Pret a Manger is making a big change to prevent customers from sharing their subscription perks with friends.
The coffee and sandwich chain has a monthly subscription service known as ‘Club Pret’ which entitles customers to five free drinks a day. According to its terms and conditions, users are prohibited from sharing the perks with loved ones.
Subscribers also get 20% off menu items along with the five three Barista-made drinks each day as part of the £30 a month scheme.
To use the service, customers have to display a QR code which can be added to Apple Pay or Google Wallet.
But Pret has caught on to people slyly allowing their friends to take pictures of the QR code so they can use it as their own.
But this is all set to change in a matter of days, because customers will have to log in through the app to use their subscription.
Perhaps Pret is following in the footsteps of streaming giant Netflix which stopped numerous freeloaders from accessing its service without paying.
This is sure to be a significant change for those who enjoy a free caffeine buzz at the expense of a very generous friend, because from March 18 these individuals will have to pay for their beverages using their own money.
Good luck if you have been getting your flat whites and iced lattes for free because you still have your ex’s QR code.
The news of the change did not receive positive feedback on social media. On X (formerly Twitter) Daisy Mae (@wormz4brain) shared a dramatic GIF of a woman crying and said: ‘Can't steal my sister’s Pret subscription anymore.’
Meanwhile, Alara (@Alarailara) tweeted: ‘Now that we have broken up idk if I can use my ex’s Pret subscription anymore or not’.
And @DaiveDK_LDN complained: ‘@Pret taking the p*ss with the subscription changes. Who cares if you share your QR code with a partner. You get five drinks a day max anyway.
A Pret spokesperson told Metro.co.uk that people only need to log in to the app once initially to be able to access their new codes.
Once logged in, customers won’t need to keep logging in every time they want to access the subscription but they will have to open the app to show the code.
Customers will also be able to can also access the QR codes offline once they are logged in.
A Pret spokesperson said: ‘We’re updating how Club Pret subscribers access their QR codes as we continue to invest in our digital offer for customers.
‘QR Codes will now be available exclusively via the Pret App and can no longer be added to Apple or Google wallets. Live QR codes will be reissued to all subscribers.
‘This will deliver a more complete digital experience, so that the Pret App becomes the main digital touchpoint for our customers. We encourage any customers that need further support to contact our customer service team.’
The subscriptions are now used by customers 1.25 million times per week according to Pret. Despite price hikes in the past, the service has remained popular.
When it started in 2020 as a method to attract customers back to stores after the initial Covid-19 lockdown, it was priced at £20 per month. The price then went up to £25 and then increased again to £30 last year because of the rising expenses for employee salaries and ingredients.
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