Waitrose to bring back free coffee without the need to buy anything

[JohnD]

I have to show my JL card for a free one. The coffee machine is carefully placed in the corner of the shop furthest from the door.

Next to the shelves of croissants and Danish pastries.

I don't see anyone hanging around. They sip it while pushing their chariot round the aisles.

I believe Asda do a free soup and a roll.

 

[noseall]

There isn't a freebee on the planet, that would get me to waste 15 mins of work time, unless I needed to be there anyway. I have yet to voluntarily attend one of our local Builders Merchant trade days (free food and drink) or one of the Christmas do's (free food and drink). Miserable git I know, but we're always busy.

 

[Mottie]

Catering for old gits who can't afford their heating bill wanting to hang out with similar old gits moaning about those 'immigrants' bringing them their free drinks!

Nobody brings you your free drink. It’s self serve. You’d know that if you were to actually go in there. You clearly haven’t been, you prefer to stay outside bitching. Clearly they are doing something right if the likes of you aren’t venturing into the store.

 

[blup]

Yes, self serve from the machine and bring your own mug. I think before you could also get a freebie in the canteen where they had one but that has been dropped. It will be interesting to see how successful it is in attracting custom. There are so many Costas and Maccy D's setting up people are a stones throw away from a drive through, unless maybe you live in the Cornwall or the wilds of Wales.

 

[festive]

To be fair to waitrose they have spotted a market opportunity again...

Catering for old gits who can't afford their heating bill wanting to hang out with similar old gits moaning about those 'immigrants' bringing them their free drinks!

Who then go on to spend over the top in order to avoid those 'immigrants' shopping in other supermarkets

You love old people and the attention they give you, look at you and the amount of bait you cast each day

 

[festive]

Yes, self serve from the machine and bring your own mug. I think before you could also get a freebie in the canteen where they had one but that has been dropped. It will be interesting to see how successful it is in attracting custom. There are so many Costas and Maccy D's setting up people are a stones throw away from a drive through, unless maybe you live in the Cornwall or the wilds of Wales.

OMG! Self Serve!! I am suprised customers are allowed to tap into free coffee, or is this a reward for the work undertaken whist there assisting at the checkouts...

My biggest beef has been with our local Waitrose who i feel betrayed us as they always used to scoff at Sainsbury and self serve etc, our local Waitrose have now shifted massively to self serve wiping out most of the regular cashier checkouts to zero minute contract checkouts. Yes those ones where you all a sudden become a Waitrose employee and checkout your customers food, but with a plot twist, you're the customer also, and at the end you leave without being paid.
Incredible.
Each time i walk up to the 'supervisor' and say noone was around to checkout my food, ive done it for you, can you detail how i am reimbursed please? Imagine the cost saving of staff, and before you start the infra costs aren't much setting up those terminals.

Its the biggest con ever, we checkout our own food and let Waitrose pocket the profit (anyway sorry somewhat off topic i know).

 

[blup]

OMG! Self Serve!! I am suprised customers are allowed to tap into free coffee, or is this a reward for the work undertaken whist there assisting at the checkouts...

My biggest beef has been with our local Waitrose who i feel betrayed us as they always used to scoff at Sainsbury and self serve etc, our local Waitrose have now shifted massively to self serve wiping out most of the regular cashier checkouts to zero minute contract checkouts. Yes those ones where you all a sudden become a Waitrose employee and checkout your customers food, but with a plot twist, you're the customer also, and at the end you leave without being paid.
Incredible.
Each time i walk up to the 'supervisor' and say noone was around to checkout my food, ive done it for you, can you detail how i am reimbursed please? Imagine the cost saving of staff, and before you start the infra costs aren't much setting up those terminals.

Its the biggest con ever, we checkout our own food and let Waitrose pocket the profit (anyway sorry somewhat off topic i know).

Most supermarkets going that way now. Once I have got used to the particular system, I prefer to swipe and pay. Not so sure about swiping as you go around the shop, a lot of people seemed to be checked by staff, so it slows the whole process down. Tesco is fine for the great majority of products, with Sainsbury and Waitrose for some extra stuff. When I think back to Tesco in the 80's the veg was wonky, and the fruit bruised or even rotten. Quality is far higher now, presumably because of the increased use of air cargo with its reduced travel time.

 

[festive]

Most supermarkets going that way now. Once I have got used to the particular system, I prefer to swipe and pay. Not so sure about swiping as you go around the shop, a lot of people seemed to be checked by staff, so it slows the whole process down. Tesco is fine for the great majority of products, with Sainsbury and Waitrose for some extra stuff. When I think back to Tesco in the 80's the veg was wonky, and the fruit bruised or even rotten. Quality is far higher now, presumably because of the increased use of air cargo with its reduced travel time.

