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

jenniewb

VeGGie-STyLe wrote: »

I find it a little bit strange that they don't have some way of checking for a proof of purchase at the self-service coffee stations. Atleast they don't in my local Waitrose. No way of checking if you even HAVE a MyWaitrose card. I suppose the staff could ask to see a receipt, but they don't seem to do that as far as I'm aware?

I thought they would be a bit more strict about it instead of just allowing any ol' ratbag to help themselves to a free drink?!

In the self service coffee bars I've seen, you need to collect a cup from the till where they scan your card. No card = no coffee.

jon81uk

VeGGie-STyLe wrote: »

I find it a little bit strange that they don't have some way of checking for a proof of purchase at the self-service coffee stations. Atleast they don't in my local Waitrose. No way of checking if you even HAVE a MyWaitrose card. I suppose the staff could ask to see a receipt, but they don't seem to do that as far as I'm aware?

I thought they would be a bit more strict about it instead of just allowing any ol' ratbag to help themselves to a free drink?!

Same as buying fruit and veg or loose bakery items, you need to select the item (coffee, croissant, apple), go to the till and put the sale through the till for the item and then the discount is applied when the myWaitrose card is scanned. If you make a coffee at the machine and walk out without going to the till it is theft, exactly the same as selecting any other item in the store and walking out with it.

jenniewb wrote: »

In the self service coffee bars I've seen, you need to collect a cup from the till where they scan your card. No card = no coffee.

At Canary Wharf they still had cups out, maybe it depends on how busy each store is?

VeGGie-STyLe

I do my shopping, then hand over my card at the till and say "and please can I get a free coffee/latte/whatever" which they then add to the receipt, and I help myself to the drink on my way out. I was just wondering because no staff have ever queried me..... I either look like a very honest, innocent, wholesome kind of girl =D Or they are relying on the integrity of their customers.

jenniewb

jon81uk wrote: »

Same as buying fruit and veg or loose bakery items, you need to select the item (coffee, croissant, apple), go to the till and put the sale through the till for the item and then the discount is applied when the myWaitrose card is scanned. If you make a coffee at the machine and walk out without going to the till it is theft, exactly the same as selecting any other item in the store and walking out with it.


At Canary Wharf they still had cups out, maybe it depends on how busy each store is?

Canary Wharf is my one of my local stores- they had no cups when I went there at the weekend; maybe they ran out or maybe they have different rules depending on the crowds and preventing queues. I know there are other stores which wont hand over a cup until they've scanned your card at the till (Islington, Greenwich, Katherine Dock).

ilovemygarden

I asked a friend who works in waitrose if they were going to get the 'swipe' machines in our local. She said that they're being trialled in some branches and if they work well, all branches will have them installed.

She also told me that the consensus is that they are already proving useful & are freeing up time at the tills so she thought it was likely that they will be brought in.

surfsister

jenniewb wrote: »

Canary Wharf is my one of my local stores- they had no cups when I went there at the weekend; maybe they ran out or maybe they have different rules depending on the crowds and preventing queues. I know there are other stores which wont hand over a cup until they've scanned your card at the till (Islington, Greenwich, Katherine Dock).

st kats always was dire!! always said they hadn't got any cappuccino or late or whatever you wanted to drink. Also they always gave you a takeout cup in the cafe!!!! to save on washing up I assume! hear the cafe is closed now?? not at all surprised we complained to the manager several times!

jenniewb

surfsister wrote: »

st kats always was dire!! always said they hadn't got any cappuccino or late or whatever you wanted to drink. Also they always gave you a takeout cup in the cafe!!!! to save on washing up I assume! hear the cafe is closed now?? not at all surprised we complained to the manager several times!

I only went there one time. I had wanted to order via the click-and-collect because. I wanted to track the journey- really find it odd that Waitrose wont offer a click-and-collect service which I can get to inside an hour and a half. Tesco isn't that much better though given that both have many supermarkets closer to me than the 1-2 hour journey one!

surfsister

it's definitely annoying customers in my waitrose. I paid for my coffee and the couple behind me gave the lady thiert waitrose cards and ordered two teas and were very upset to be told they had to pay as they had spent $150 in the store!! Ditto the people behind them who had a massive trolley of food and drink! They just walked!!!

cafe about 20% full!!

dobbiesloan

Have they now reduced the measure?
For the last couple of days I have had a short measure in Waitrose Northampton. Is their their latest cost cutting measure?

jon81uk

dobbiesloan wrote: »

Have they now reduced the measure?
For the last couple of days I have had a short measure in Waitrose Northampton. Is their their latest cost cutting measure?

Could just be the staff don't knwo how to set the machine properly, someone accidentally changed a setting and doesn't know how to change it back? Could ask at customer service for them to look into it.