If you‘re a budget-conscious consumer always on the lookout for the best deals and freebies, you may have heard about the T-Mobile Tuesdays app. But what exactly is this program, and is it worth your time and effort to participate? In this ultimate guide, we‘ll dive deep into everything you need to know about T-Mobile Tuesdays, including an insider‘s perspective on how to maximize the value of the offers and rewards available.
What is T-Mobile Tuesdays?
T-Mobile Tuesdays is a customer loyalty and rewards program available exclusively to T-Mobile and Metro by T-Mobile wireless subscribers. Launched in June 2016, the concept is simple – every Tuesday, T-Mobile customers can access the T-Mobile Tuesdays app or website to claim free items, enter sweepstakes to win prizes, and get discounts from various partner brands.
The types of offers and promotions change weekly, but typically include:
- Free food/restaurant items (ex: free Popeyes chicken sandwich, $4 off Panera Bread)
- Free or discounted movie rentals (ex: $4 movie rental from FandangoNOW)
- Free trial subscriptions to streaming services (ex: 4 months of Apple Arcade)
- Free gift cards (ex: $5 Dunkin‘ card, $10 Walmart card)
- Discounts on gas (usually $0.10 to $0.25 off per gallon at Shell stations)
- Sweepstakes entries to win prizes like smartphones, smart TVs, trips
- Exclusive discounts from T-Mobile partners like Live Nation, Shell, Booking.com
According to T-Mobile‘s official newsroom, since launching T-Mobile Tuesdays, they have given customers over 450 million free thank-you gifts and deals, adding up to over $1 billion in total value.1 On average, that equals out to around 3.75 million people participating and claiming offers every week!
Some of the most popular freebies and sweepstakes prizes offered through the program so far include:
| Category | Top Offers |
|---|---|
| Food | Free Popeyes chicken sandwich, Free Burger King Whopper |
| Entertainment | Free MLB.TV season pass, $4 VUDU movie rental |
| Subscriptions | 4 months of Apple Arcade (reg. $4.99/mo), 6 months of Resso Premium music streaming |
| Gift Cards | $100 Lowe‘s gift card sweepstakes (200 winners), $5 Dunkin‘ promo card |
| Discounts | 25 cents off per gallon at Shell, 10 cents off per gallon at Shell (weekly) |
How T-Mobile sources deals and brand partnerships
To secure this steady stream of offers and prizes every week, T-Mobile has a dedicated partnerships team that works to establish both short-term and long-term promotional contracts with popular consumer brands across a variety of industries.
Adam Petrick, T-Mobile‘s Director of Brand & Marketing Partnerships, shared in an interview that the team is constantly on the lookout for "best-in-class" brands that have strong appeal and can offer unique value to T-Mobile customers. In evaluating potential partners, they focus on companies that are innovative, disruptive, and align with T-Mobile‘s "Un-carrier" spirit.2
For brands, partnering with T-Mobile Tuesdays provides exposure to the wireless provider‘s massive customer base of over 98 million subscribers.3 It‘s an opportunity to drive traffic, purchases, and trial signups by offering an exclusive deal through a channel proven to have high engagement and redemption rates.
When asked about the process of negotiating partnerships and sourcing offers for the program each week, Petrick shared:
"Tuesdays partnerships are typically planned months in advance and range anywhere from one-time offers to season-long sponsorships. We work hand-in-hand with our partners to understand their business goals and craft a compelling promotion that not only brings value to our customers but also drives meaningful results for the partner."
"We‘re always looking to give customers something new and exciting every week, so we aim for a diverse mix of offer types from a range of categories like food, entertainment, retail, and services. The more variety the better."
"Knowing seasonality and which categories tend to perform best during different times of the year also helps inform our partnership strategy and offer planning. For example, we‘ll often ramp up entertainment and travel deals leading into summer."
As the program has grown in popularity over the years, T-Mobile now has many eager brands approaching them to get involved. But the partnerships team remains selective to ensure every offer provides worthwhile value and aligns with what customers want to see.
Is T-Mobile Tuesdays worth it?
As a consumer expert always on the hunt for the best deals, I‘ve been an active T-Mobile Tuesdays user since the program launched in 2016. In my experience, it‘s absolutely worth the small time investment required to check the app each Tuesday and claim the offers that interest you.
The value of the freebies and discounts really add up over time, and there‘s something new to look forward to every week. While you won‘t necessarily find a mind-blowing deal every single Tuesday, more often than not there is at least one or two promotions that catch my eye and are worth redeeming.
Here‘s a closer look at some of the most compelling examples of offers and prizes from the past year, along with my estimated value:
- Free 1-year Paramount+ Essential subscription (reg. $4.99/month, $59.88 value)
- $100 Lowe‘s gift card sweepstakes, 200 winners each week (est. value $20,000)
- Free 6-month Panera Unlimited Sip Club membership (reg. $8.99/month, $53.94 value)
- $0.25 off per gallon at Shell gas stations (assuming 15 gal. tank, $3.75 value per fill-up)
- Free 1-year Apple TV+ subscription (reg. $4.99/month, $59.88 value)
- Free Popeyes chicken sandwich (reg. $3.99 value)
- $5 off movie ticket via Atom Tickets (assuming $12.50 avg. ticket price,4 40% discount)
- 3 months of Stadia Pro access (reg. $9.99/month, $29.97 value)
Even just looking at that small sample of popular offers, the value is clear – hundreds of dollars worth of freebies and discounts were up for grabs over the course of the year. Of course, your mileage may vary depending on which deals you personally take advantage of, but there really is something for everyone.
Aside from the monetary value, I also appreciate the fun surprise factor of waking up every Tuesday to a new set of offers. It adds a little extra delight to my week and gives me something to look forward to.