Ok it goes further than this.
I work as a researcher in how humans behave etc, a long long time back it was becoming clear there were in depth studies in human behaviour in retail elements and how companies can maximise profit.
Research into human behavior by large corporations has consistently shown that the most effective way to increase sales is simply getting customers through the door (which means invest less once they are there). Once inside, subtle psychological tricks, such as strategic product placement, ambient music, and impulse-buy displays can significantly manipulate purchasing decisions. Supermarkets have refined this further by removing traditional cashiers, forcing customers to scan and bag their own items. This not only cuts labor costs but also reduces friction at the checkout, making shoppers more likely to complete their purchase rather than abandon items. Ultimately, these tactics highlight how corporations prioritise profit over the shopping experience, ensuring that once a customer steps inside, they’re far more likely to leave with a full basket, and in turn ready to exploit human nature to the max to make even more profit.

 

[Notch7]

My wife has done self scan shopping at Waitrose since about 2010

Back then they gave out a lovely, solid set of Waitrose canvas bags which would stay open in the trolley

 

[Deleted member 265726]

Saino's have announced they are cutting 3000 jobs and shutting down cafes. I shop at supermarkets like most but as a kid, we did our shopping at individual grocers, butchers, fishmongers, sweet shops and got our milk delivered. All family run or small business enterprises. Then the supermarket arrived in town and slowly they all started struggling for business. I remember the queues would run out of the grocers and round the corner and I'd be bored stiff waiting for our turn. Towards the end, there were no queues any longer, 90% of their customers were using Beejams, Waitrose and Tesco. It was us the British public who let go of the reigns and now we are in a loop where the supermarkets have all the power and are pretty much eradicating staff for tech.

What is the answer to this?

 

[festive]

Saino's have announced they are cutting 3000 jobs and shutting down cafes. I shop at supermarkets like most but as a kid, we did our shopping at individual grocers, butchers, fishmongers, sweet shops and got our milk delivered. All family run or small business enterprises. Then the supermarket arrived in town and slowly they all started struggling for business. I remember the queues would run out of the grocers and round the corner and I'd be bored stiff waiting for our turn. Towards the end, there were no queues any longer, 90% of their customers were using Beejams, Waitrose and Tesco. It was us the British public who let go of the reigns and now we are in a loop where the supermarkets have all the power and are pretty much eradicating staff for tech.

What is the answer to this?

Resist the Over-Automation of Retail

Use staffed checkouts whenever possible. The more people use self-checkouts, the easier it is for supermarkets to justify removing jobs.
Complain and campaign against excessive automation. Some stores have reversed automation decisions due to backlash. Public driven campaigns can stop this, what we have struggled with is a collective cohesion, as there is always some knob jockey wanting to quash what should be right for some twisted own agenda, just look on this forum that amount of idiots that just can't help themselves, and try to stop others too! I digress. Secret to a successfull public driven campaign, we all like to support an underdog but then topple them if they're doing too well!!

 

[Deleted member 265726]

Resist the Over-Automation of Retail

Use staffed checkouts whenever possible. The more people use self-checkouts, the easier it is for supermarkets to justify removing jobs.
Complain and campaign against excessive automation. Some stores have reversed automation decisions due to backlash. Public driven campaigns can stop this, what we have struggled with is a collective cohesion, as there is always some knob jockey wanting to quash what should be right for some twisted own agenda, just look on this forum that amount of idiots that just can't help themselves, and try to stop others too! I digress. Secret to a successfull public driven campaign, we all like to support an underdog but then topple them if they're doing too well!!

Collective cohesion is the biggest barrier I think.

I always try to use cash wherever possible and use a staffed till wherever possible. Almost every time I use cash in a shop now, I get 'oh cash, no-one uses it now' and 'we don't take cash' and 'We can take cash as long as you have the exact amount'.

Too much power is being transferred over to corporations and it is and will be the death of our freedoms and ability to start small business.

 

[festive]

Collective cohesion is the biggest barrier I think.

I always try to use cash wherever possible and use a staffed till wherever possible. Almost every time I use cash in a shop now, I get 'oh cash, no-one uses it now' and 'we don't take cash' and 'We can take cash as long as you have the exact amount'.

Too much power is being transferred over to corporations and it is and will be the death of our freedoms and ability to start small business.

Agree divide and conquer the press have alot to answer a bunch of sh't stirring lowlifes, closely followed by lawyers backing any litigious action with the biggest reward, if that's at the expense of a progressive society, that's fine too.
Oh i almost forgot to blame Jeff..eg Amazon

 

[Deleted member 265726]

Agree divide and conquer the press have alot to answer a bunch of sh't stirring lowlifes, closely followed by lawyers backing any litigious action with the biggest reward, if that's at the expense of a progressive society, that's fine too.
Oh i almost forgot to blame Jeff..eg Amazon

I'd like to see some legislation come in to restrict the number of supermarkets and their size. A cut to business rates for high street shops wouldn't go amiss either.

 

[noseall]

Christ on a bike - the luddites have escaped from the asylum.

. A cut to business rates for high street shops wouldn't go amiss either.

or perhaps you meant Amish?