Was I wrong to ask for Costa points?

[Alldaygraze]

I was in the queue in Costa yesterday and the person in front of me ordered a lot of things for about 6 people, it came to around £40. The man serving asked if she had a points card/app and she said no. I couldn’t help myself doing this and have never done this before!!!
I asked “would you mind if I used my Costa card for your transaction as it’s a lot of points?” She looked at me like I’d asked for her firstborn, then looked at the barista open mouthed and then at her purse carrying on paying.

I said “Sorry I shouldn’t have asked I do apologise if I’ve annoyed you” and she just did a weird passive aggressive smile, raised her eyebrows and shook her head. It’s actually really hard to describe what she did without her saying any words but I got the impression she was very taken aback, embarrassed and offended.

She went to her table with her family or whoever they were and I ordered my drink and walked out. No one said anything but on the way out I passed their table and her and (I presume) I DH stared at me with daggers.

Ok help- I feel awful now and not sure if this is just not the done thing but like I said it was spontaneous and I didn’t want those points to go to ‘waste’ if you know what I mean? Prepared to get my arse handed to me!

Wouldn’t have bothered me...

It's a bit weird and grabby...

I wouldnt have minded if you asked me for my points, but I'm the sort of person who will start a conversation with a stranger in a queue, on the bus etc. Which some people find really weird

I work in retail and we have a loyalty card scheme.

It really annoys me when a customer declines my offer of one and then another customer in the queue asks for their loyalty stamps 🤷‍♀️ don't know why!

I'm ok on conversations with people in queues (in fact the whole of my local coffee house all got in on how sweaty I was when I nipped in on the way back from a run).

But this would have just seemed so odd to me, to be asked out of nowhere. Seems very cheeky and 'scammy'. Like asking a stranger for one of their chips.

I mean you get points as a bonus for YOUR loyalty. Not because you happened to stand behind someone making a big purchase.

The person in front of me in the coffee shop offered me their stamps when they did a big order, was a free coffee worth of stamps, which was pretty cool

I've never asked for them. Wouldn't bother me if someone asked but I wouldn't give them. I have about 2 weeks worth of coffee stamp cards at any one time in case of poverty

I'd have given them to you if it was for somewhere I don't have a reward card for. Equally, I've turned to the person behind to ask if they want the points/offer, etc.

But, as a PP said, I'll strike up conversation with anyone if I'm in the mood. Drives the kids batty 😄

Don't blame you asking. What a weird response ! They had nothing to lose. Personally, I hate Costa, boring, chainy and lacking any atmosphere.

I sometimes offer my points to whoever's behind me if I'm not under a particular scheme (which I usually am..) but would probably be really irritated if someone interrupted my transaction to ask for them.

I find that so granny

grabby

Thanks for replies, seems it might not bother some people but those that it does find it grabby and scammy, in which case I understand her reaction.

@easyandy101 that was nice of them to offer. And I’ve actually had people offer in the past in different shops over the years, and had the staff member offer if the person has left and they’ve added their points to me.

LOL @Kitchendiscodiva but their frostinos are to die for

I don;t lime signing up to places but hate it when points just go to waste. I offer them out/would be happy to give them away.
She would of lost absolutely nothing.

Yes @Gatehouse77 same, I’ve offered before if I don’t have a card. It’s nice that SOMEONE gets the points.

It does seem a waste but up to her. I wouldn't have minded if it was somewhere I didn't have a card for and wasn't bothered about getting one. The whole head shake and daggers at you is not nice though, you can decline a cheeky offer without acting like a total bitch.

I offer mine too. I think asking was slightly pushy though. But then I'm British.

You were really polite so not BU to ask! If I haven't got an app/loyalty card to somewhere, i'll always ask the person behind me if they do so that they can get the points. It's absolutely fine if she didn't want to let you have the points that she wasn't going to take but there was no need for her/her DH to be a dick about it. I get the feeling that maybe she didn't understand what was being asked - maybe she thought it was some weird payment fraud thing happening. Don't feel bad OP - there's is seldom any harm in a polite ask.

But then i've been known to have spare vouchers for 241 meals etc and give them out to people in resturants!

I don't think yabu but her reaction was over the top. Just say no thanks and get on with it. That said, it's better to be offered than to ask. e.g. someone asked me in Sainsbury's once, I do have a nectar card but it just wasn't with me at that moment and I was going to keep the receipt then top up when I was next back in store. You didn't commit a crime but best not to be so brave again OP!

I'd have asked too.

It’s fine. Weird reaction from her.

Nah, wouldn't bother me. I'm not losing out and someone will get a few extra points.
Good deed for the day done.
Her rolling eye reaction and giving you daggers was slightly twatish.

Kudos OP, I always wish I had the balls to do this kind of thing. Likewise if I'm paying and there's points or similar up for grabs but not ones I'm collecting I'll ask the cashier to give them to the next customer if they're allowed, and say it whilst looking at the shopper behind me IYSWIM?

I'm another one who always offers loyalty points to the person behind me if I don't have a card. Not sure I'd ask but now you know!

I wondered that too @LadyGrey1013 and maybe I should have asked the Barista to clarify, but I just froze and didn’t know what to say! I think and hope I made sense when asking. The only other thing is that she wanted to sign up and get them herself and didn’t get a chance to ask, but when he asked if she had a card her answer was a very definitive and assertive ‘No’ and she didn’t seem too chatty.
I think I misread the situation.

@VladmirsPoutine no I won’t again! Just hadn’t seen that amount being spent before with nowhere for the points to go haha.