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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Stupid M&S policy. AIBU?

54 replies

NCforthisthread18 · 29/05/2018 19:04

Apples and grapes, £2.90 each or 2 for £4.

The grapes had a yellow sticker having been reduced to £2.05 as sell by date was today.

Got to the checkout and it came to £4.95. I queried this and pointed out that had the grapes been full price I would have got both items for £4.

Checkout person got quite aggressive and said it wasn’t possible to get them as a deal. So I said ok, and walked away. He continued to practically shout after me “it’s not possible!” Confused

AIBU to think this is a ridiculous policy?

OP posts:
Violetroselily · 29/05/2018 19:07

Not really, hence why most offers/promotions will usually say not valid in conjunction with any other discount etc on the labelling. The reduction sticker will have a different barcode so the system won’t identify the discount.

Presumably you were able to pick up a non reduced item and go on your merry way?

Original poster
NCforthisthread18 · 29/05/2018 19:10

There weren’t any other grapes not reduced otherwise I would have done just that.

OP posts:
IsItThatTimeAlready131 · 29/05/2018 19:11

YABU

All shops that I know of have a policy saying that if there are reduced price items they are not eligible to be used in other offers - Tesco, Asda, Sainsburys, M&S etc.

RideOn · 29/05/2018 19:11

M&S usually have the best and politest staff in my experience, I am surprised he shouted at you.

Original poster
NCforthisthread18 · 29/05/2018 19:18

He didn’t quite shout, but he raised his voice to almost shouting if you know what I mean.

I wasn’t offended and anyway this thread isn’t about him. I just thought it’s a bit daft to not get the 2 for £4 deal when the sell by date on one of the items is today and there’s only 10 mins or so before the shop closes.

OP posts:
SmashedMug · 29/05/2018 19:20

Yanbu. Did you not fancy trying a manager? They'd have sorted it.

AllMYSmellySocks · 29/05/2018 19:23

YANBU, a manager would have probably done it for you, it was probably just that the guy on the till didn't know how to put it through the machine.

AnnieOH1 · 29/05/2018 19:25

That is ridiculous really and you are definitely not being unreasonable. You've been forced to pay more for a substandard item, that's not on especially when they had no others to offer you.

Original poster
NCforthisthread18 · 29/05/2018 19:26

Ah yes, that’s a good suggestion. I guess I should have thought of asking a manager. As there was a sizeable queue behind me, I decided it wasn’t worth the fuss.

OP posts:
GreyGardens88 · 29/05/2018 19:39

YABU

GloGirl · 29/05/2018 19:40

Yanbu! That policy is ridiculous but I am aware that it could happen and tend to avoid similar scenarios in case "computer says no".

I really would have though a manager could reconcile it though (but who could be bothered)

SheGotBetteDavisEyes · 29/05/2018 19:43

When packaging and food waste are both such major issues, it seems paramount to ensure that any selling policies are tailored with them in mind. I'm not sure what M&S current efforts are with this, but on balance YWNBU to think it was ridiculous.

zigzagbetty · 29/05/2018 19:43

Just peel off the yellow sticker next time and use the original barcode, he was wrong to not help you with this! I've found marks service is not what it was.

Myimaginarycathasfleas · 29/05/2018 19:46

Of course YANBU. Only an idiot would pay more for a ‘sell by’ item than a fresh one.

I’m pretty sure I’ve bought reduced stuff from Asda in the past and received not only the deal discount but the mark down too.

BeeFarseer · 29/05/2018 19:46

I've had this exact problem before, about two years ago. I did ask for a manager, and she couldn't understand why I had a problem 'because it's cheaper now'. Well no, not if I want to buy two punnets of fruit, it isn't.

She kept staring at me, then the label, then back at me, going '...but it's cheaper?'.

My blood pressure is rising just thinking about it. #fullyawarethisisafirstworldproblem

Original poster
NCforthisthread18 · 29/05/2018 19:47

I did ask him to just scan the original barcode and that was when he raised his voice at me. I agree with you zigzagbetty. M&S definitely used to be better

OP posts:
juneavrile · 29/05/2018 19:48

Good for you for checking though.

M & S offers are often promoted on the shelf and then NOT applied at the till. It's so bad that I always check my receipt while I'm there now - except recently I bought 3 for £7 and I forgot. Low and behold they've charged them all separately and I paid a bit more. Not enough to make it worth going back, so I didn't do anything about it. But now I know how the food halls make profit!

Jaxhog · 29/05/2018 19:53

Of course its crazy! I'm heartily sick of the 'bog' offers' etc. on shelves that mysteriously disappear at the till. And funny how the difference is never in your favour.

The measure of a retail store's customer service is how they deal with this craziness.. Most do a lot better than this.

Original poster
NCforthisthread18 · 29/05/2018 19:54

@BeeFarseer. Haha, that sounds similar to my experience except obvs he wasn’t a manager. He just couldn’t grasp why it was illogical. Definitely a case of the computer says no.

OP posts:
lostinjapan · 29/05/2018 19:56

There's a reason reduced items don't come up as part of a promotional offer. So for instance if grapes are £2.90 and you buy 2 for £4, then the computer takes £1.80 off your bill. Now let's say the grapes are reduced to 50p a pack. If you buy two for £1 they still take £1.90 off, which means the grapes cost -£0.90. So they'd be paying you to take away their food.

This is what happened at Waitrose until a couple of years ago. I used to get so many bargains by taking advantage of the pricing glitch. But lots of other customers were doing it too and I guess they got wise to it Sad

Original poster
NCforthisthread18 · 29/05/2018 20:00

Yes, I do get that @lostinjapan

But once pointed out at the till, they could use their discretion and common sense that it’s actually better for them too if someone is prepared to take a substandard product for the same deal as a fresh one.

OP posts:
Fluffybat · 29/05/2018 20:02

I would have pulled sticker off and scanned original bar code. I think that policy is mad. YANBU

MrMeSeeks · 29/05/2018 20:03

But what did you want him to do?
Next time find a manager who could actually over ride it.

Original poster
NCforthisthread18 · 29/05/2018 20:05

@MrMeSeeks he could have just scanned the original barcode.

OP posts:
senioritabonita · 29/05/2018 20:09

He was wrong, obviously and M&S top bods will cringe reading this - which they will.