Boarding pass to buy some sweets? WTF?!
Discussion
hman said:
True - but is it really worth having to go and find a different shop?
I'm normally of the same opinion - but this just tipped me over the edge. Give me one single valid justification for needing my name and travel information for buying a bag of sweets.
You can't, can you.
It's just a load of old b
ks. Been like that for ages, they just want the flight number, not your DNA sequence.
If it's in the bottom of my bag or buried in an email attachment on my phone, I just say the missus has it and rattle off the flight number, it's not failed yet. They have the option to input it manually, the brighter kids will just whack in any old flight number before you get to that stage.
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I live overseas, the whole email address / telephone number routine is getting too much also. I just pretend I only speak English and I'm visiting (whilst paying with a Norwegian debit card....), you can try the reverse in Dixons 'Jeg bor i Norge'. (I live in Norway).. whilst buying a British plug toaster and Corrie box set...
If it's in the bottom of my bag or buried in an email attachment on my phone, I just say the missus has it and rattle off the flight number, it's not failed yet. They have the option to input it manually, the brighter kids will just whack in any old flight number before you get to that stage.
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I live overseas, the whole email address / telephone number routine is getting too much also. I just pretend I only speak English and I'm visiting (whilst paying with a Norwegian debit card....), you can try the reverse in Dixons 'Jeg bor i Norge'. (I live in Norway).. whilst buying a British plug toaster and Corrie box set...
You know the VAT scam they said it isn't? It is.
The only place that you HAVE to show your boarding pass to buy at an airport is in the Duty Free shop. There's it's a legal requirement on the shop to confirm they are only selling the special 'export' version of products to people traveling outside the EU.
For everywhere else they are just doing it so they can claim back the VAT from people traveling outside the - while charging the same for regardless of destination. You can believe the "we use the VAT refund for people traveling outside the EU to subsidies the price for everyone" line if you like...
The only place that you HAVE to show your boarding pass to buy at an airport is in the Duty Free shop. There's it's a legal requirement on the shop to confirm they are only selling the special 'export' version of products to people traveling outside the EU.
For everywhere else they are just doing it so they can claim back the VAT from people traveling outside the - while charging the same for regardless of destination. You can believe the "we use the VAT refund for people traveling outside the EU to subsidies the price for everyone" line if you like...
swerni said:
That explains it; however why does it have to default to asking for the card before you try and purchase? Why not have a scan after, bearing in mind that the majority of travellers are going within the EU.And I like how they only refund it for single items over six pounds. Nice little earner.
Dog Star said:
And I like how they only refund it for single items over six pounds. Nice little earner.
Well it's an improvement on the other stores that don't knock any of it off. Dixons at Gatwick had a discount offer on fitbits a while back...and they were still more expensive than Amazon. I'm amazed they sell anything other than the odd pair of headphones when people have realised they forgot to pack them. Nearly impossible to find the price online to see if it's worth buying a the airport too.It is so annoying when you use a fast till at an Airport and you get held up by this, during the two hours or so you have cock all else to do with your time.
So when after a couple of minutes Spotty McSpotface wanders out of puberty to come and help, I always show a boarding pass when asked (WH Smith the ones at BHM and MAN seem especially bad for this).
The staff seem then somewhat confused to be presented with a small sorta credit card sized Irish Ferries 11:50 a.m. boarding pass for the Dublin Swift from Holyhead to Dublin; but have then have always then just pressed a button combo on the till to let me finish my purchase and proceed on my own way. (I'm fairly convinced the Hotkey bypass is #1Enter).
Noting the staff always ask for "a boarding pass", if they'd ever asked for "your boarding pass for the flight today, Mrs" then I would show them my actual boarding pass.
So when after a couple of minutes Spotty McSpotface wanders out of puberty to come and help, I always show a boarding pass when asked (WH Smith the ones at BHM and MAN seem especially bad for this).
The staff seem then somewhat confused to be presented with a small sorta credit card sized Irish Ferries 11:50 a.m. boarding pass for the Dublin Swift from Holyhead to Dublin; but have then have always then just pressed a button combo on the till to let me finish my purchase and proceed on my own way. (I'm fairly convinced the Hotkey bypass is #1Enter).
Noting the staff always ask for "a boarding pass", if they'd ever asked for "your boarding pass for the flight today, Mrs" then I would show them my actual boarding pass.
StanleyT said:
It is so annoying when you use a fast till at an Airport and you get held up by this, during the two hours or so you have cock all else to do with your time.
So when after a couple of minutes Spotty McSpotface wanders out of puberty to come and help, I always show a boarding pass when asked (WH Smith the ones at BHM and MAN seem especially bad for this).
The staff seem then somewhat confused to be presented with a small sorta credit card sized Irish Ferries 11:50 a.m. boarding pass for the Dublin Swift from Holyhead to Dublin; but have then have always then just pressed a button combo on the till to let me finish my purchase and proceed on my own way. (I'm fairly convinced the Hotkey bypass is #1Enter).
Noting the staff always ask for "a boarding pass", if they'd ever asked for "your boarding pass for the flight today, Mrs" then I would show them my actual boarding pass.
My god you are some legend.So when after a couple of minutes Spotty McSpotface wanders out of puberty to come and help, I always show a boarding pass when asked (WH Smith the ones at BHM and MAN seem especially bad for this).
The staff seem then somewhat confused to be presented with a small sorta credit card sized Irish Ferries 11:50 a.m. boarding pass for the Dublin Swift from Holyhead to Dublin; but have then have always then just pressed a button combo on the till to let me finish my purchase and proceed on my own way. (I'm fairly convinced the Hotkey bypass is #1Enter).
Noting the staff always ask for "a boarding pass", if they'd ever asked for "your boarding pass for the flight today, Mrs" then I would show them my actual boarding pass.
Do you apply that same di(khead attitude to all front line service staff or just the spotty ones?
Edited by acer12 on Wednesday 20th September 09:34
RizzoTheRat said:
Well it's an improvement on the other stores that don't knock any of it off. Dixons at Gatwick had a discount offer on fitbits a while back...and they were still more expensive than Amazon. I'm amazed they sell anything other than the odd pair of headphones when people have realised they forgot to pack them. Nearly impossible to find the price online to see if it's worth buying a the airport too.
Are threre any bargains at airports these days? Even the duty free booze doesnt seem much cheaper than you can buy it online and frankly not worth the effort when you're just off some wretched long haul slog. The mrs picked up some perfume in marseille the other month while waiting for a delayed ryanair flight home but it was much something to do while we wait as the few quid saving. Arent spirits etc supposed to be mostly tax/duty?Seems to me they work more on the basis people are thinking they might be missing a bargain, or just being in holiday spend mode.
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