Free Hot drink and cake every month @ John Lewis

Alice_Walker

Inigo_Montoya wrote: »

has anybody else noticed that they now want to scan your loyalty card when you hand over the drinks voucher

I wonder if this is some sort of security measure to detect people using other peoples vouchers (eg bought one ebay or other family members vouchers)

IIRC I dont think they scan the QR code on the voucher as well when you checkout but I guess if you have used more vouchers than awarded to your account it would show up

They don't ask for your card at Nottingha, must be individual store policy.

I'm surprised some people ring to ask where their vouchers are - they've never guaranteed you'll get them.

Ziggy_Stardust

Mine ran out in August, has anyone else had any for September onwards?

Doc_N

Alice_Walker wrote: »

I'm surprised some people ring to ask where their vouchers are - they've never guaranteed you'll get them.

Actually, they said originally that the vouchers would be sent "at least three times a year". They've slowly backtracked from that, just as they have from good customer service.

The only way they can survive against the likes of Amazon is to cut costs, and unfortunately cutting costs also means lowering standards and cutting out frills like free coffee and cake. The daft thing is that it's backfiring on them as people realise that the coffee/cake vouchers tend to go to those who don't spend much.

Inigo_Montoya

Doc_N wrote: »

Actually, they said originally that the vouchers would be sent "at least three times a year". They've slowly backtracked from that, just as they have from good customer service.

The only way they can survive against the likes of Amazon is to cut costs, and unfortunately cutting costs also means lowering standards and cutting out frills like free coffee and cake. The daft thing is that it's backfiring on them as people realise that the coffee/cake vouchers tend to go to those who don't spend much.

John Lewis / Waitrose is a mutual so they are not under the same pressure as companies listed on the stock exchange - no pressure from shareholders to continually increase profits & no dividends to pay out (just bonuses to the employees )

I suspect there will always be a place for posh retailers who charge more but are able provide better service & higher quality products & a better all round shopping experience - there is also definately a class of people who are less price sensitive & want to shop at posh places where they dont have to mix with the 'plebs'

In fact its been reported that some long standing waitrose shoppers didnt like the free drinks offer precisely because it brought in the purely bargain hunting 'riff raff' (which would include me BTW)

I only started using waitrose because of the free drinks offer but I immediately noticed that the staff usually seemed to be more friendly & happy than other places which makes the shopping experience more pleasant

I have actually started shopping at waitrose now mostly for the odd bits & pieces (Id never do a main shop there due to the extra cost) - I also try to go around 7pm to 8pm as my local waitrose do some really big reductions at this time (up to 90% off) & you can pick up some really high quality food

Doc_N

I wouldn't exactly describe either John Lewis or Waitrose as 'posh' - just a bit upmarket on their main competitors. Round here it's surprising (or maybe it isn't) how many people split their shop now between Aldi and Waitrose. Same customers, now sharing their grocery purchases with two shops.

And that's Andy Street's problem. Despite the structure of JLP, it still has to make profits to survive, and those profits are leeching away thanks to the likes of Aldi, Lidl and Amazon. We used to shop pretty much wholly at Waitrose and John Lewis - now it's down to a small fraction of that, with Aldi and Amazon taking the bulk of the rest.

The worse it gets, the more they have to cut costs, and the poorer the customer experience - that's particularly noticeable in John Lewis. You might be shocked to read the Trustpilot reviews (all from real customers) on John Lewis. Just 1.5/10 - that's awful. And yet major competitors are getting 8/10.

I do genuinely fear for the future of John Lewis. It can't afford to maintain its previous high standards, and yet the downward spiral is actually driving its core customers away.

JadieH

Just wanted to throw this in for all those who believe only people who don't spend money in there get vouchers...
Over the summer I had 3x free coffee and cake, 1xfree icecream, and a free upgrade at the instore spa. Prior to that I also had free cake and other vouchers. I have consistently spend money in John Lewis, especially in the last year since I've moved house and bought a lot of home wear, mostly online where my card is automatically linked.

It honestly seems to me that the vouchers are random, and realistically they are an extra bonus not an expectation. I've not had any autumn/winters ones and if I don't it'll be a shame but I can't moan!

wacko15

I am beginning to think John Lewis send the vouchers out in batches. I know several people that received vouchers last week, but I am still waiting. Last time the first batch appeared to have the most useable vouchers and by the time I got mine there was only one tea and cake voucher, the rest were £5 gift card for a £50 spend and a voucher for Oxford St. London.

Will be interesting to see what people receive this time.

Doc_N

Doc_N wrote: »

And that's Andy Street's problem. Despite the structure of JLP, it still has to make profits to survive, and those profits are leeching away thanks to the likes of Aldi, Lidl and Amazon. We used to shop pretty much wholly at Waitrose and John Lewis - now it's down to a small fraction of that, with Aldi and Amazon taking the bulk of the rest.

The worse it gets, the more they have to cut costs, and the poorer the customer experience - that's particularly noticeable in John Lewis. You might be shocked to read the Trustpilot reviews (all from real customers) on John Lewis. Just 1.5/10 - that's awful. And yet major competitors are getting 8/10.

I do genuinely fear for the future of John Lewis. It can't afford to maintain its previous high standards, and yet the downward spiral is actually driving its core customers away.

Just as a follow-up to this (and the continuing failure of JL to stick by its promises) I see that Andy Street is looking for the Conservative nomination for the West Midlands Mayor post - and that if he gets it he'll stand down as the John Lewis MD.

Not so long ago, Justin King stood down as CEO of Sainsbury's just before things started getting bad for them as a result of sales lost to Aldi and Lidl.

Always best to leave on a high - not a good omen for JL.

Ziggy_Stardust

wacko15 wrote: »

I am beginning to think John Lewis send the vouchers out in batches. I know several people that received vouchers last week, but I am still waiting. Last time the first batch appeared to have the most useable vouchers and by the time I got mine there was only one tea and cake voucher, the rest were £5 gift card for a £50 spend and a voucher for Oxford St. London.

Will be interesting to see what people receive this time.

There's four of us here and no-one has got anything yet

Ziggy_Stardust

Is anyone else still getting this, there's still been none for us since August?