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  • oddoneout
    Full Member
    • Nov 2015
    • 9139

    One of the stores in question did have more of a problem in that there is a travellers' site(legal) 5 minutes walk away down the road. I don't know how many signed up for or otherwise used a MyWaitrose card but their presence in store was not always appreciated even before the free coffee.....The opening of one of the so-called discount stores nearby seems to have largely resolved the issue.
    I always thought it was a somewhat naive ploy and have not been surprised that modifications have had to be made, but a bit more thought beforehand could have prevented that unfortunate situation. Requiring a purchase of food in the cafe to get a free drink seems reasonable,(and has been going for quite some time) although I have on several occasions had to point out that needing a gluten-free option as I do their choice is limited and sometimes non-existent, necessitating a bit of a kerfuffle. I don't like cardboard buckets of hot drinks, especially tea, so like to have the civilised china cup cafe option on my infrequent forays -single person shopping doesn't justify regular 20 mile round trips when most of what I need is available within 5 minutes walk or drive of home!

    Comment

    • BBMmk2
      Late Member
      • Nov 2010
      • 20908

      Originally posted by ahinton View Post
      I submit that it's one for Waitrose...
      The town where I live, there's a new Waitrose being built. Near the train station and just a stones throw away from Sainsbury's(!). I hear they are in a bit of financial trouble, so whether they'll ever open this branch or not, I beggar belief!
      Don’t cry for me
      I go where music was born

      J S Bach 1685-1750

      Comment

      • Nick Armstrong
        Host
        • Nov 2010
        • 26522

        Originally posted by Brassbandmaestro View Post
        I beggar belief!


        "...the isle is full of noises,
        Sounds and sweet airs, that give delight and hurt not.
        Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments
        Will hum about mine ears, and sometime voices..."

        Comment

        • BBMmk2
          Late Member
          • Nov 2010
          • 20908

          Originally posted by Caliban View Post


          The real ale selection is rather good!
          Don’t cry for me
          I go where music was born

          J S Bach 1685-1750

          Comment

          • BBMmk2
            Late Member
            • Nov 2010
            • 20908

            Originally posted by Brassbandmaestro View Post
            The real ale selection is rather good!
            I can't wait for the time when I can go into a pub, have a meal(which I o anyway), but be able to have a few beers with it! Ah, absolute bliss, that would be!
            Don’t cry for me
            I go where music was born

            J S Bach 1685-1750

            Comment

            • ahinton
              Full Member
              • Nov 2010
              • 16122

              Originally posted by Brassbandmaestro View Post
              The town where I live, there's a new Waitrose being built. Near the train station and just a stones throw away from Sainsbury's(!). I hear they are in a bit of financial trouble, so whether they'll ever open this branch or not, I beggar belief!
              Waitrose hase been pushing forward with a massive expansion programme over several years now. I wouldn't say that they're "in a bit of financial trouble" per se; it's more a case that their most recent results have been the worst in years, but they seem to have managed better than most supermarkets over the longer term. Whether and to what extent its latest figures might represent a downward trend I do not know and only time will tell.

              Comment

              • Serial_Apologist
                Full Member
                • Dec 2010
                • 37580

                Originally posted by Brassbandmaestro View Post
                The town where I live, there's a new Waitrose being built. Near the train station and just a stones throw away from Sainsbury's(!). I hear they are in a bit of financial trouble, so whether they'll ever open this branch or not, I beggar belief!
                Located opposite and to the west of the Haywards Heath railway station (or train station as one is presumably supposed to say today, in correct American parlance) is, or was, the Hayworth Hotel, where I remember having worked for a fortnight back in 1966. On being ushered into the east-facing upstairs bedrooms, guests were informed just how lucky they were, since they would receive the morning sunshine; those being placed in the rear rooms were told that they were the the lucky ones, as that side of the building was shielded from the sounds of passing trains! I have fond memories of that brief secondment, and of seeing "Dr Terror's House of Horrors" (X Cert) with Peter Cushing at the local cinema. I wonder if that establishment still exists.

                Comment

                • Stanfordian
                  Full Member
                  • Dec 2010
                  • 9308

                  Originally posted by Brassbandmaestro View Post
                  The town where I live, there's a new Waitrose being built. Near the train station and just a stones throw away from Sainsbury's(!). I hear they are in a bit of financial trouble, so whether they'll ever open this branch or not, I beggar belief!
                  Hiya maestro,

                  In my town the Booths supermarket which was the main place to shop is virtually empty now as shoppers have decamped to the new Lidl. It's the same scenario in the neighbouring large town where the shoppers have largely left Sainsburys for a new Aldi.

                  From my regular trips to Germany they don't seem to have the supermarkets of the size of Tesco, Asda, Waitrose, Morrisons, Sainsburys. They have the budget supermarkets such as Lidl, Netto, Aldi, Ulrich, Kaiser then there is a big gap to the upmarket Department Stores in cities that have food halls like Karstadt, Galeria Kaufhof, KaDeWe.

