Costa Coffee

Amanda_Stebbing

Has anyone else noticed just how much money you now need to spend to get a free cup of coffee in Costa Coffee? With the old card, you needed to collect nine stamps in order to get one free - a spend of around a minimum of £20. With the new "loyalty card" you have to spend twice that much. Each whole pound you spend gives you five points, so you have to spend £40 to get a free cup of coffee. I wrote to Costa, asking about this and when they eventually replied, they skirted the issue, saying that you could now get points for food as well - I don't buy their food, it's overpriced. They start you off with 100 points for free, however you still have to buy another 11 cups of coffee to qualify for a free one, which is STILL TWO more than you originally had to do. Other Costa users beware!

midnightraven3

could be worse
they could stop any free ones at all

tuggy

Ah someone complaining about a free coffee... charming... you dont have to accept it you know!

ShaneUK

Go elsewhere then - be MoneySaving!!

Eg - McDonalds coffee is actually quite nice (ok the "interior" and customer service may not be....)

However - McD coffee is around £1.20 (varies slightly branch to branch). Cups come with a sticker - collect 6, one free drink.

fluffnutter

Or a nice local independent... rather than a chain like costa. Or buy some decent fairtrade beans and brew up at home!

chomsky_2

I love independent coffee shops and I'm lucky as they are several where I live and I use a particular one almost every week. Unfortunately not one of them does any sort of loyalty card scheme which is a real shame as I think they should look after the regulars!

Cafe Nero has a loyalty card where you buy 9 and your 10th is free so if there is one near you maybe you could have one of their loyalty cards?

pinkshoes

I only use independent coffee shops, as the coffee is just as good, and much cheaper, and a nicer atmosphere.

Or at a push, I go to the M&S cafe as you get a free biscuit with the coffee!

HouseHuntr

Costa, Nero, Starbucks and all the rest, it's all just hype and an Amercanism so why get upset over a cuppa.
You'll get just as good a cuppa if not better for half of what they charge elsewhere.

Torry_Quine

Have had a loyalty card with Costa for some time now and have only ever got 5 points per pound spend. The only change that I'm aware of is nor having to put money onto the card.

moonrakerz

pinkshoes wrote: »

Or at a push, I go to the M&S cafe as you get a free biscuit with the coffee!

Waitrose is very good too !

shiningdove

HouseHuntr wrote: »

Costa, Nero, Starbucks and all the rest, it's all just hype and an Amercanism so why get upset over a cuppa.
You'll get just as good a cuppa if not better for half of what they charge elsewhere.

costa isn't american :l