AIBU to be annoyed at Waitrose's 3 for 2 system?

[grubbalo]

My first topic on AIBU - obviously don't think I'm BU but am interested to hear what people think!

Went into Waitrose today as needed toothpaste and a few other bits. Saw they had 3 for 2 on all dental and thought I'd get 3 adult toothpaste (at £2.14 each) and 3 kids (at £1.24). When I got home it had taken off £2.48 (i.e. 2 lots of the kids toothpaste rather than the £3.38 I was expecting).

OK, I know it's only 90p but to me it's the principle of the thing. I rang up the helpline and although the woman agreed that had I gone through the checkouts twice I would have had saved £3.38 in total, she insists the promotion has been applied correctly as it did correctly take off the two lowest items. I disagree as (I think!) in everywhere else I shop, the tills are "clever" enough to realise that I have bought multiple offers and would have taken off the correct amount.

Actually I think it was her insistence that it was correct that really pissed me off - if she'd said that yes, it was annoying and a bit of a glitch and that yes I should bear that in mind when buying things across offers I wouldn't have been as annoyed - it's the fact she kept saying to me "But Ma'am, the offer has been applied correctly" that really irked. Worth emphasising here that she totally agreed I'd have saved more going through the checkouts twice.

Would love to know how trading standards see this? Anyway is only 80p here, but we spend far too much a lot in Waitrose and do multiple offers a lot (particularly on fruit) and it bugs me that presumably I'm missing out a lot too!

Maybe I'm just tired and need a lot a small glass of wine.

they always take off the lowest priced ones,in all shops

Apart from boots.

I see your point but I am afraid I agree with the customer service lady. I would expect the cheapest items to be the ones given free unless I bothered going through twice.

That is silly - usually it's worked out so that the three most expensive are worked out at 3 for 2 first, then the second three most expensive, etc, to save people insisting on putting things through twice or more.

But it's not a glitch. The offer was 3 for 2 on dental not each specific product.

Yep, that's what I would have expected too. I shop in Waitrose from time-to-time, and this is what they do.

Ma'am, the offer has been applied correctly

YABU and a bit daft. It has ALWAYS worked that way!

Cheapest is always free!

I hate to confirm what they said, but that's how it always works. I worked at Sainsbury's H.O for years and have heard a million complaints about promotions. It will always deduct the cheapest items first, the only way to get the maximum discount is to do a second transaction.....annoying i know!

I was caught out on that yesterday...yanbu. I feel slightly had but I won't fall for it the next time - I'll get them put through separately.

YABU it's always worked like that everywhere I've shopped. You got the cheapest items for free.

Yup always the cheapest free. Although M&s had a weird one just befor christmas that a the third item throught the till for some purchases. Much shuffling around on the conveyer belt!

Waitrose haven't got a clue about any discounts last year I brought Christmas cards very cheaply in the sale, had previously been 3 for 2. Got home and realised they had discounted the original price off each 3 for 2. So they actually paid me to take the cards home!

Yabu

The woman on the phone is right

Gives Robinredboots virtual punch

OK it must be the mathematician in me.. seems totally bonkers that they don't program the tills in that way... it still seems utterly mad that had I gone through twice I would have had a "better" deal - surely that's really inefficient?

And I could swear that Boots do do it the "proper"(!) way!

That's the way it's always worked.
Except in my local boots where the very nice lady who works there (Brenda I salute you) always sorts it all out and makes you do separate transactions to get best value.

Sorry Robin that didn't come through how I meant - I'm slightly annoyed but not actually violent!

I always sort them out and go through the till twice (or 3/4/5) times if required.

Wahwah at m&s you don't need to shuffle the things on the conveyor belt! The till works out the 3for2 so you get the best value without doing separate transactions. So 3 items at £10 and 3 items at 50p would give you one of the £10 items free and one of the 50p items free, NOT 2 of the 50p items free!

I agree with the customer service lady, they always take of the cheapest items.

Thanks ruddy! I did maths at uni and am very a little tiny bit anal about this sort of thing and I am certain other shops have done it "correctly"!

No really - it did! Some were the usual three or two, but some were advertised at third one free and it had a little diagram to explain too. I have read the label several times as I couldnt quite believe it!

It is annoying, and have also learnt from experience, but ultimately they're in the business to make money - so we consumers have to read the small print. Next time I try to make a big saving on those promotions, I'll get the cashier to total up twice and pay separately - don't get in the queue behind me !

Thats how it works with 3 for 2 offers, which is why it may if its a few quid be worth putting thwm through the till separately