How T-Mobile Tuesdays stacks up to other loyalty programs
In comparing T-Mobile Tuesdays to other loyalty and rewards programs, both within the wireless industry and in other consumer categories, a few key differentiators stand out:
- Frequency of offers (new deals EVERY week)
- Variety and quality of rewards
- Availability to all customers regardless of rate plan or spending level
- Simplicity of participation (no points to keep track of)
- Consistency and longevity (running strong since 2016)
Verizon Up, AT&T Thanks, and the now-defunct Sprint My Rewards program all pale in comparison to the breadth and depth of T-Mobile Tuesdays. They simply can‘t match the cadence of fresh weekly offers, and their rewards are much more limited in scope. Having to accrue points or reach certain spending tiers to unlock rewards also makes them feel less accessible.
The closest analog to T-Mobile Tuesdays outside of the telecom space would be something like Amazon Prime or Walmart+, which provide subscribers with extra perks and promotions beyond core service offerings. However, those programs come with annual membership fees ($119 for Prime, $98 for Walmart+), whereas T-Mobile Tuesdays remains free for all postpaid customers.
From a savvy shopper‘s perspective, that‘s a huge advantage. It means you can enjoy the benefits of an exclusive rewards program without having to pay extra for the privilege or jump through any complex hoops. Everyone loves truly free stuff!
Impact on T-Mobile‘s business and customer satisfaction
Since launching T-Mobile Tuesdays and making it a core pillar of the T-Mobile customer experience, the Un-carrier has seen some impressive results. Weekly app engagement is high, with an average of 3.75 million people participating every Tuesday to claim offers, play trivia and spin the Prize Wheel.1
The added value and positive sentiment generated by the program has also had a measurable impact on key business metrics like customer loyalty and retention. In a 2018 study conducted by HarrisX and cited by T-Mobile, customers who engaged with the T-Mobile Tuesdays app on a weekly basis were found to be happier and more likely to recommend T-Mobile to others:5
- 75% of weekly participants said they felt appreciated as a customer, compared to just 43% of non-participants
- 56% of weekly participants said they were likely to recommend T-Mobile, versus only 32% of non-participants
- Weekly participants had a Net Promoter Score (NPS) 44 points higher than non-participants
Additionally, a 2020 survey of over 8,000 wireless customers conducted by MaritzCX found those who actively used their carrier‘s loyalty program reported an 18-point increase in NPS compared to non-users.6 In other words, investing in a compelling rewards program directly correlates to higher customer satisfaction and brand advocacy.
On the financial side of things, T-Mobile has reported a steady decrease in postpaid phone churn rate (% of customers who cancel service each quarter) since introducing T-Mobile Tuesdays. Churn dropped from the 1.27% – 1.33% range in 2016 to a record low 0.88% in Q3 2021.7 While this improvement can‘t be attributed to T-Mobile Tuesdays alone, it‘s clear the program is a powerful tool for increasing "stickiness" and giving customers a compelling reason to stay.
The future of T-Mobile Tuesdays
As T-Mobile continues to expand its 5G network lead and look for new ways to differentiate from competitors, I expect we‘ll see some exciting developments with T-Mobile Tuesdays as well.
On the offers front, it would be great to see even more high-value digital freebies in the realm of streaming services, gaming, and online learning. With so many subscription-based apps out there hungry for user growth, the opportunities for partnerships are abundant.
More localized brick-and-mortar deals and rewards would also be a nice addition for customers who prefer in-person experiences. Think free coffee at a popular local cafe chain, or a BOGO offer at a regional retailer.
Bigger and better sweepstakes prizes are always welcome too. A 5G-enabled smart home makeover? An all-expenses paid trip to the metaverse? The sky‘s the limit! It would be interesting to see more experiential rewards vs. just physical products.
Further integrating T-Mobile Tuesdays with the overall T-Mobile app and marketing ecosystem could also help drive engagement and make the program feel more cohesive. For example, imagine getting personalized offer recommendations based on your interests, or seeing your lifetime rewards points total as a badge of honor.
The program‘s reach is currently limited to the US, but I could envision T-Mobile Tuesdays expanding internationally as the company strikes new roaming agreements and partnerships abroad. It would be a great way to make T-Mobile customers feel valued and connected to the brand even when traveling overseas.
Potential future enhancements aside, one thing is certain – T-Mobile Tuesdays has set a high bar for what a modern-day customer rewards program can and should deliver. 6 years in and still going strong, it has become a key part of the T-Mobile brand identity and value proposition. For savvy consumers looking to get the most bang for their mobile buck, that‘s a major selling point.
Final thoughts and key takeaways
To recap, here are the main points you should know about T-Mobile Tuesdays:
- It‘s a free loyalty program for T-Mobile and Metro by T-Mobile customers that offers new deals and prizes every week
- Typical offers include free food, discounted movie rentals, sweepstakes entries, gift cards, and partner discounts
- In its first 5 years, the program gave out over $1 billion worth of freebies and deals
- Leveraging T-Mobile Tuesdays is a great way for budget-conscious consumers to save money and discover new brands
- It‘s a major differentiator for T-Mobile that drives customer loyalty and helps attract new subscribers
- While not every single offer will be relevant to every user, there is significant cumulative value to be had for those who participate regularly
If you‘re already a T-Mobile customer, do yourself a favor and download the T-Mobile Tuesdays app pronto. If you‘re considering a switch, the program is definitely a compelling reason to give T-Mobile a closer look.
And if you‘re a brand marketer or business owner, take note of how T-Mobile has elevated the loyalty program concept into something that delivers real, tangible value to customers on a weekly basis. How can you better surprise and delight your audience with unexpected perks?
One final tip: be sure to set a reminder to check the T-Mobile Tuesdays app every Tuesday so you never miss out on a hot deal. Your wallet will thank you!
