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.

Never had one. I thought I might have got one from a guy in the Trafalgar Sq branch the other day as we had a bit of a laugh about me leaving my "Hello my name is" badge on from my meeting but no. That makes it even worse. Even with "banter" I am still too ugly to qualify.

Well I don't think its always a compliment.

Probably ordinary looking people get zip.

Those who are particularly good looking or look particularly bad probably get them. Just go for the homeless look and away get one!

Or they might think ''that person looks a bit plain and ugly. I know I will do my good deed for the day and give them a freebie then they can brag to their friends that they got a free coffee because they are good looking. It will cheer them up a bit''
It might not be a compliment!

People really have twisted this into something it wasn't supposed to be.

It was supposed to be a nice gesture towards customers you liked, not fancied, liked whether that be they're polite, smiley, looked like they'd had a bad day, were regulars...

This isn't a new policy, I've been given free ones in the past. I'm friendly to the staff, go in regularly and am not a stunner!!

It's about fairness. People like to be treated fairly. Why should one person have to pay and another doesn't?

How do they even work this system? There is usually a queue, to pay in most coffee shops.
How does the person standing behind the person who doesn't have to pay feel when they see that the person in front gets given a freebie and it gets to their turn and they get charged? Not very good I imagine
I would walk out.

Loyalty cards are a fairer system.

I've had a few free coffees and I am genuinely really quite ugly. I reckon they feel sorry for me.

I got a coffee free coffee this morning - for the record I am: Middle aged, grey of parting, short, carrying a few extra pounds (not in cash) and was wearing an ill-fitting raincoat. Yes a good look indeed.
But I did smile at the person who served me, had a chuckle about something or other.
Perhaps it also works on the basis of pity too.

Ha ha cross post Splendide!

I wish Waterstones would take up this policy and hand out free books to random nice customers.

They already have a loyalty card and stamp card scheme, but I can't see how a free book scheme could hurt either.

I'm sure I read about a cafe in France which has a three tier pricing scheme based on how polite and friendly you were when you ordered.

I like that idea too. The more polite and friendly you were, the less you paid for your coffee, and you knew it too because they had the prices up on the wall explaining how it worked.

This is the cafe menu I meant.

I will never go in there. I would feel self conscious and leave feeling like crap if I did not get a free coffee.

I used to buy smoothies from a cafe whichhad a loyaloyalty card system but the servers would give you an extra stamp or 2 if they were feeling generous or if you were friendly etc. It was really nice but not at all creepy.

Going back to pret, I was buying my chicken and bacon sandwich there a while back when a manager took me to one side with a concerned look and told me "did you know prosciutto isn't recommended for pregnant women". Although I was heavily pregnant I wasn't buying any contraband food. Strange.

I'd be sooo self-conscious and embarrassed if I got a free coffee and probably would never go back in again. Is that weird?

But freebies and discounts for the cute happen in other places. When i was young/pretty & horiffically shy i got unasked for freebies and 'discounts' (especially off mechanics, LOL).

I've also seen cute guys get free drinks off girls behind the bar in London tbh. Its a flirting 'opener' to trying to get a date isnt it??

I don't actually think it's looks tbh. I get free drinks at pret pretty much every time I go in. I'm not a minger but neither am I an oil painting. I think I just probably time it right that they've served a long line of grumpy City folk without so much as a please or a thank you. That when I rock up and smile that that's probably the reason.

My husband gets them too. Always from men. He's dead chuffed.

A uniform helps. DH is a copper and when in uniform he got free coffe and cookies every time.

It really isn't about staff giving freebies just to people they find attractive - it can be to whoever they choose. I was in the other day with my 6 year old and she was given a free cookie. I think it's a lovely idea - the kind of gesture that really perks people up!

Krispy Kreme do something similar - if you're smiley enough you get a free glazed donut.

Despite my best efforts I've never had a free one. My resting bitch face isnt easily changed

I agree with Grays It's been twisted into something it's not supposed to be as I see it. I understood that it was simply meant to be a random pleasant act and you were more likely to benefit if you were a regular or polite and pleasant.
I can't imagine why some people have to be so cynical.

ilovesooty I agree.

'Business does something nice for customers (and staff)'

Right! Let's turn this into something I can get my knickers in a twist about

I've had a free coffee a couple of times and I once got a free almond croissant too perhaps I'm more beautiful than I realise