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

jobbingmusician

You'd think they might allow disabled people to sit in the cafe to drink their coffee. But no, they have refused this.

jon81uk

jobbingmusician wrote: »

You'd think they might allow disabled people to sit in the cafe to drink their coffee. But no, they have refused this.

Equal rights for everyone! If disabled people want a free coffee to drink in, then they can purchase a cake to go with their coffee. Or just pay for the coffee.

edinburgher

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

First world problems....

I_have_spoken

It was certainly attracting an undesirable demographic into the shops!

glider3560

If I do £150 of shopping then go to the cafe, I can't have a free cup of coffee to drink in.

But if I buy an overpriced £3.50 sandwich, I can have a free coffee.

Doesn't make business sense to me? Surely you want the big shopper to come into your store?

callum9999

edinburgher wrote: »

First world problems....

Clearly someone who's never heard of fruit too. Apples were gluten-free last time I checked!

kerri_gt

anotheruser wrote: »

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...

Exactly what I was thinking

glider3560 wrote: »

If I do £150 of shopping then go to the cafe, I can't have a free cup of coffee to drink in.

But if I buy an overpriced £3.50 sandwich, I can have a free coffee.

Doesn't make business sense to me? Surely you want the big shopper to come into your store?

I don't know of any other supermarkets that have cafes and offer free drinks. I do see your argument, but if you don't want a sarnie, then the other option is to pay for just a coffee perhaps, likely to be cheaper than a sandwich you don't want?

MARTYM8`

Such a non story.

Free take away coffee - drunk by the vast majority of those who take advantage of the benefit - is still free.

If you want to sit in the cafe area, read the paper and use the wifi you still get a free coffee but have to buy a cake or biscuit as well - given that their cookies only cost 50p whats the big deal?

The coffee is still free - and for 50p you can get a free coffee and a cookie and a seat! Still a good deal.

sinizterguy

glider3560 wrote: »

If I do £150 of shopping then go to the cafe, I can't have a free cup of coffee to drink in.

But if I buy an overpriced £3.50 sandwich, I can have a free coffee.

Doesn't make business sense to me? Surely you want the big shopper to come into your store?

The two are independent factors. Seeing as the competition does not offer a nice cafe like Waitrose, your shopping decision when you think with a clear mind, is unlikely to be defined by the availability of a free coffee.

jon81uk

glider3560 wrote: »

If I do £150 of shopping then go to the cafe, I can't have a free cup of coffee to drink in.

But if I buy an overpriced £3.50 sandwich, I can have a free coffee.

Doesn't make business sense to me? Surely you want the big shopper to come into your store?

They want you to come in to the store and spend on shopping, hence the offer of a free take-away coffee with your shopping.

They want people to go into the cafe and buy lunch, a cake or a snack when sitting in. Think of the cafe as seperate to the store, free coffee doesn't make the cafe any money, but cleaning tables etc costs them more.