Waitrose to bring back free coffee

*took the coffee away!

Personally I'd rather they brought back the free newspaper offer and took the coffee a

Oh dear I expect that will mean the machine will break down more often than it currently does. Last time it was out of action for weeks and weeks. I wonder if it is restricted to one cup a day?
Our branch needs livening up. I wish they still had a cafe. But our town is crammed with coffee shops so I suppose they didn't do enough business to keep it open.

I wish the cafe space was set up as a home items area and brightly lit. The store feels really drab especially at the moment as the front blinds are out of action and are down all the time. Hope they don't take weeks and weeks to repair.
I suppose a free coffee is cheaper than a complete refurbishment!

They were subject to some derision for insisting that the free hot drink must be preceded by a purchase, ANY purchase. Some “extreme money-saving” websites worked out that the cheapest possible purchase would be the lightest loose item sold by weight: mushrooms, actually breaking a piece off a single loose mushroom, and weighing it on the self-service scales at a penny or so. Purchase duly completed, get your free drink.

Desperate, huh?

I haven't been to Waitrose since an old critter drove its car into mine, I was stationary, and they claimed I had driven my car into theirs.

Not worth braving Waitrose carpark again even for a free cup of indifferent coffee.

Jaxjacky

I always took lunch into work, when I was there, made at home, or used the work cafe/canteen.

That makes sense though because you are saving yourself some cash (a lot go out for lunches and coffees though which is what small shops rely on.)

That is what people who will use Waitrose for their coffee will be doing - but Waitrose as a big company are taking the income from a smaller one.

I always took lunch into work, when I was there, made at home, or used the work cafe/canteen.

Jaxjacky

I worked from home for years, what has that got to do with taking business away from local shops?

Businesses that have built themselves around places of high employment either flailing or shutting down because no one is there to use them.

A coffee and sandwich shop won't survive if people are making their own and popping out to their own kitchen to put the kettle on (not saying that working from home doesn't save the person doing it money - but business suffers as a result.)

I worked from home for years, what has that got to do with taking business away from local shops?

Desdemona

Aldom

I agree Easybee I don't think Waitrose should allow people to walk into the store, get a coffee and leave without purchasing from them.
I'm sure this will impact on the local coffee shops.

While we are on the subject on taking business from local shops (a new thread subject I know) work from home should be stopped as well.

Absolutely. No reason not to go back into your place of work. I wonder if other countries have been so accepting of so many still WFH?

Aldom

I agree Easybee I don't think Waitrose should allow people to walk into the store, get a coffee and leave without purchasing from them.
I'm sure this will impact on the local coffee shops.

While we are on the subject on taking business from local shops (a new thread subject I know) work from home should be stopped as well.

I don't like people wandering around with hot drinks in general, as a potential burn hazard.

I agree Easybee I don't think Waitrose should allow people to walk into the store, get a coffee and leave without purchasing from them.
I'm sure this will impact on the local coffee shops.

It takes a lot of business from cafes in the vicinity.

We have a Waitrose opposite halls of residence in a large university town. When the free coffee didn't require a purchase, students would all come in with their coffee flasks to fill. Then they disappeared when they had to produce proof of a purchase. I guess they'll all flock back now!

Yes. Already in our local Waitrose.