Elderly and vulnerable being 'unfairly discriminated against' as supermarkets shift to apps

jon81uk

Peggy0628 said:

It's not just the elderly... For example the Sainsbury's supermarket in my town doesn't have the handheld scanners you need to get the 'smart shop' prices so the only way to get them is with a smartphone app. I can't get the cheaper deals because the app doesn't support my 8 year old smartphone running android 4 (also, it's on PAYG so data is expensive in comparison to monthly deals). Unfortunately it's the only supermarket here so have no choice but to shop there and pay full price for everything. I don't have a car so getting to a supermarket 10 miles away is not practical (the cost of a return bus ticket would be more than any potential savings)...
Not having a relatively new phone also means I'm unable to use the app-only bank accounts that often pay better interest rates than 'normal' banks...
So, the well-off people who can afford latest technology benefit from lower prices but the low-income peasants have to pay full price while being on a lot tighter budget...

To be honest you aren't missing out that much on the Nectar prices offers. Its about 8-10 items per week with 30% off its rarely on something I actually "need" but I have bought something to stock up on it with the 30%. Some items are ones you've bought in the past and others are things they are trying to push you to buy. Most Sainsbury's stores do have WiFi I think though.

For the additional point offers you can save them on the Nectar website SmartShop isn't needed.

pumpkin89

jon81uk said:

To be honest you aren't missing out that much on the Nectar prices offers. Its about 8-10 items per week with 30% off its rarely on something I actually "need" but I have bought something to stock up on it with the 30%.

I'd agree for the most part.  Occasionally there's a really good one where a fresh product was on promotion at the point the Nectar price was calculated, but then the promotion finishes, so you end up with about 50% off the current price.

MrsStepford

My bank (Lloyds) requires me to have a mobile phone, to receive messages so that I can input an authentication code if required, when purchasing online. It doesn't specify what sort of operating system my phone should have. I don't understand why supermarkets would do that. If you design an app which only works on certain versions it seems self-defeating.

I think it's condescending to say that older people can't use technology. My mother is an OAP and she uses email, texts, apps, Facebook, reward cards, Kindle, iPad, iPhone and so do many of her friends. She shops online with Amazon and Sainsbury's a lot.

Why can't charities for OAPs plus social services, adult education centres, schools and colleges plus libraries, get together to offer free courses for the elderly ? 

elsien

There are free courses, for the general population as well as older people. 

My library had a digital champion who you can book sessions with; Age uk in some areas offer online training, pretty sure I’ve seen banks referencing digital champions as well. 

p00hsticks

MrsStepford said:

My bank (Lloyds) requires me to have a mobile phone, to receive messages so that I can input an authentication code if required, when purchasing online. It doesn't specify what sort of operating system my phone should have. It doesn't specify what sort of operating system my phone should have. I don't understand why supermarkets would do that. If you design an app which only works on certain versions it seems self-defeating.

That's because any sort of mobile phone is ok for getting One time passwords (OTPs) as long as it can recieve simple text messages - it doesn't need to be a smart phone. Apps, on the other hand,  are effectively small computer programs that can only run on smart phones. The app developers have to spend time thoroughly testing them to make sure that they're secure and will run properly on each individual version of Android and iOS, so will only do so for the most commonly used  / recent versions of those operating systems.

p00hsticks

MrsStepford said:

Why can't charities for OAPs plus social services, adult education centres, schools and colleges plus libraries, get together to offer free courses for the elderly ? 

They do - but not all elderly (or less well off of all age groups) will have, want, afford  or be able to use the smartphone required to run these suermarket apps, especially when a simple card such as Tesco clubcard effectively provides a similar service..

Norman_Castle

I was given my first smartphone a few years ago and started to use it partially to find out if I really want one. I've got a cctv app which works well but I could live without and a location app which doesn't work properly. I hate the size and weight of it compared to my previous phone and need to use reading glasses to use it meaning also carrying them. I use my clubcard every few days in my nearby Tesco Express but wouldn't carry my phone and glasses there. As above, who needs an app when a card works fine.

Auntycaz

I don't use internet when i'm not at home but to use the waitrose offers I sign into my waitrose online on my laptop at home, get the offers up. and take a photo of the barcodes with my phone. Then I just scan the barcode at the till. I've not had any problems doing it this way. Hope this helps someone

worksmarter

Even though I've got a smartphone, I don't want to be forced to use it with apps for money off vouchers when shopping. It is just too much hassle. I've therefore cut up mywaitrose card as it is pretty much useless now.

Katiehound

MrsStepford said:

My bank (Lloyds) requires me to have a mobile phone, to receive messages so that I can input an authentication code if required, when purchasing online. 

Just to say that if you need a one time code you do not need to have a mobile phone. They phone a landline .
That works with Halifax, Lloyds & Tesco.

I don't have a smart phone, don't want a smart phone and am sick of everything telling me I can 'download their app'
NO thank you