to boycott pret as staff give free coffee to people they fancy and I've never had one

[twojobsjane]

I go to pret almost daily, just heard that staff regularly give coffee to people they fancy or like as the CEO gave them that power.

I've never had a free coffee, probably because I'm not a beauty. Aibu to boycott them?

I really don't like the sound of that policy, no freebies due to my genes.

I know! I read the article and thought 'ok so you're insulting everyone who's never had a freebie' ridiculous policy.
They should just tell employees to give one out at random every couple of hours

YANBU, we pay a premium for love from our favourite brands, and if we're not getting it we should look elsewhere.

I got a free coffee once and swished off to work feeling like miss thang. Told my colleague about it and she said I must look tired. Deflating.

They do free babycinos, though. Or they like my toddler...?

YANBU. I completely agree with you. it sounds like a hugely unfair and divisive policy to me.

"Pretty people only need apply?"

I actually got one this morning

YANBU. It's a ridiculous policy and even more ridiculous to publicise it. The CEO basically said it's because a loyalty card system is too expensive, so instead of rewarding loyal customers they'll reward good looking ones? Madness.

All sounds a bit sleazy to me. Like you should give something in return. If, when I was younger, I got a free drink because the server fancied me I would never come back!

I'm pissed off too. I'm in that place most days, spend a fortune with them.

And I've never had a freebie in my life.

Does that make me an unattractive old hag?

I got a free latte from Pret once when my debit card wasn't working (old and a bit bent)

well, i'll never get a free drink. I'm grey and old!
it does seem sleazy

Apart from anything I'll feel self conscious if I ever go there again, the male staff are obviously judging my looks.

What a horrible outdated stupid policy.

I think it's a shit policy.

It's going to piss lots of people off who doesn't get a freebie. And piss off some who do! If someone gave you a free coffee at your local shop, it might put you off going back in if you know someone in there fancies you and you don't fancy them.

That's what is bothering me too twojobs.

People go in there for a coffee, it's not a dating agency!

Dating agency
My DH got a free one last week from the same guy who gave me a free one today. Doesn't sound like anything sinister to me.

I was given one, by a female server, for being a regular customer who is always friendly and leaves a tip at Christmas. Just because the Ceo says that they can give them to people they like doesn't mean they're all giant perves or teenagers who will only give them to people they fancy.

The giving out freebies policy wouldn't be so bad if the staff were encouraged to be a bit more discriminating than just "I fancy her she can have a free one".

For instance if a customer was especially pleasant, polite or smiley then it might be nice to reward that.

Apparently they are supposed to give to regulars, or people who are nice, not necessarily just people they fancy.

But I do agree it adds an extra level of wierdness to the whole transaction!

Aww I didn't know it was a policy I thought I was special

I got lots of free tea when I worked at the airport from 2 different pret shops, unfortunately this hasn't happened for at least two year.

If the policy is for regular customers then it makes sense as I'm in there every day and DH every other day.

I can imagine customers all grinning like loons in a " like me enough to give me free coffee" way
Kind of like an odd pick me dance ( nod to Relationships topic)

I got my lunch free in Pret one day. I'm gorgeous not!

I had forgotten my purse. Think it was to be nice rather than she fancied me somehow.

I didn't see the whole transcript so perhaps it was out of context, but in the article I read the CEO said they can give it to whoever they like. He mentioned nothing about regular customers.

Haha, it's true. I don't know about policy, but I get free coffee from Pret every day from the same girl (she also gives me free brownies/muffins etc)
And I always get free coffee at the Starbucks near my gym (that generous person's a guy)

Eeugh. I don't like the thought of being sized up to see whether my looks merit a free coffee. Just as well I go to the Costa next door instead.