Oops - Starbucks - when free isn't free!!!

sheehlb

Hey all - just thought I better warn you all - I saw the Starbucks Via offer that was on this weekend - free samples of the new coffee range.

They had free samples on the counter (cardboard envelopes with 3 sachets in them) - or so I though - and I helped my self to a couple on Friday and a couple more today. Only to notice on the way out that they were actually not free - I was supposed to pay £1.20 for each pack of 3 sachets!

Eeek!

On the counter it did say - 'try this today'. I did it very openly so hopefully am not barred from my local starbucks!

Be warned!!

Sheehlb!

jacktyler

Queenriderbrekke

Easy mistake to make! Lol!

juno

My daddy managed to help himself to the "free" chocolates on the counter once

Wildside

jacktyler wrote: »

:T:T:T :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::T:T:T

bluebeary

the little bottles of flavoured syrups ?

Abbafan1972

Hope you enjoyed your "freebie", lol! :rotfl:

brownmurder

i think you should take them back and appologise :P

cutiemish

oh no it is free! i've been wondering around starbucks and i've seen 3 ways this promotion is done,

1. theres someone there asking you to try two kinds and you have to guess which one is the instant coffee (the more watery one is the instant coffee one, i got it right ) and they'll try get you to buy it and thats when u get £1 off if you do buy it and a free tall coffee to go with it (any kind)
i did actually ask if they had a stronger one and they gave me a free sachet sample of the stronger one (lower baker street shop)

2. theres no one there to make you try it so you ask behind the counter and you get a free sachet to try it (islington shop next to station)

3. theres someone just getting you to try the new one, and then they'll try get you to buy it but you won't get anything free (bond street next to debenhams shop)

hope that helps, i was rather bored yesterday and wondered around london and popped into starbucks on the way, i'd be a great mystery shopper haha! xXx

Reverbe

Cutie you dont get sachets free. The free thing is the token for a free cup of coffee IF you do the taste challenge - see other threads - but they even tried to charge you for that by making you buy a £1.20 pack of sachets..I have emailed them re this as all their literature and promo stuff says NO purchase necessary.

Ps I thought the more watery one was the instant -turns out I was wrong..

jenniewb

Its a marketing ploy- many coffee shops are at it. Personally, I wouldn't feel guilty. The idea is you pick things up either because you assume they are free (then are later charged unaware or told "thats £xx.xx and are to embarassed to put it back/want to eat it too much to put it back) or you pick things up as they are continually shoved in your face. Taking something without paying is not ok, but the tactics stores use to get people buying is a little too in-your-face for me to sympathise with them- and Starbucks are by wfar and away the only people doing this!