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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to ask if any of you have bought half price chocolate in WHSmith?

56 replies

Iodine · 18/10/2012 17:07

I got into a conversation with my family over this, all of us had never said yes to the cashier to buy some. The way that practically beg you to buy their "half price chocolate" makes me think that the chocolate has probably been left by a radiator and got that yukky white crust on it.

I feel sorry for their staff having to flog it all day long. AIBU to ask if you have ever said yes to the chocolate? Or am I right in thinking their upselling stretegy makes me want to avoid the shop?

OP posts:
boredandrestless · 18/10/2012 18:47

Even at supposedly half price the chocolate is more expensive than in other shops - I go in there once a fortnight for DS's magazine and am always surprised they are still open.

I hate all the pointless vouchers too.

Sparklingbrook · 18/10/2012 18:47

WHSmith is the most expensive shop ever. Do they sell anything that isn't cheaper everywhere else? I still don't get how they still exist. Confused

Lilylightfoot · 18/10/2012 18:48

My friend has diabetes and gets fed up with some twit waving larg bars of chocolate in her face.

Sparklingbrook · 18/10/2012 18:49

I got a handful of vouchers bored money off the Daily Mail, money off a book with minimum spend and something else. I was only buying Match Attax cards.

Paradisefound · 18/10/2012 18:50

Whenever I go to whsmith they ask 'would you like some half price chocolate with that?'
I never say 'yes'.
It puts me off going in their stores to be honest.

Sparklingbrook · 18/10/2012 18:52

Wilkinsons always ask if I want 'stamps or mobile top up'. i have occasionally taken them up on that one.

MrsRobertDuvallHasRosacea · 18/10/2012 18:52

Normally no.
However the head boy at school works there on a Saturday, and he has to sell 48 bars a day.
So I do buy from him.

diddl · 18/10/2012 18:52

Hadn´t been in Smiths for years, but last time I was in UK I went in & it was dark & cheap looking.

Is that the norm now, or did I just pick a badun?

And I was Confused when I was offered choccy!

halloweeneyqueeney · 18/10/2012 18:53

48 a day Shock
eugh working in retail really sucks these days!
I might buy some now

Original poster
Iodine · 18/10/2012 18:53

From the responses on here I have concluded that the one person who says yes is ShatnersBassoon's DH. He is the reason WHSmith have decided this technique works! Grin

OP posts:
Original poster
Iodine · 18/10/2012 18:56

Diddl- It seems to be the trend country-wide that they are letting their stores go. Torn carpets, dirty displays, one poor soul serving so the queue is sloooow and long. I found it so depressing last time I went in I left the queue and walked out.

OP posts:
halloweeneyqueeney · 18/10/2012 19:00

yeah they are grim, they don't have to be appealing when they are the only ones at places where you need a shop. Hospital inpatients and people who've already come out through airport departures cant be choosers!

merlottits · 18/10/2012 19:01

I don't go in there because of it. I hate the hard sell and have a conscientious objection to the pushing of high sugar, high fat food on young people.

FamiliesShareGerms · 18/10/2012 19:09

No, never buy the chocolate. And think the up selling strategy is even more odd when it's done by the self service check out machine...

diddl · 19/10/2012 08:15

Well, I will admit that having been out of the country & not realising it was a sales thing, when the cashier said would you like some chocolate I said "oh lovely, thanks"-& held my hand out for a freebieBlushGrin

SilverThreads · 19/10/2012 08:32

DD has spent the last 2 summers working at WH Smiths at an airport. The staff all loathe this policy but are disciplined if they do not sell enough of the reduced chocolate.

Bluefrogs · 19/10/2012 10:34

Although it probably pisses you all off upselling does work,even at the till!
Please just remember the poor cashier doesn't want to ask you but it's their job.
I am a retail manager (not for whsmirhs) and currently having to have 'serious talks' with staff who haven't sold the required amount of cards-despite them working damn hard.if I don't then I face disciplinary for my store underperformance-despite me working my arse off every day to make money for my company.
Please smile sweetly and if you don't want it politely decline,or maybe buy it and keep it for a Xmas stocking filler.
If you feel so strongly contact their customer relations,it's taken far more seriously when it comes from a customer

werewolvesdidit · 19/10/2012 22:59

Went to W H Smith and weirdly was not offered any half price chocolate. Felt strangely cheated...

PumpkInDublic · 19/10/2012 23:09

I never buy the chocolate but did go in for some books recently. I was given a voucher and got some craft and knitting books. So much cheaper than Waterstones and the staff were nice. I will be going back (then onto poundland for chocolate!)

feesh · 20/10/2012 03:54

I bought some at an airport recently - I'm an expat and I decided it would be good to get a massive bar of Cadbury's to take home with me :)

(Of course I'd eaten it before we even landed, but the thought was there).

I'm an easy sell, me :D

MrsHelsBels74 · 20/10/2012 04:22

I have been persuaded by half chocolate in Smiths. I must have been feeling particularly greedy flush that day, I don't normally.

Alligatorpie · 20/10/2012 04:48

I did once. When I got home, I looked at my receipt and I was not given the discount, so I paid well over what I should have.
Never again.

Sparklingbrook · 20/10/2012 06:23

I don't like to sound like a square but if they were offering half price pencils, erasers etc I would probably buy them. But chocolate? It's like they have got their stock mixed up.

ScaredySquirrel · 20/10/2012 06:40

no, but I've bought a Telegraph before for the "free" water. I'm not a Telegraph reader.

FryOneGhoulishGhostlyManic · 20/10/2012 09:49

I have bought the chocolate, once, but only because it was something in particular that was already on my list, and cheaper there.

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