MSE News: Waitrose to scrap free hot drinks offer in its cafes

Former_MSE_Helen

Waitrose is scrapping a deal, which allowed members of its loyalty card scheme to enjoy a free hot drink in its cafes...

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Waitrose to scrap free hot drinks offer in its cafes




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Puffin2014

I don't think it's unreasonable for Waitrose to charge for the Tea/coffee if you sit in the cafe as I imagine at busy times it may be hard for paying customers who want to eat to find a table. At least it's still free if you take away and no-one else offers that!

catzooo

But it is still free for a take away coffee ��

sinizterguy

Thank God for this. Bloody free drinks just make the whole place crowded and me unable to get a table for lunch without a wait ....

DCFC79

catzooo wrote: »

But it is still free for a take away coffee ��

Tue, if people dont like having to buy 1 of the treats then just get a coffee or tea to go, it should free up some of the tables.

Its still not a bad deal though, a piece of fruit cant be much in Waitrose.

Pincher

Got the e-mail.


I don't think any of the Waitorses around here have a Caf!.


The etiquette includes swiping the myWaitrose card to register your one free cup a day. Some people just drink it, put the empty cup on a shelf, and walk out.


It's just a botched promotion. All they had to do was to say free coffee without purchase for the first six months of signing up, and everything would have been fine.

Pincher

dastep wrote: »

I enjoy shopping at Waitrose because their products are always better tasting and the quality of their meat is premium. I have tried chicken from Aldi, Tesco, Sainsbury's and Asda and they all come in second place to Waitrose.

A true fan would have a [EMAIL="******@waitrose.com"]******@waitrose.com[/EMAIL] e-mail address.


Now that Waitrose doesn't do broadband any more, the die hards are paying about £20 a year to keep the address going.

Million_Percent

I don't see what all the fuss is about. It's just the people who want something for nothing kicking up a stink. You can still get a free drink without purchase if you take out.

In some ways Waitrose have been a victim of their own success but perhaps they should have either time limited the offer or made it take out only from the start.

I can understand paying shoppers feeling frustrated that they can't get a seat because the place is full of people with their free drinks.

PennyForThem_2

There is a Little Waitrose in the town I live - no caf! but nobody checks if you are 'entitled' to free take out coffee

cuongMe

Much that I like a free coffee I think Waitrose should further limit this only to people who shop there and not just give it away for free. They should also check people obtaining the coffee as I see too many just walking into the store, grabbing a coffee and leaving. This probably explains the long queues to the machine for us genuine shoppers.

On the website it says "A free tea or coffee when you shop with us" so it shouldn't be free without a purchase. I think Waitrose should just manage the promotion better.

anotheruser

A number of customers have voiced disappointment at the move on the MSE forum and on Twitter:

alfsmum says: "I'm disappointed but not surprised as it's always difficult to find a free table in the cafe and a fair proportion of people sit for ages with their free drink, reading the cafe paper (I include myself in that sometimes)."

DigForVictory says: "Blimey, the self-serve brew had better keep going or 98% of my building will defect back to Costa & Sainsbury's. Here's hoping Waitrose does the maths and decide us coffee monsters are worth nurturing for the occasional sprees we go on."

@Kaylsh tweeted: "Unfortunately this leaves out the people with food intolerances as @waitrose doesn't provide gluten free snacks in the cafe."

Huh?
You're annoyed you're no longer getting something FOR FREE?! Give me a break!

You'll go back to Costa? What, and pay?!

Sorry, I must be missing something here...