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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think free costa is a bit like free drugs?

52 replies

Sowingbees · 01/10/2019 19:17

Today all costa coffee machines were free, anyone could self serve and get a free coffee /hot chocolate /tea?

I went into two local stores and I promise I am not exaggerating but there were at least 30,if not 50 school children (Def under 16 but most U13) queuing to get their free drink.
When I was at a less than salubrious school the drug dealers used to wait outside school and give out freebies so that we became regular customers.
Ammi cynical to think that Costa were deliberately targeting school children to corner a new market? Fwiw all local machines had run out before 5pm when adults traditionally finish work.

OP posts:
flouncyfanny · 01/10/2019 19:54

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

rickandmorts · 01/10/2019 19:58

It's really funny you say that, I was at a local high school at drop off time and saw loads (and I mean loads) of school kids, looked like mostly year 7s (they looked young) carrying Costas and some of the kids had like 3 or 4 in a cardboard carry thing so obviously for their friends. I did wonder why they all had them and thought it was probably a trend or something Hmm. I think you might have a point, it's a huge amount of sugar..

BogglesGoggles · 01/10/2019 20:00

I couldn’t believe there were actually people queuing in my local Tesco for upwards of 10 minutes for a free £1 drink. Just get a mywaitrose card.

EskewedBeef · 01/10/2019 20:00

I think you might have a point, it's a huge amount of sugar..

What is?

Onesailwait · 01/10/2019 20:14

Yep its a slippery slope, Today its a hot chocolate but its only a matter of time before those innocent kids will need a triple espresso to get them through the day.

Greggers2017 · 01/10/2019 20:21

@BogglesGoggles where do you live if a costa coffee costs £1? Even my local greasy spoon costs more than that.

My 3 elder children loved their hot chocolate on their way home from school. Especially with the weather being so crap today, we bought some lovely biscuits to go with it too.

Pringlesfortea · 01/10/2019 20:23

I thought that was nice actually,I did a small shop in co op around 11 am ,and noticed the sign ,so got my dh a free coffee ..no que anywhere ,no one seemed bothered ,I was the only one in the shop to get a coffee ,no one else did .

BogglesGoggles · 01/10/2019 20:25

@Greggers2017 these were the machine things you get in petrol stations and convenience stores. I’m pretty sure they’re a pound, two at most. Either way, not worth the wait (especially when you can get free crap coffee any day of the week at Waitrose).

John1971 · 01/10/2019 20:34

Yes sugar is more addictive than cocaine but not as sweet

MrsDilligaf · 01/10/2019 20:35

I went and got my free coffee (put it in my reusable mug)

Obviously it's nowhere near as good as a proper barista coffee (it's it okay, I find it drinkable), but I had an email later saying I'd recieve an extra 100 points if I bought another coffee in the next 5 days.

There's no doubt it's clever marketing and I expect that the machines will be quite busy for the rest of the week, but the amount of waste that will have been generated is shocking.

I hate takeaway cups, they are rarely recycled, so I hope Costa factored in some environmental responsibility into this promotion...I doubt it though.

Fluffycloudland77 · 01/10/2019 20:39

Costa coffees always a bitter disappointment though.

TinyMystery · 01/10/2019 20:52

I was the only person in the village shop that was getting one when I was there! They were practically begging people to take them!

ToastyFingers · 01/10/2019 21:02

We have a machine in work and today was a nightmare as all coffees still had to be processed as a sale, and the receipts kept. We went through 120 pints of milk by the time I left at 3pm.

Although it has been marketed as a way to increase sales, it is because Costa are having a shake-up of their self-serve range and want to run down stocks of supplies and packaging beforehand.

Pinkflipflop85 · 01/10/2019 21:02

@Bogglesgoggles
Where is this mysterious £1 costa coffee machine?! Our local ones are all around the £3 mark

littlemeitslyn · 01/10/2019 21:10

What is a fucking cup ?

StealthPolarBear · 01/10/2019 21:16

"hmm. I think you might have a point, it's a huge amount of sugar.."
It's coffee! There is no sugar unless you choose to add it.

StealthPolarBear · 01/10/2019 21:21

Costa has started doing filter coffee (which I prefer) for 99p. Pret has been doing it for ages.

AdogcalledBob · 01/10/2019 21:21

The only places in my town that took part was a coffee machine in a hotel foyer and a coffee machine in a petrol station by a supermarket but up a bypass so out of town.

Dd went in at breakfast and lunch for one as it was near her college. She was the youngest bar far (16). Most were people passing for petrol and adults.

Celebelly · 01/10/2019 21:23

I got mine and beat the queue!

Mummybares · 01/10/2019 21:24

This is so funny thanks op for the chuckle GrinCake

coconuttelegraph · 01/10/2019 21:26

Do you have a tendency to over reaction OP?

It's a simple gimmick for international coffee day, quite innocent, no sinister motives

BackforGood · 01/10/2019 21:32

Machine coffees are not nearly as nice as a real barista made coffee.

Well, that was the point of this gimmick day. To get people who would turn their nose up in principle, give it a try.
Probably a LOT cheaper in terms of cost to the company than paying a fancy agency for an advertising campaign.

There was no-one in the Co-op when I called in for my free coffee early afternoon. Just me, then a member of staff came to get one as I left. I guess it depends on if you happened to be by a school at chucking out time.

Can't believe the reports of people queuing half an hour for one. I mean, I like a bargain, but I value my time too.

likeafishneedsabike · 01/10/2019 21:42

Thank you for explaining this. Never seen as long a queue of school kids as in the co-op at 3.30pm!

Mostunexpected · 01/10/2019 22:07

There was no queue at all when I went in to get one. But I couldn't even drink the coffee it gave out. It was absolutely vile and I threw it away. Also my reusable coffee mug, bought from Costa, doesn't fit under their machine so I had to waste a takeaway cup as well

Greggers2017 · 01/10/2019 22:08

@BogglesGoggles even the machines in the petrol stations and convenience stores are way more than £1!

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