'Lessons in MoneyLosing at the Gap' blog discussion

bylromarha

I went to Boots today, Gap is next to it.

There are massive, and I mean massive, yellow displays in the window telling customers they can get 25% off everything with Grazia.

Didn't go in store, but couldn't fail to notice the signs - wonder how many vouchers were being used, especially as there is a WHsmith on the retail park too.

~*Plushroom*~

There is no shame using vouchers, but some people still feel that there is something wrong with it. I've tried encouraging people in the past but they look at me like I'm suggesting them steal something! Have found that older members of society are much more likely to gratefully receive information on vouchers than younger women which seems a bit strange. Does this mean the bargain hunting recession spirit is over?

Smiley_Mum

I use vouchers whenever I can to save. At Christmas time I had a few money off vouchers for Marks & Spencer, can't remember the discount but I knew I wasn't going to be able to use them all. I just looked for people who had a trolley of groceries who I thought would be spending around what the voucher required to make the saving. Everyone was very happy to accept them and I was glad that they were used. Although, there have been times I've mentioned to people about money off vouchers which are available and they look at me like I have horns in my head. Money off, vouchers, discount, pah!!! Then they go and buy their goods/groceries etc on a credit card. Oh well...

glider3560

When I was in Pizza Express quite a few months ago, I had taken three 50% off vouchers (printed from their website) as we expected a group of 14. Only 12 turned up, so we didn't need the other voucher. I kindly offered it to the table next to us who were a family of 5 (I think). They were really pleased (saved them at least £20) and I got chatting about how to find vouchers on the internet, so hopefully they'll always now be checking for vouchers.

ailuro2

My mother always told me it was the "really rich folks" who were stingiest with spending their money - and that was why they had money in the first place.

So when I use a voucher I'm just emulating the "really rich folks ":rotfl:

I see no shame in using a voucher to get 25% off clothing.
However I'll give this one a miss as I don't shop in Gap after they were caught using kids to make their clothes. Even though it was many years ago I still avoid them if I can!.:p

KTM_Gordo

I was in Tesco last night and the lady behind me in the queue was buying some clothes. There is a 25% off offer on at the moment with a voucher, and the assistant on the check-out went out of her way to get the lady the appropriate voucher to same her a tidy amount.

Although marks down for an offer on bottles of orange squash: item price 99p, or 2 for £2.

williham

lol in Wagamamas a few months ago I offered the people sitting next to us a buy one get one free voucher as I had two and they ran out that day. They just said no thanks, and then paid their £20 bill. Made it a bit awkward sitting next to them, and I just couldn't understand why they wouldn't want to save £10 with no effort.

gjs1701

The incident Martin describes isn't about vouchers, it is about signs. As someone who has worked in retail, I can categoricaly state: Customers Don't Read Signs.

Ok, that's a big generalisation, and I suspect moneysavers may be the exception, but it happens a lot.

lilian1977

I like to give my day travelcards (London tubes etc) to people when I've finished using them, but a lot of people will look at you as if you're trying to scam them. Their loss.

There is a Wetherspoons free coffee voucher in their marketing paper that expires this weekend and I've been trying to give them away at work to people who I know walk past - no one has used one yet, despite the fact they all drink coffee! So I've been getting two on the way to work and giving them away. I will help people save money even if they don't want my help!

I was in Boots once and saw a man buying a sandwich, a pack of crisps and a small bottle of water - the SA said that if he bought the larger bottle of water it would be a meal deal and save him over £1. He didn't do it - despite the fact that the fridge was directly behind him (this was in the days when only certain things were included). I sometimes think that people are embarrassed; not to use a voucher but because they didn't know, and they don't like having things pointed out to them so they just brazen it out at a loss to themselves.

Ah well. If not everyone uses the offers it means companies are more likely to keep running them! x

The_Mind_of_Mei

I see no shame in using vouchers or coupons, it means I can buy more stuff for the same amount of money. The other day I was in Boots buying some girl things and as I was in the queue waiting to pay, I noticed on the bottom shelf of the rack opposite me had the same items with a notice saying £1 - I dithered for about a second then scooted out of the queue to pick up some more and then re-joined the queue. Okay I spent more money there and then, but in the long run I saved money by stocking up on things I'll use each month. And was it worth the extra time spent queueing up again? Well yes, I was on my lunchbreak

Oh Martin, you should've used the 30% voucher off Gap items that you had on your website a while ago!!