15% off £25 spend - Bon Marché - but they didn't let me use it - help please

Anic

I don't know if this is the correct place to put this or not but as it is about a voucher that is why I put it here. If it should be elsewhere then please feel free to move it to the correct place and apologies for putting it in the wrong place.

Also apologies for it being so long winded but I was pretty annoyed when writing it.

Anyway, in last week's Take a Break Magazine Bon Marché had a full page advert for their new seasons lines with a voucher at the bottom for 15% off when you spend £25 or more.

Having put on a bit of weight over the last six months I decided to take advantage of the coupon and went into town to specifically visit Bon Marché to replenish my wardrobe. Just after I left the house I realised I didn't have my Loyalty Card with me but as the voucher states on it "This voucher cannot be used in conjunction with any other promotional offer" I didn't see the need to go back and get it.

One hour bus journey later and half an hour after perusing their stock I am standing at the checkout in Bon Marché with two jackets, three pairs of trousers, three blouses and two other tops (totalling nearly £200) ready to pay for my goods. The lady asked if I had a Loyalty Card to which I replied I did but I hadn't brought it with me. She said that was a shame as I would be able to have 15% discount if I had it with me.

I said I hadn't known about the Loyalty Card discount as I had never been offered it before but it didn't matter anyway as I had the voucher from the Take a Break Magazine for the same discount. She said sorry - she couldn't accept it without my loyalty card. I pointed out that it doesn't mention the loyalty card either on the voucher or in fact anywhere on the page at all so surely the loyalty card isn't relevant. But she was adament she could not give me the discount.

I asked if it would have made a difference if I hadn't had a card and she said she would have needed to give me one in order for the discount to go through. Again I pointed out this is not mentioned on the voucher or advert.

I left the shop empty handed and blazing mad as I had wasted my afternoon getting to the shop and I was not willing to pay an extra £30 that I would have save had I been able to use the voucher.

What I was wondering is should I write to Head Office to complain? Was this lady correct? I would not have thought Bon Marché would be allowed to advertise discount vouchers in magazines but insist you hand over your personal details in order for them to give you a loyalty card before you can take up the offer.

The exact wording on the voucher are (I was going to attach a scanned copy of itbut don't know how to do it)

"15% Off when you spend £25 or more

This voucher is valid until December 31st 2005. Photocpied, damaged or defaced
vouchers will not be accepted. This voucher cannot be used to purchase gift vouchers.
The voucher cannot be used in conjunction with any other promotional offer.
Photocopied, damaged or defaced vouchers will not be accpeted. The cash redemption
value of this voucher is 0.001p. Discount code : 15%BREAK


As I said earlier there is nowhere on the page that even mentions their Loyalty Card so am I right in thinking I should have been entitled to a 15% discount even though I didn't have my card with me?

Clowance

In your position I would have just reapplied for the card and given a relatives address or something. Or possibly they would have let you have it if you said you had lost your original card and needed another?
If neither of these ploys worked I too would have left the clothes on the counter and gone off in a huff!