Hopkins joins Waitrose debate

Customers of the high-end supermarket Waitrose have complained that that a new loyalty card scheme is bringing “down the image” of the store.

The scheme has seen the upmarket chain give complimentary hot drinks to loyalty card holders – even if they do not make a purchase, leading several of the stores customers, including the controversial commentator Katie Hopkins to complain about the scheme.

Former apprentice contestant and regular Waitrose shopper, Katie Hopkins said "People that go to Waitrose for a free coffee without making a purchase, are not customers. They are scroungers."

“The foodbank might be a better place for them to 'shop'."

Other customers have taken to the social networking sites Facebook and Twitter to voice their unhappiness with the scheme. One user wrote: "Please stop the free coffee at Barry Waitrose, it is putting me off shopping in the store people are coming with two cards two free coffee no shopping, with their Tesco bags."

"I think seeing people walking round the store holding on to takeaway cups of tea and coffee looks quite ridiculous and brings down the image of Waitrose until it is just like everywhere else – in which case I might as well shop anywhere else.”

However other customers have criticised the “minority” of customers who have an issue with the scheme.

One Facebook user wrote: “The fact that some classist, outspoken customers are complaining about the clientele who come in for free coffee and tea is outrageous."

“We are all customers at Waitrose and we have loyalty cards and the reusable shopping bags they carry are not of the concern of the middle-class snobs."

“If they don't like that Waitrose welcomes all kinds of people they are free to shop at the Farmer's Market.”

Some customers state that they wouldn't normally shop at Waitrose but have been enticed by the complimentary drinks and have in fact, ended up continuing to shop there.

Another user wrote: "Regarding the free coffee: I don't usually shop at Waitrose I will admit. However being lured into the supermarket and partaking of the free coffee has meant that I have bought items in Waitrose (after the coffee I might add), instead of going to my regular supermarket."

A Waitrose spokesman said: "The myWaitrose card is designed as a way of rewarding our established, loyal Waitrose customers as they shop. The vast majority of customers who enjoy a free tea or coffee are on a shopping trip to Waitrose at the time."

The company has not indicated if they will re-think the scheme.