Costa Coffee!! Gave leaflet for free coffee and then didn't give it to me!!

Juliav_2

Hi all

Just had to vent (thanks for listening).

Costa Coffee in my local town centre had a refurbishment. After this took place they distributed leaflets offering a 'free coffee' to say thank you for being patient whilst the cafe was out of service.

I got the leaflet after I paid for a coffee on a thursday, I went in on the saturday to claim my 'free coffee' and they said the offer had ended.

The terms and condition on the leaflet said the offer was valid for 1 month after opening which would mean it was 14 June 08. It did say manager can reserve the right to pull the promotion to an end.

When I asked the manager, she said that they had stopped the offer as they had redeemed 90% of their leaflets.

She was rude, unhelpful and sent me away without my free coffee (despite me being a regular customer) Well not anymore.

Is it me or is that out of order!!

KILL_BILL

write to their head office and put your complaint to them

state that managers being unprofessional is unaceptable and they should know better.

see what response you get from them then

Pollycat

Julia
I'd say they were covered by saying

It did say manager can reserve the right to pull the promotion to an end.

BUT, if you are a regular customer then it would have been good business practice to honour the leaflet and give you a free coffee.

If you are a regular customer, didn't the manager know you?
Did you tell her you were a regular?
Did you tell her that as a result of her attitude that you'd not go in there again?
I wouldn't spend too much time and money on this but if you can find the email address of the head office, I'd be inclined to drop them a quick note and explain the circumstances.

Who knows....maybe they'll send you a voucher for a free coffee. :rotfl:
(sorry, couldn't resist that).

To be honest, I personally think places like Costa Coffee, Starbucks and Cafe Nero are far too overpriced to bother with anyway.

mitchb

Juliav wrote: »

When I asked the manager, she said that they had stopped the offer as they had redeemed 90% of their leaflets.
quote]

I think this is a very poor comment from the manager.

i appreciate they probably expected a lower redemption but they decided how many leaflets to distribute and should honour any genuine leaflets, especially from regular customers

Juliav_2

Thanks for your replies. I may well nip off and find the head office address.

I completely agree, as a regular customer this offer should have been honoured.

I totally agree, places like that are a rip off and I shall be sticking coffees at home!

hollydays

Put it down to not being there at the right time

liz545

[EMAIL="customer.relations@whitbread.com"]customer.relations@whitbread.com[/EMAIL]