CPK's point card system

[peteer01]

Here in Japan, the pizza's usually not that good. But California Pizza Kitchen came to Japan about 4 years ago, and my quality of life improved dramatically as a result.

 

Anyway, about a year or a year and a half ago, they started a cool point system. I say it's a cool point system, because it helps us get free food, while the lack of a point system meant less free food.

 

Basically, Lazona, the shopping center, has a point card system that lets us get points anytime we buy anything in that shopping mall. Y50,000 worth of purchases is worth 500 points, which is worth a Y500 gift certificate that is basically the same as cash.

 

Additionally, CPK has a member system where you register your cell phone, and then you get a code every time you go. (Kind of like how I get a code when I buy XBL points at a B&M store) Well, you rank up from Orange card to Gold card to Platinum card to Black card. In addition to getting points that get you free appetizers, deserts and even an all-you-can-eat with wine for four people, you get benefits like half price on drinks when you reach a high enough member level.

 

Combine this with the Guri-Navi (basically a dining review and coupon website) coupons that you can pull up using GPS on your phone, and you can save all kinds of money with coupons, member points, Lazona points...it works out very nicely and makes frequent trips much more affordable.

 

But the point is, I guess this falls under the "gamification" that is happening with cell phones. My wife, who is far more organized than me, used to just register all the points under her phone...but now that we know about all the Black card benefits, I'm registered and working my way up from Platinum to Black as we speak.

 

Having just hit 15th prestige in COD:BO, I'm kind of surprised and chagrined by the realization that this stupid leveling doesn't just keep me addicted to a game that I think I'd be playing anyway...it's also got me heading back to a pizza restaurant that I think I'd be visiting this frequently anyway.

 

Or would I?

 

Anyway, I'm gonna head out of here soon for pizza at CPK with the fam...and then maybe tonight I'll unlock Scout Pro for the first and last time...but I'll check back here for comments afterwards, maybe earn some more TAY points. I am genuinely interested to hear what you all have to say about gamification with things like cellphones and point/reward systems.