                  In many German cities and large towns the massive ‘Saturn’ a German chain of electronics stores that sells household appliances, home entertainment, computers, cameras and media such as CDs and DVDs. Saturn which is always packed is in a handful of European counties but not the U.K. as far as I know which surprises me greatly.
                  Last edited by Stanfordian; 28-10-16, 13:58.

                  Comment

                  • Bryn
                    Banned
                    • Mar 2007
                    • 24688

                    Originally posted by ahinton View Post
                    Waitrose hase been pushing forward with a massive expansion programme over several years now. I wouldn't say that they're "in a bit of financial trouble" per se; it's more a case that their most recent results have been the worst in years, but they seem to have managed better than most supermarkets over the longer term. Whether and to what extent its latest figures might represent a downward trend I do not know and only time will tell.
                    Shock horror! From Monday I am going to have to spend twice as much each day to get my 'free' copy of the Guardian on weekdays. I might have to cut down on reading misprints. At my local branches they are still happy to issue me with a disposable coffee cup on presentation of my "My Waitrose" card prior to shopping. Such is the dire financial mess they find themselves in. Oh, and yes, they are still doing relatively better than the 'big four'. Oh, and on two recent occasions the checkout partner has provided me with a free lightweight plastic carrier bag.

                    Comment

                    • Pianorak
                      Full Member
                      • Nov 2010
                      • 3127

                      Waitrose - As of 1 Nov you have to spend £10 Mon-Fri (instead of the current £5) to get your free copy of The Times - other papers are available.
                      My life, each morning when I dress, is four and twenty hours less. (J Richardson)

                      Comment

                      • Serial_Apologist
                        Full Member
                        • Dec 2010
                        • 37580

                        Originally posted by Pianorak View Post
                        Waitrose - As of 1 Nov you have to spend £10 Mon-Fri (instead of the current £5) to get your free copy of The Times - other papers are available.
                        I might just give the nearest Waitrose a go next week as a birthday present to myself. In the 12 years I've lived up here I have not shopped there (Beckenham) despited its being closer (3 miles away) than my nearest Tesco superstore (4 miles).

                        Comment

                        • vinteuil
                          Full Member
                          • Nov 2010
                          • 12778

                          ... I am lucky enough to have a waitrose within 500 yards, so that if I have an urgent need for a vacherin du Haut-Doubs* I don't need to go into town to la Fromagerie † .

                          Buying a vacherin and something else probably earns me enough credit for a free coffee. But I think the coffee we make at home is probably better so I've never asked...


                          * https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vacherin


                          http://www.lafromagerie.co.uk/cheeses/

                          Comment

                          • Zucchini
                            Guest
                            • Nov 2010
                            • 917

                            You're always looking to impress us with your carefully nurtured projection of 1930s sophistication, vinteuil, however in this case I must join you:

                            Extraordinary but true! I was thinking only 2 days ago that I want a box of vacherin mont d'or now it's in our local cheese shop again.

                            Best served baked in the spruce box, topped with white wine, wrapped in foil IMO (as long as box is stapled not glued!). Do you agree. Yummy so yummy.

                            Comment

                            • vinteuil
                              Full Member
                              • Nov 2010
                              • 12778

                              Originally posted by Zucchini View Post
                              You're always looking to impress us with your carefully nurtured projection of 1930s sophistication, vinteuil,
                              ... I'm clearly an abject failure here - I've been trying to nurture a projection of 1780s sophistication...


                              Originally posted by Zucchini View Post

                              Extraordinary but true! I was thinking only 2 days ago that I want a box of vacherin mont d'or now it's in our local cheese shop again.

                              Best served baked in the spruce box, topped with white wine, wrapped in foil IMO (as long as box is stapled not glued!). Do you agree. Yummy so yummy.
                              ... it's always good to see them back in the shops. They're truly seasonal (September to May) when the cows are down from the alpine pastures.

                              I think I prefer them as is, rather than baked - but baked is good too

                              Comment

                              • BBMmk2
                                Late Member
                                • Nov 2010
                                • 20908

                                Originally posted by Serial_Apologist View Post
                                Located opposite and to the west of the Haywards Heath railway station (or train station as one is presumably supposed to say today, in correct American parlance) is, or was, the Hayworth Hotel, where I remember having worked for a fortnight back in 1966. On being ushered into the east-facing upstairs bedrooms, guests were informed just how lucky they were, since they would receive the morning sunshine; those being placed in the rear rooms were told that they were the the lucky ones, as that side of the building was shielded from the sounds of passing trains! I have fond memories of that brief secondment, and of seeing "Dr Terror's House of Horrors" (X Cert) with Peter Cushing at the local cinema. I wonder if that establishment still exists.
                                Hiya SA! I was only 10 yrs old back then! Yes, The Heyworth, known for under age drinking etc as well, iirr! alas no more. Demolished and a garage put in it its place and alas the local cinema had the same fate as well. There is a Londis store there now and an office block, very boring! But further down there, towards the station, there is a music shop! Beggar's belief!!
                                Don’t cry for me
                                I go where music was born

                                J S Bach 1685-1750

                                Comment

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