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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to ask if you are ever given a free coffee at Pret A Manger?

51 replies

Fabulassie · 15/05/2015 11:53

I Googled to see if Mumsnetters have discussed this, yet, as it came out a few weeks ago, but it seems nobody has.

The CEO of Pret has said that there's a company policy where employees are empowered to give free stuff to people they like. I believe they have a sort of budget or quota that they are to give away, according to their own whims.

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/apr/22/pret-free-coffee-people-they-like-discrimination-or-nice-gesture

I have to say that I am lucky - at the Pret I go to the most often I get a free coffee about half the time or even more. There are two employees who give me them, one a handsome young man and one a young Polish student. I am not looking my best when I go in the mornings and I am not a ravishing beauty in general, so I don't think it's based on looks. I do, however, tend to buy a lot of stuff when I go in. I go to Pret when I want to buy all the food for my day - a salad, a sandwich, maybe a slice of cake and a can of Apple soda is a typical order. Sometimes I order the coffee and sometimes the guy will just make me one and I'm told I'm getting it free.

I am a generally friendly person. I ask about the girl's studies and the guy's newborn baby (I like babies and if it's not too busy I ask to see photos of his daughter.) I never knew that this was a company policy thing so I felt very flattered by their kindness.

Do you get free coffee when you go in? If you do or don't, how do you feel about it?

OP posts:

Koalafications · 15/05/2015 14:51

I've been given one.

MegCleary · 15/05/2015 14:51

I did Wednesday was all chuffed.

mashpot · 15/05/2015 14:52

Yes twice! And DS was given a free gingerbread man once too. Makes my day, I would never be pissed off or offended about getting free stuff!

ChrisQuean · 15/05/2015 14:59

Yes, I get a free coffee about once a fortnight. I go in every working day for s coffee in the morning and sometimes for lunch. There's a Pret under my office building so I'm a regular. I don't even order - they wave at me when I get close thats it's on order.

I'm pretty sure the 21 year old Eastern Europeans and students who work there don't fancy me . I'm a frumpy 40 year old. think I get one free occasionally because I'm a regular customer, friendly and lots of other customers are grumpy and City-ish.

seaweed123 · 15/05/2015 15:11

I went in with a screaming hungry newborn once. The lady behind the counter ran out to hold the door open, told me to sit straight down, and brought my order to my table while I breastfed. I thought it was so nice and when I tried to pay and she told me it was on the house. It was in the early days of feeding and made me feel comfortable at a time when I was very self conscious about it.

AgentProvocateur · 15/05/2015 15:19

Yes, regularly. But I go every morning with DH and/or DS in uni term time, so my weekly spend is quite big.

QuintShhhhhh · 15/05/2015 15:21

Yonks ago, yes. A young German male working in the St Martins Lane Pret used to give me free coffee and cinnamon bun every morning. He did charge me lunch though!!

He had a Norwegian fiancée, and because I am Norwegian, I was clearly deserving of a daily free coffee and pastry.

QuintShhhhhh · 15/05/2015 15:22

He must have saved me a lot of money, as I was going in for 2 years!

Christabelpankhurst · 15/05/2015 15:23

My DD has been given free gingerbread men twice both times in Prets we'd never been in before. It made me smile and she loved it.

PsychopathOnTheCyclepath · 15/05/2015 15:25

I've had a couple of free hot chocolates - I just assumed Pret were friendly!

I have to admit I face booked about my free coffee before I realised it was a discussion point - now I just look like a big head! The irony is that I'm not attractive in RL...

OnlyLovers · 15/05/2015 15:29

I do sometimes. I go to one particular branch on my way to work. They've let me off with a few pence a couple of times too, when I was paying with cash and realised I was short. I hasten to add, I DO only mean a few pence, like 5 or 10p!

Number3cometome · 15/05/2015 15:29

Yes, i've got free teas, free fruit and even a free pastry once.

Pagwatch · 15/05/2015 15:30

Yes , twice now. I'm 53 but apparently visible.

I am also lovely so it's fair enough really.

FlossieTreadlight · 15/05/2015 15:34

Similar experience with screaming newborn and a 2yo. I was ushered in and they brought me a coffee and my DD a fruit salad with no charge. I could have kissed them.

WhirlpoolGalaxyM51 · 15/05/2015 15:44

Erm, first I've heard of it!

I get lunch there most days, never been offered a free anything, never seen or heard of anyone else getting anything free either!

chocolateyay · 15/05/2015 15:45

Quite a few times when I was pregnant and wanted a decaffeinated (also the odd donut) actually the manager was lovely in the branch near my office and watched me balloon from stick insect to heffalump so he probably get sorry for me. Also, when the queue was long and I had to wait ages, when someone barged in front of me, when they forgot a croissant (they gave me 2), when I was soaky wet after a drenching in the rain, when I dropped my purse and it flew open...

They do it a lot actually.

Number3cometome · 15/05/2015 15:47

To be fair, I do always speak to the staff and I am pretty friendly too.

Also I am 31 weeks pregnant, so maybe I look like I need a bit of fruit and a free tea.

WhirlpoolGalaxyM51 · 15/05/2015 15:47

Oh I think I'm being a bit stupid.
To get a free coffee presumably you have to order a coffee... I always get a sandwich

SaltySeaBird · 15/05/2015 15:59

Oh I go in several times a week as there is one next door to my office. I've never been offered a freebie!

FeelingSmurfy · 15/05/2015 17:34

Hardly ever (maybe 8 times?) been in pret as none local but been given freebies over half the time (popcorn bars and smoothies usually as that is what I generally buy!)

It is definitely not because I'm good looking! I think its because I'm nice, smile and have good manners. I haven't been to pret since it was in the media about the freebies

TinyTearsFirstLove · 15/05/2015 18:25

I was in Pret a few days ago with my youngest and they suddenly bought out a spinning wheel. They asked him to spin it and he got a free banana. It's such a nice policy. Made my soul feel cheered and put a big, beaming smile on a little boy's face!

Jewels234 · 15/05/2015 19:34

I did a few weeks ago in the Pret at Waterloo. I think it was because I was having a bit of a work expenses duplicate receipt meltdown.

airedailleurs · 15/05/2015 19:37

ooh yes I used to go to Pret every morning in my old job and frequently got a free coffee

roundtable · 15/05/2015 19:53

I feel v inadequate. I went on Wednesday and no freebie.

Passmethecrisps · 15/05/2015 20:06

There is no pret near me but I worry that it would put me off going in. What if I got no freebies? I would think I am obviously a trout face. It would do nothing for my self-esteem.

Unless I gt one in which case I would rock it

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