but customers can choose only one.
- A PC Express Pass subscription costs $9.99 per month or $99.99 per year.
How much does the PC Express Pass cost?
The PC Express Pass costs $9.99 per month or $99.99 upfront per year.
Here’s the cost structure for the PC Express Pass and PC Express (without the pass) side-by-side so we can compare savings and decide if the pass is actually worth it.
| Features | PC Express with the Pass | PC Express without the Pass |
|---|---|---|
| Rapid delivery (30 mins or less) | $3 (select stores only) | $4.57 |
| Priority pickup (within 2 hours) | $3 (select stores only) | $5 |
| Same-day pickup (2+ hours) | Free | $1 |
| Same-day delivery (2+ hours) | Free | $1 + $8.99 delivery fee |
| Future pickup (next day+) | Free | $1 |
| Future delivery (next day+) | Free | $1 + $4.99 delivery fee |
How to maximize savings with the PC Express Pass
To get the most out of your PC Express Pass, consider the following strategies:
- Shop at Loblaws stores: As much as is possible, do all your shopping at Loblaws-owned stores where you can collect points and enjoy the Pass perks.
- Consolidate orders: Plan your grocery shopping to place fewer, larger orders to maximize the value of unlimited free deliveries.
- Look for exclusive offers: Combine your Pass with the curated PC Optimum points offers (found in the app) to earn rewards faster.
- Shop the promotions: Take advantage of sales and promotions at participating stores to save more on your purchases.
- Use rapid delivery only when needed: For an additional $3, you can opt for rapid delivery at select stores, saving time when you're in a hurry.
- Monitor subscription benefits: Keep an eye on any changes to the pass benefits to ensure you're always getting the best value.
- Combine with PC Financial products: Using funds from a PC Money Account or using a PC Financial Mastercard can boost your points earnings and add significant value.
Is there a free trial of the PC Express Pass?
New PC Express Pass subscribers can get a one-month free trial as long as they choose the annual payment option. New subscribers are also given a welcome bonus of 75,000 PC Optimum points, which is worth $75.
There's also a free trial offered to those who switch from the PC Optimum Insiders program to PC Express Pass, though it's a bit complicated. They can get a free 12-month trial when they switch to the annual PC Express Pass subscription.
Those who switch are also eligible for the welcome bonus of 25,000 PC Optimum points, but these points aren't issued until four to six weeks after the free trial period ends. Since it's a 12-month trial, you won't see these bonus points until a year after your PC Express Pass subscription starts.
That being said, it's still a very valuable offer. You'll save the $99 annual fee for the first year and get $25 worth of points.
PC Express Pass vs. PC Optimum Insiders
PC Express Pass and PC Optimum Insiders are two unique, individual subscription services from Loblaws.
Customers are only eligible to have one of these programs – but since the PC Optimum Insiders program stopped accepting new members in 2022, new subscribers probably won't have to choose between them.
Here’s an overview of the features and differences between these programs:
| Program | Cost | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| PC Express Pass | * $9.99 per month * $99.99 per year | * Delivery and pickup: Free same-day pickup and delivery on orders above $30 * Points: PC Optimum points with every qualifying promotion |
| PC Optimum Insiders | * $119 per year | * Pickup only: Free priority pickup for PC Express orders * Points: 10% back in PC Points for every PC or Joe Fresh product purchased * Free shipping: All online Joe Fresh and Shoppers Drug Mart orders, with no minimum purchase amount |
The PC Optimum Insiders program stopped accepting new members in 2022. If you’re already a PC Optimum Insiders member and want to switch to PC Express Pass, your switch will be final.
All in all, we recommend that you consider your preferences and shopping habits before switching programs. If frequent grocery deliveries are important to you, upgrade to the PC Express Pass so you can save on delivery costs. If you’re okay with picking up your groceries and would prefer to save on your Joe Fresh and Shoppers Drug Mart purchases instead, keep your PC Optimum Insiders.
PC Express vs. Walmart Grocery vs. Instacart: cost and convenience breakdown
When deciding whether to become a PC Express Pass subscriber,, consider the following comparisons with other premium grocery delivery services:
| Service | Cost | Benefits | Limitations |
|---|---|---|---|
| PC Express Pass | * $9.99 per month * $99.99 per year | * Earn PC Optimum points * No minimum order requirement * 12-month free trial | * Limited to Loblaws-owned stores * Delivery availability varies by location |
| Walmart Grocery Delivery Pass | * $89/year * $8.97/month | * No minimum order requirement * 90-day free trial | * Limited to Walmart stores * Extra costs for same-day and express orders |
| Instacart+ | * $99/year | * Order from multiple retailers * Earn store-specific loyalty rewards * 14-day free trial | * Prices are higher than in-store * $10 minimum order requirement ($5 for Costco orders) |
Is the PC Express Pass worth it?
The PC Express Pass can certainly be worth it, especially if you’re already a frequent user of PC Express or other grocery delivery services.
Choosing the annual cost instead of paying monthly saves you $20 per year, which is roughly two months worth of service. So you're getting two months for free by paying for the year upfront.
However, those who choose pickup or simply don't live in an area offering PC Express delivery, the PC Express Pass won't be particularly useful. Unless you order priority pickup more than twice per month, the subscription cost isn't worth it.
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What is the PC Express Pass?
The PC Express Pass is the premium subscription tier for Loblaws' PC Express program. After a 12-month free trial, users pay monthly or annually and get free same-day pickup or delivery, plus discounted rates for priority pickup or delivery.
How much is the PC Express Pass membership?
A PC Express Pass subscription costs $9.99 per month or $99 per year. You don't need a subscription to use PC Express on its own, but pickup orders cost $1 - $5 and delivery orders are $5.99 - $13.99.
Can I have both the PC Express Pass and PC Optimum Insiders subscriptions?
No, customers can only have one of the two subscriptions. The PC Optimum Insiders program isn't taking new subscribers anyway, and there is a pretty sweet 12-month free trial for those who switch from PC Insiders to PC Express Pass.
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