MSE News: Waitrose to get rid of disposable cups - if you're a MyWaitrose customer, you'll need to b

We live in Cornwall and our nearest Waitrose is 30 miles away. We used to go fairly regularly and always used the Pick your Own offers. Waitrose have taken that away now. Okay, I totally understand the reasoning for getting rid of disposable cups - well done Waitrose - but they are also stopping free coffees from their Cafes (don't know about the bakeries) . The email I received said it's because they are giving their Partners Barista training (don't they already have that?) and they are going to use higher quality coffee!!! Mmmmm... I expect if they polled their customers they would prefer "untrained" Baristas (although they all seem fairly competent to me) and the coffee they serve is pretty good as it stands.
So I've lost my Pick" offers, I've lost my free Cafe drinks and therefore the 60 mile round drive seems a bit poiintless now. Bye bye Waitrose

I don't know why Waitrose can't be upfront and honest by saying they just can't afford to do it anymore. Do they think their customers are so gullible to fall for this pathetic line? How dare they call this exciting news!
What about the tea drinkers? I assume that Waitrose will be allowing them to have a free tea as the improved barista service and coffee beans won't be effecting them at all! Probably not!!
And how is this going to work? Anyone can walk in with their own cup and fill up. Or are you going to be given a token with your purchase? Does this mean new machines? Or a member of staff making your coffee for you? I think not.
Please Waitrose just be honest with your customers!

A._Badger wrote: »

Snobbery. Not everyone shops on price and some people seem to prefer the curious concept of things being 'reassuringly expensive'.

Yet when I compare brand promotions between the supermarkets - Waitrose offers seem cheaper. In comparison to M&S and Tesco they are cheaper on some lines. Certainly their final reductions are often as cheap if not cheaper than some Tesco stores.

I agree with Doc N on customer service - they have lost their edge when it some to customer service - staff no longer seem as helpful nor proactive.

BTW, when I was at one of the large Waitose stores last week, I heard a mature partner complain about her wages in comparison to her son's. She had worked at the store for nearly a decade, and her son had recently started in a similar role at Morrisons and was earning more!

Doc_N wrote: »

What's left to keep them going?

The shopping experience?

My local Aldi and Lidl are always crowded with messy looking stores. Perfectly functional, but not pleasant. Waitrose is always empty with tidy shelves and no boxes/trollies being left in the aisles.

Checkouts are rushed, whereas Waitrose is slower. Never had to wait more than a few seconds in Waitrose for a checkout operator to serve me, in Aldi/Lidl, there can easily be five or six customers ahead of you.

Similarly, they choose a "certain type" of staff member in Waitrose. I always get called "Sir" in Waitrose. Never in any other shop. Generally staff in Aldi and Lidl are polite, but you do get a different service in Waitrose.

Am I the only one amused by Waitrose's continual struggle to reduce the cost of this promotion? I get the feeling they're desperate to find a reason to end it without being pilloried!