the.com/membership tiers
a loyalty ladder designed so you never feel done climbing it.
means a system that sorts customers into ranked levels of perks based on spending or loyalty, so the more you give, the more you get.
from airlines invented the modern version with frequent-flyer programs in the 1980s, discovering that people will fly worse routes just to keep their status.
status anxietypeople fear losing tier status more than gaining rewards
breakage profitcompanies profit from perks members never redeem
artificial scarcitytop tiers often capped to feel exclusive, not because costly
for instance
amazon prime — 200 million members paying for faster shipping as identity
delta medallion — diamond members get near-invisible upgrades most flyers never see
sephora beauty insider — rouge tier unlocks events, not just discounts, since 2007
world of warcraft raiding — guild ranks mimic tiers, loot access tied to attendance