Free Hot drink and cake every month @ John Lewis

jenniewb

Well, I've spent loads in JL over the past few months, yet had no new vouchers. When I say loads, I mean quite a few purchase and not cheap things either! I can't help wondering if they are stopping the vouchers for everyone regardless of spend.

wdah

Really disappointed this is stopping - I was pretty blas! when the scheme began, and have only gone and claimed the coffee and cake for the last two months. I can't afford to go out for lunch very often, so it was a nice treat to have those deducted from the bill.

tomtontom

It is not stopping for everyone, but there has been a delay in printing the new vouchers and those that are eligible should be receiving them within the next two weeks. They also kindly sent me a £10 voucher this week, and I'm not sure why!

BritishBibliophile

Just because you don't see abuse doesn't mean it doesn't happen. I used to work checkouts at Waitrose and had to deal with customer abuse, and then deal with people looking very shocked and going "I never expected to see that kind of thing here!", while wanting to hide underneath my till and cry. Worst was at Christmas when people were already coming in with frayed nerves and basically wanted an excuse to have a go at someone.

Haven't had my next set of vouchers yet, but I will admit I haven't spent a great deal with John Lewis, so I'd be disappointed but not surprised if they missed me off the list.

Frankly I'd prefer it if they merged their card with Waitrose as I do part of my weekly food shop there and actually get very little out of it since I don't want to try and carry free tea while laden with bags, and I don't bother with the newspapers since I read stuff online, and generally their "My Waitrose Discounts" around the store aren't on stuff I buy.

penguinlegs

I have always viewed these vouchers as a lovely gesture and am grateful that I am able to get a nice cake and coffee once a month (something I wouldn't be able to afford otherwise). My spending has increased due to having these vouchers - we went in before New Year and used our December coupon and while there, walked through the appliances department to see the clearance section and came out with a new cooker as the door had come off ours the day before.

beecher2

I received 3 more vouchers today. One to be used before 22 August, next 23 August - 19 September, final 20 September - 17 october. These are my 3rd lot of vouchers, and I haven't bought anything using my JL card since they began (keep forgetting).Wasn't expecting any more so quite happy.

cupcake4

Just back from John Lewis, Westfield Stratford where I used my voucher and had a lovely fresh fruit tart (so fresh, they were just being put out), and a cappucinno.

chewynut

Crabman wrote: »

I don't understand how a member of staff in the catering department can reasonably comment on the increase in revenue to John Lewis as a result of the vouchers.

A family member is in the process of ordering a kitchen. It has not been finalised yet but once the styles and features have been agreed upon, JL will get her business. She went in for a free cake and coffee with my sister and didn't even know they did kitchens. It was her first visit to JL.

She certainly wouldn't have needed to make the catering staff aware of her pending kitchen order.



Which area are you in, out of interest? I've visited JL in Solihull and Leicester and have only ever seen pleasant and satisfied customers and staff.

Are you aware that the partners own John Lewis? Every department gets detailed reports on how they're doing. Details about most things are on the intranet because we have the right to know this information. Catering Partners were asked if there was anything that could be done to improve morale and we asked for more information on the vouchers. The next day we got a big noticeboard with all the figures and things I've quoted on this thread. When you're in catering you're kind of isolated from the rest of the shop but that doesn't mean you don't know what's happening in it.

And it's not that hard to put two and two together when you're told how much profit you're (not) making and then how much it is going to cost to fix the machinery that has worn out.

supersonicgirl

I regularly shop at jl home in ipswich and I got an email saying no more vouchers too - they used all the publicity, got our personal information and have now withdrawn it - not impressed!

Crabman

chewynut wrote: »

Are you aware that the partners own John Lewis? Every department gets detailed reports on how they're doing. Details about most things are on the intranet because we have the right to know this information. Catering Partners were asked if there was anything that could be done to improve morale and we asked for more information on the vouchers. The next day we got a big noticeboard with all the figures and things I've quoted on this thread. When you're in catering you're kind of isolated from the rest of the shop but that doesn't mean you don't know what's happening in it.

And it's not that hard to put two and two together when you're told how much profit you're (not) making and then how much it is going to cost to fix the machinery that has worn out.

It would be interesting to know how much revenue has been brought in as a result of these vouchers. In fact, it would be fascinating to know how JL gathers such data in the first place given your comments about their systems.

It's unclear what you're referring to when you intimate JL's lack of profit. They are doing very well in a difficult and competitive commercial environment and lead their competitors. See my earlier post.

As for the machinery you claim broke down, that's an entirely separate issue. You don't say whether the machinery is leased or, if owned, subject to a maintenance agreement. Commercial machinery is designed for heavy use and if it fails to perform, JL would have a right of claim against the supplier. These scenarios would not result in costs for JL.

You have said previously that the majority of John Lewis customers are "horrible" but the evidence of others in this thread does not reflect that. Nor have you said which area you're in. I wouldn't criticise a single client of my employer because I feel that would be less than professional.