Waitrose free coffee to require a purchase

Doc_N

POPPYOSCAR wrote: »

MrsWenger wrote: »

We are regular Waitrose customers and understand their drive to stop people taking advantage. I preferred to get the drink at the start of the shop rather than after completing the shop. We spent £125 but technically only one of us could get a coffee unless we put through one item and paid for it followed by the rest of the shopping. Well done the checkout lady who put both through but she did say they had been instructed not to do that.[/QUOTE




I cannot remember where I read it but Waitrose have said that as long as you both have a card and buy more than one item there is no need to split your shop. So the SA was wrong.

That would be incredibly useful - thanks! It's annoying to have to split a shop just to get a coffee each. Does usually mean two papers as well, though - Telegraph to balance the Guardian.

MrsWenger

POPPYOSCAR wrote: »

MrsWenger wrote: »

We are regular Waitrose customers and understand their drive to stop people taking advantage. I preferred to get the drink at the start of the shop rather than after completing the shop. We spent £125 but technically only one of us could get a coffee unless we put through one item and paid for it followed by the rest of the shopping. Well done the checkout lady who put both through but she did say they had been instructed not to do that.[/QUOTE




I cannot remember where I read it but Waitrose have said that as long as you both have a card and buy more than one item there is no need to split your shop. So the SA was wrong.

I echo Doc N's feedback PoppyOscar, thanks for sharing that.

Cloth_of_Gold

What amazes me is that anyone would think that a 'free' (because let's face it it's not done out of the kindness of their hearts but as a loss leader to encourage people to shop there) coffee from a machine in a supermarket is worth having in the first place.

jenniewb

Doc_N wrote: »

POPPYOSCAR wrote: »

That would be incredibly useful - thanks! It's annoying to have to split a shop just to get a coffee each. Does usually mean two papers as well, though - Telegraph to balance the Guardian.

No, I think it's always been 1 paper per day AFAIK

Doc_N

jenniewb wrote: »

Doc_N wrote: »

No, I think it's always been 1 paper per day AFAIK

Indeed so - per member, though, like the coffee.

Doc_N

Cloth_of_Gold wrote: »

What amazes me is that anyone would think that a 'free' (because let's face it it's not done out of the kindness of their hearts but as a loss leader to encourage people to shop there) coffee from a machine in a supermarket is worth having in the first place.

Because actually it's not bad coffee at all - and considerably better than the tasteless stuff Starbucks, for example, push out.

And because, linked with the free paper offer, Waitrose can actually offer reasonable value (and a very pleasant shopping environment).

Cloth_of_Gold

Doc_N wrote: »

Because actually it's not bad coffee at all - and considerably better than the tasteless stuff Starbucks, for example, push out.

And because, linked with the free paper offer, Waitrose can actually offer reasonable value (and a very pleasant shopping environment).

Yes, I shop in Waitrose all the time but I don't want to sit in there drinking a coffee, perched on one of those little stools, I'd rather go home and have one if I want a coffee. I just think that if people perceive that something, however small, is free they put more value on it then it really has.

POPPYOSCAR

I emailed them about not having to split shopping to both get a coffee and this is their reply.


Waitrose Customer Service <customerserviceteam@waitrose.co.uk>
To Today at 10:15
Thanks for your email

I can confirm this is correct, In this situation the non paying customer (provided they are a myWaitrose member) are also allowed to have a free hot drink. Both myWaitrose cards must be scanned as you do now.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on how I did today. Your comments are really valuable to us and if you'd like to share your views, please click on the link below to take part in our quick survey.




I am going to print it off and keep it with me in case we encounter any problems.

Doc_N

Thanks, Poppyoscar - useful to have.