An Interesting Conversation In M&S.

[Tilly2]

On Wednesday, I bought, amongst other things, a £4.00 punnet of Strawberries. On getting them out of the fridge, yesterday, I noticed that the 'best before' date was 29/07/20. Some of the strawberries were beginning to 'turn' a bit but I did manage to serve up two very nice dishes.

Today, I took back the empty punnet and receipt and spoke to a customer service assistant, explaining that they had sold 'best before' produce on the actual day.

Him. 'Best before' means you can sell them on that date.
Me. No it doesn't. It means they should not have been sold.
Him. Sorry, darlin' you are wrong. The law says that 'best before 'is ok on the best before date.7
Me. I am not your darlin'. Why wasn't this a reduce product?
Him. Because we don't reduce them until much later in the day. All the shops do the same thing, Sainsbury's, Tesco...
Me. No, they don't. If you find a product that should have been taken of the shelf the day before, they will reduce it.

Anyway on and on we went in the same vein. I eventually left with another punnet of strawberries and phoned customer services when I got home. They agreed with me and have now sent me an e-voucher for £4.00.

The next time I go to that branch, I shall ask to speak to the manager and suggest that some of the staff need further training. I know that M&S customer service have opened a case on this, so the manager should be aware of what I'm talking about.

There you go. My Friday tale.

[Tilly2]

Missed you there, NJ. It was a male assistant.

The customer service team agreed with me that those strawberries should not have been sold at full price, hence my refund for the full price. I didn't mention the 'darlin' bit to them. I shall do that, next week, when I speak to the manager

[Mamyalynne]

From a business point of view, if your shoppers get to know that a basket of fresh foods could all have the best before date of the day of purchase on them, at full price then customers will look elsewhere to shop.

[THECORBYLOON]

"Whether we ate them or not is irrelevant, Arrods. They were past their best and should not have been sold at full price."

They were edible still and that is relevant.

Not long ago you were telling them the law says they should not have been on say but you're arguing still they should have been reduced.

Stores don't HAVE to reduce prices and I cannot see why you're arguing the point.

[lankeela]

Can just imagine the post if the sales assistant was on AB: "Had this right stuck up old bat trying to tell me my job, as if it isn't bad enough having to work in this heat and do your job without someone coming in and thinking they know better than you"

[Jackdaw33]

As far as I am aware best before dates are only guidelines. There is a small shop in Whitley Bay which specialises in selling out-of-date biscuits, crisps &c.

[Mamyalynne]

Full price Jack?

[woofgang]

Arrods "You say they were past their best, but you still managed to "serve up two very nice dishes."

but maybe the punnet should have supplied 4 portions?

[THECORBYLOON]

When you said you got another punnet, was that to replace the original?

[Tilly2]

I'm not arguing anything, Corbyloon. I am maintaining that they should have been reduced and the reduction made visible.

Yes, Lankeela. There are two side to every story. Although I don't know where you get the idea that I gave the impression that I knew more than him. My 'victory' was getting an agreement from customer service and a refund. So perhaps I did know better.

[Arrods]

Maybe, but I don’t think “some” equates to half of the punnet.

[Tilly2]

Yes, Corbyloon. Unless today is Christmas Day.

[Tilly2]

Would you like a photograph of the ones we have left?

[melv16]

He'll hath no fury:-)

[THECORBYLOON]

If you're not arguing, why are you going to speak to the manager about it?

Were you not wrong about the law?

[Arrods]

Gawd, I wouldn’t want Tilly to be a customer in my shop (unless she wants to buy an outboard motor)!

[THECORBYLOON]

You got a free punnet and a £4 voucher but you're not content to leave it at that?

[pastafreak]

When you go into shops as much as I used to pre-lockdown, you get to know when shops reduce items. Both the city centre Sainsbury's and M and S will reduce things from about 2:30-3pm. I've not been aware of reduced food items before then, and the date...use by or bb will be that days date. Not the next day.

[Arrods]

Corbyloon I think it’s to speak to the manager about the ‘darlin’ thing.

[Tilly2]

If you're not arguing, why are you going to speak to the manager about it?

...because I think he should know that a member of his team was rude and disrespectful and that maybe they need to make their customers aware that 'best before' means 'actually they might be alright'.

[Tilly2]

Pasta, it was the same day. Wednesday, 29th July.