AIBU to get milk as my Waitrose free hot drink?

[ElleDubloo]

I normally don't want a tea or coffee when I go to Waitrose, but the toddler is partial to some cold milk in a takeaway cup that she can sip on the way home. AIBU to ask for a cup for a hot drink, but just pour some cold milk into it instead of actually getting a hot drink?

My logic is that, if I were to pay full price, a latte is much more expensive than a cup of cold milk. So surely the store won't be out of pocket?

But today I got a snarky comment from a fellow customer who saw me do it. Not sure anymore if what I'm doing is fine or not.

Me to Waytrose.

thats really pathetic op, but it doesnt matter as this is made up for a journo piece

I always put a drop more milk in my latte (and I only get the latte because the cappuccino always comes out in bit cold IMO.) Though now I come to think of it complaining about cold coffee and then putting more cold milk in hot coffee is a bit daft really. slinks into corner to work this out in my head.

Why is this thread depressing? Sorry to be dim but genuine query.

This whole coffee in Waitrose thing is bloody ridiculous IMO. In my local one they have the machine at the entrance and there's always a queue of people there blocking the way in mindlessly waiting for a mediocre drink. I can think of many other places where I'd get a far better cup of coffee than Waitrose.

Oh and don't get me started on why on earth do people feel the need to even drink coffee whilst doing the weekly shop. Is it to make them look oh so busy that they can't possibly have time to grab a drink at any other time? Weird.

thats really pathetic op, but it doesnt matter as this is made up for a journo piece

What newspapers do you read?

Good point re the free newspaper.
so that's £1.20 for a newspaper and £2 ish for a coffee. So £3.20.
So loads of people on this thread are saying it's fine to take whatever you like as long as it's less cost than that.

That's those who used the cost to Waitrose argument.

Vivienne, all the petty disapproval at someone having a cup of milk is what I find depressing about it.

Thanks for all the replies - very interesting! I'm glad that there are a variety of different opinions, so it's not just me that's being tight and unreasonable! Haha.

Well, to add a few details that PP have asked for:

• I referred to the other customer as "snarky" because she gave critical comments in a snarky tone, rude body language, complete absence of eye contact, etc. I didn't even bother to reply.

• The coffee is dispensed from a machine where you can get lattes and cappuccinos too. The milk is in a stainless steel jug.

• I have previously asked for milk at the cafe, and asked if it could be counted as my "free drink" and the answer was yes.

• I go 2-3 times a week spend a shed-load of money at Waitrose. No I don't just go for the free cup of milk.

• Very good point about the free newspaper.

Conclusion is, I'm not going to do it again. Because even if some people are fine with it, I don't want to offend the people who are not. In my defence, it had never occurred to me that what I was doing was wrong in any sense.

That's a pity, OP. In your situation I'd carry on as long as the toddler wanted the milk.

Some people are just waiting/dying to be offended, IME.

Thanks Rhiannon.

I think it's a bit cheeky. The jug is for milk to add to hot drinks. If everyone poured a cup for their toddler it wold be continually running out.

I go 2-3 times a week spend a shed-load of money at Waitrose.'

And yet instead of bringing your toddler his own milk when you go out, you give him milk that's meant for people who shop there? Of course you can make the argument on cost grounds. It just seems unnecessarily tight to me.

So you are the reason why the milk jugs are always empty! Jesus, why do you have to be so tight? Just buy a little bottle of milk and pour it in your cup instead.

This.

The OP is entitled to a free cupful of drink, just like me in my branch of Waitrose. I choose a latte; she chooses milk, from the same source, with probably less milk than my coffee has in it. What's the difference? If the milk jugs are always empty, the staff should be more on the ball about it. Ask politely at the service desk and I'm sure they'll sort it.

entitled is indeed the word.

Why is the OP being called tight for using the cold milk as her free drink? The same could be said for anyone who gets a free drink from waitrose! They're all drinks at the end of the day and the cold milk costs nothing! If the jugs are empty, staff should be refilling them quicker.

Milk isn't on the list of free drinks. How does the cold milk cost nothing?

I am sure that there's loads of free staff about to refill the jugs when it's all been given to toddlers and there's none left for the free drinks on the list.

The OP is entitled to a free cupful of drink, just like me in my branch of Waitrose. I choose a latte; she chooses milk, from the same source, with probably less milk than my coffee has in it. What's the difference?

Well for starters you're entitled to a 'free hot drink' not a 'free cupful of drink'. A latte is included in the terms and conditions of the offer, a cup of cold milk is not:

"Only Americano, Cappuccino, Latte, Tea, Mocha and Espresso (Decaffeinated versions, Mocha and Espresso available in selected stores only) qualify as a free hot drink."

She may be allowed a free cup of milk if she asks the staff, but she's certainly not entitled to it.

Such a bizarre idea that adding coffee to the milk suddenly makes it OK and not abusing the offer.

OP they put the milk out for all users.

nowhere in the terms and conditions do they stipulate how much milk you can have in your drink.

I would do it occasionally, if it's in the free section it's free imo but I wouldn't do it regularly without checking.

As far as other customers go, none of their business really. It doesn't change what they are entitled to.

Nowhere in the terms and conditions does it say 'feel free to take as much milk as you want for your toddler' either.

The milk is out for the users having a free hot drink.

God really id just buy my kid a small carton of milk. I couldn’t be arsed with queuing up for a cup of milk and asking if I could have it free.

I’d think you had enough money to shop at Waitrose but grudged thirty pence or whatever to buy your kid a carton of milk and only gave them free stuff.

Think that's called stealing lol