Tesco not honouring vouchers at the till...

JennyP

I had an issue in Tesco yesterday. 

On a previous trip, I'd got a voucher with my receipt for a free product on my next visit. Yesterday, I put that item in my basket, checking carefully that it was the right product, right brand, size etc. It was.

But at the till, it wouldn't give me the product free - it just knocked off £2.50. 

2 assistants tried and failed. They took me to customer services where I had to queue. Then the woman on the customer services till tried and failed. They said this *often* happens with free vouchers and they cannot override it.

I can't help wondering how many people get caught out by this? How many customers use their vouchers in good faith, assuming they've been given the promised product free of charge, and never check their receipt? They might even buy a product they wouldn't have bought, thinking it was free only to actually be charged for it. It seems like a bit of a con to me!

Would love to know if anyone else has had this experience. I know it's a trivial thing but it's bugging me.

flaneurs_lobster

But at the till, it wouldn't give me the product free - it just knocked off £2.50. 

Forgive me being thick, the free thing would have cost £2.50, what's the difference?

elsien

presumably the free thing was more than £2.50.

If I have a voucher, I always put the item through last so I can check what I’m getting.

Brie

The problem I have with these sort of vouchers is that so many are handed out that they run out of stock and there's no subs allowed. I had this for some dish soap but it had to be the normal fragrance, not the same product with lemon or anything else.

Slinky

I think I must shop there too often. Never get these vouchers.

Grumpy_chap

How much was the "free" thing?

Was it actually a voucher you were entitled to? I don't mean that in a facetious way but I know that I often find the till prints out vouchers, or there are already vouchers laying about, that say "only to be used with clubcard ###" when that is not my cc so I assume the previous customer. Those vouchers sometimes work regardless.

What were the terms on the back of the voucher? Did it say something like "no cash equivalent, property of Tesco, may be cancelled at any time"?

ppp123

I’ve had exactly this with Tesco “free item” vouchers. It scans as a partial discount instead and staff say they can’t override it. Easy to miss if you don’t check the receipt carefully.

LindsayT

I didn't know Tesco give coupons for 'free' items.

However, some time ago I did have a Nestle coupon which would not go through even though I had bought the item. As it was a reasonable amount, I phoned Nestle to let them know and they said they have had a lot of problems with Tesco not accepting coupons. She told me to try Sainsbury's instead, which I did and it was fine.

I know this doesn't help the OP but just my experience of Tesco and a coupon.

Slinky

Does anyone remember the days when Tesco would accept the '£4.50 off your next Sainsbury's spend' type vouchers? Do they still do this?

JennyP

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81863755#Comment_81863755

They hadn't run out of stock.

The item was worth £4.90 - it was trying to get me to pay £2.40 when it clearly said free on my voucher.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81863873#Comment_81863873

It didn't have T&C on the back - it was printed on till receipt paper as I was given it when I previously shopped. I used it with the same Clubcard.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81864001#Comment_81864001

I asked at a different Tesco yesterday and the staff member said they often have this issue. It seems so wrong. People who don't check their receipt are being duped.