shopping in Somerfields

System

At my local Somerfield all of the checkout staff always ask if you have a saver card and if yiou don't then they seem to have their own card and swipe that instead. This gives everybody the BOGOF offers.

The worst store that I used to use was a Safeway where over the course of a year mrs S-V and I were overcharged on EVERY SINGLE visit. We had over £250 in refunds and compensation from them. We went there so that it kept our shopping costs down ;D

The golden rule is to check your receipt every time.

Sacre Vert

System

Tell me one thing Halloweenqueen, when you take your old ladies out for their shopping, who uses all the money saving vouchers you are getting from your savercard? ???

Nooty

I saw this thread whilst browsing around on the net.

I am an employee of Somerfield.
Believe me; staff do not want the savers card any more than you do!
Our Somerfield is rather small (3 trolley checkouts & 3 basket checkouts). We are also in a holiday town so we get many holiday makers.
What more do the staff want when all the tills are open and the queues are 4 deep, than to worry about a little card (that’s usually at the bottom of peoples bags) Many of the holiday makers don’t have a card and don’t want one (hence the introduction of the holiday savers card). If you get my point, then that’s why we'd rather not have the savers card.

I feel a bit ashamed to work for the company sometimes. The head office introduces schemes like this but me and my colleagues have to take the brunt of any negative response. I only work there for the reason that it’s outside my college hours, pay isn’t too bad for my age (17), it’s not too far from my home and I get a lot of enjoyment working with the public.
I feel for you, as customers, about the savers card. Hence why I’m happy to bash a card through for anyone that don’t have one or don’t want one. Unfortunately there are staff in my store (old ladies usually) that play by the book. They won’t do anything for the customer if it’s 'not allowed'. These are the people at the moment who:
     1. Are turning customers away.
     2. Are giving a bad image of this savers card.
Which for doing a proper job (which they are doing) is very bad.
Too be honest I don’t blame the people that are being turned away.

Unfortunately for us, pressures are put on us by managers to do everything right. We aren’t allowed to swipe a card through. Supervisors aren’t allowed to give refunds when a card hasn’t been used for whatever reason. But many of us choose to.

I believe that Somerfield needs some reform internally. You say about contacting them. I have sent several emails to the email address on the website, without even a reply.
When Somerfield starts worrying about their staff (getting pay right) then that’s when I can see them starting to worry about their customers.

I believe that the savers card is a good idea for many reasons, but I don’t believe is should be necessary to obtain any Somerfield offers. I don’t know of any other supermarket who has adopted this scheme, maybe that’s why Somerfield chose it.

Please feel free to ask any questions,


P.S Errors are quite common; I would always advise people to check their receipts.

- This message was intended to promote somerfield. I just expressed my points of view on the matter. -

halloweenqueen_2

Well Karren as I haven't registered my card with Somerfoelds, I guess they are keeping them ;D

Nooty

I imagine that at least 25% of cards we hand out arnt and wont be registered. Im not sure what will happen if you dont. If it stops working... get another one.

Fatboy_NSS

I really don't see what the issue is here. It's just a loyalty card. If you don't want to carry one then you don't get the offers. I personally prefer it to the Tesco and Sainsburys schemes as you get the discount straight away rather than wait for vouchers through the post, and I can carry the card on my keyring so it doesn't take up room in my wallet. Every tag clearly states "saver card deal" under where it says BOGOF, so nobody can claim they didn't know they needed the card.

marvin

I really don't see what the issue is here.  It's just a loyalty card.  If you don't want to carry one then you don't get the offers.  I personally prefer it to the Tesco and Sainsburys schemes as you get the discount straight away rather than wait for vouchers through the post, and I can carry the card on my keyring so it doesn't take up room in my wallet.  Every tag clearly states "saver card deal" under where it says BOGOF, so nobody can claim they didn't know they needed the card.

But I don't have a Sainsbury's loyalty card (I work for them I think turning up shows enough loyalty) but I can walk in off the street and buy the products that they have for sale be them BOGOF or 3 for 2 etc same with any other supermarket bar Somerfield.

I do have one of the cards (no i have several as like others if I ain't got it with me I simply say no i don't have one and they give me a new one.) and I see simply no point in them. They do not have too be registered so they can't track your purchases like the other loyalty cards. All they really entitle you too is to buy from the store.

Somerfields is in a cleft stick it does not know where its market is. It is under attack from the likes of Tesco and Sainsbury with their "local" stores. But like others who were in this market before the big guys muscled their way in, the Co-Op as an example who have battled back well, Somerfield don't know what they are doing. Nothing new in that. They have landed themselves in-between a supermarket open to the public and one of these stores that needs a card too shop there.


The point is I have shopped less at Somerfield since the introduction of this incredibly stupid idea (almost as stupid as the cycle lanes in Birmingham that expect cyclists to go through trees and Bus stops.), I had hoped it would guarantee the availability of the offer goods. Sadly they are no more available now than they were before.

As to the keyrings, I have enough junk on my key ring as it is and if it does not have a seagulls logo on it it does not get on my keyring. It is however about the only good part of this daft idea, being a fairly good advertising metod if, and only if, you can convince enough people too use them, and that's the bit I doubt.

tight_wad_7

On the subject of over charging, Somerfield are definately the worst. I feel like reporting them to the police when they over charge me as they have stolen from me. >:(
If I walked out of their shop with goods I had not paid for I would be nicked. I always check my bill before I leave the store.

awkward_2

::)Somerfields play them at there own game by asking the person behind you in the queue if you can borrow theres then look at the cashiers face. Shock & horror.
Also check your bill cos they have a regular habit of showing on the shelf money off, buy 1 get 1 free etc.
then charge you the full price for everthing.
Every time I get overcharged I ring head office to tell them. 1st question asked have you spoken to manager Answer no because he should no what is going on if he is any good.tell them you wont be going to shop there anymore & then suddenly attitude changes, would you except vouchers from us.
Well of course I will & I am getting, rich at it over £100 so far. Who needs 1 of there stupid cards i'd rather have there vouchers.

Angela

I agree that they are definatley the worst for over charging.
I have one just down the road from me I dont use it alot if I can help it.
They do have alot of good offers on with the saver card though.
Here are this weeks.
Mmmmmmmmmmmm pringles are cheap must stock up for xmas, and I love those snickers flapjacks that are on offer.http://www.somerfield.co.uk/site/saver/offers.asp