Waitrose 3 for 2 not what it appears to be

jfh7gwa

that's always been the way shops have handled these things in my experience

i've just always made sure that i put them through in distinct transactions

customers shouldn't need to though.

i suppose they count on a few customers forgetting/not being aware of the checkout faff that's involved - even if it's 10% of customers, it'll make them a fair profit. so it's not like they have an incentive to change the way the tills calculate it.

there is NO excuse for being such idiots when you flagged the issue though. fair enough if you didn't realise that you had to put them through as seperates, but there's no excuse for the staff failing to grasp what the problem was immediately and offering to put them through as a different transaction. isn't dealing with this sort of thing fairly routine?!

Tigsteroonie

I was recently in BHS when they had a similar offer - I can't remember whether it was "Buy 2 Get 3rd Free" or "Buy 1 Get 2nd Halfprice" but that's not important.

What is important is that the staff on the tills had obviously been very well briefed about the offer, and were telling the customers that they would put through the purchases as separate transactions in order to maximise the discount the customer could get

Tommo781

jfh7gwa wrote: »

that's always been the way shops have handled these things in my experience

i've just always made sure that i put them through in distinct transactions

customers shouldn't need to though.

i suppose they count on a few customers forgetting/not being aware of the checkout faff that's involved - even if it's 10% of customers, it'll make them a fair profit. so it's not like they have an incentive to change the way the tills calculate it.

there is NO excuse for being such idiots when you flagged the issue though. fair enough if you didn't realise that you had to put them through as seperates, but there's no excuse for the staff failing to grasp what the problem was immediately and offering to put them through as a different transaction. isn't dealing with this sort of thing fairly routine?!

Tigsteroonie wrote: »

I was recently in BHS when they had a similar offer - I can't remember whether it was "Buy 2 Get 3rd Free" or "Buy 1 Get 2nd Halfprice" but that's not important.

What is important is that the staff on the tills had obviously been very well briefed about the offer, and were telling the customers that they would put through the purchases as separate transactions in order to maximise the discount the customer could get

Thanks for confirming my original post guys.

Good to know I am not stupid.

Charliezoo

M&S have 3 for 2 on all their Xmas decorations and clear signage on the shelves explaining that their tills will put your items in order so you won't end up losing out as the OP did if you buy 6 items.

I've always thought highly of Waitrose, why can't they just re-programme their tills so customers that want to take advantage of 3 for 2 offers don't have to put them through in separate transactions?

DCFC79

Tommo781 wrote: »

Please see my previous post.

yes i read your post, you bought 3 items at £3.77 and 3 at £2.04 that were on a 3 for 2 with the cheapest item free which is what you got just not the way you were expecting.

Tommo781

Charliezoo wrote: »

M&S have 3 for 2 on all their Xmas decorations and clear signage on the shelves explaining that their tills will put your items in order so you won't end up losing out as the OP did if you buy 6 items.

I've always thought highly of Waitrose, why can't they just re-programme their tills so customers that want to take advantage of 3 for 2 offers don't have to put them through in separate transactions?

Thanks for that Charliezoo. I will make sure to tell them that M&S have got it sorted as well as Boots!

mildred1978

Charliezoo wrote: »

I've always thought highly of Waitrose, why can't they just re-programme their tills so customers that want to take advantage of 3 for 2 offers don't have to put them through in separate transactions?

Because its not as simple as flicking a switch???

Look at the mess they made when they built a new (£20m) website!!

Charliezoo

mildred1978 wrote: »

Because its not as simple as flicking a switch???

Look at the mess they made when they built a new (£20m) website!!

I'm sure its not as simple as flicking a switch but if its possible for other shops to do it why not Waitrose?

Actually when Tesco had all their cereals on 3 for 2 a few months ago they also had their tills programmed to make the offer fair, I remember asking the SA assistant to check it when I bought 9 packs.

Tommo781

Charliezoo wrote: »

I'm sure its not as simple as flicking a switch but if its possible for other shops to do it why not Waitrose?

Actually when Tesco had all their cereals on 3 for 2 a few months ago they also had their tills programmed to make the offer fair, I remember asking the SA assistant to check it when I bought 9 packs.

I've just tried a purchase on 3 for 2 on Sainsbury's website, then emptied the basket. I put in 4X£25, 4x£16 and 1 x£10. It deducted £51, so they too deduct the 3rd most expensive item in descending price order. So that is Boots, M&S, Sainsbury's and Tesco. Beginning to look like Waitrose is very much an exception!

chesky369

The first (and only) time this happened to me was actually in Boots about a year ago. I now make sure I always have two separate transactions. This comes up on these boards every now and again, so I think you only get caught once.