BITE card

[yorkie]

Indeed. I am boycotting SSP and no longer using my bite card.

I am buying better value products elsewhere.

I was previously, on occasions, prepared to pay the SSP prices of around 40 to 30% more on the basis I was getting 20% off, so I wasn't paying the full premium and the convenience of buying at a station wasn't too much. But now? No chance!

 

[dvboy]

I found I was using my Bite card less since a Sainsburys Local opened near to Wolverhampton station and a Boots opened right on the gateline at Birmingham New Street.

 

[Bletchleyite]

For anyone it may help (not that Milton Keynes Central is particularly SSP-dominated, being as how only the Pumpkin, newsagent and probably M&S are SSP) a *very* large Morrisons (possibly the largest in the country) is going to open soon very near the station. Once it has, go out of the station, turn right and walk until you hit it. 5 minutes if that.

Neil

 

[Bishopstone]

We clearly have a lot of experts in the operation of successful catering businesses, on this thread.

(Basically: 'It's really simple - just reduce prices without regard to costs, and you'll recover the lost margin in increased volumes.')

If SSP (UK) are bust in twelve months, I shall come back and dwell on this commercial wisdom.

Otherwise...

My view - and I have no experience in this field, either - is that a significant proportion of rail-side catering custom is not price sensitive. For example: those unwilling to leave the station and therefore 'hostage' to rail-side outlets; business travellers on expenses; the inebriated after an evening out; and overseas tourists who struggle with the exchange rate calculation or don't care. Plus those who have so much money they don't need to worry about whether the coffee is £1.50 or £2.50.

The kind of person who would swap to making-up a flask at home is not, I suspect, the core SSP customer.

But if people genuinely believe there is a business opportunity for high volume, low margin catering outlets, rail-side, they can either talk to Network Rail or pitch the idea to Greggs.

 

[bb21]

We clearly have a lot of experts in the operation of successful catering businesses, on this thread.

(Basically: 'It's really simple - just reduce prices without regard to costs, and you'll recover the lost margin in increased volumes.')

... and who is that person?

 

[Greenback]

You have a point, Bishopstone, and it all depends really on how many BITE card holders make up the customer base, and how many of those cardholders are like me and have not used their cards at all since the discount was reduced.

If SSP have got their calculations right then it will work for them. If not, then they may struggle. Regardless of which one is true, I'm very unlikely to use my new card ever again as I'm not really interested in them as a company, or their business model. I'm more interested in value for money for myself. I don't care what happens to SSP, they have treated myself and other cardholders like idiots.

 

[Class377]

It does still seem extremely strange to me that people are having hissy fits and boycotting a company just because they dare end their very generous promotion.

If there was a company that I rarely used that put on a great offer for FREE with no negatives, I'd be happy to have it for however long they put it on. I'd be having no complaints if SSP even took away the BITE card entirely because they have no obligation to offer it in the first place.

Instead a lot of members seem to be upset that they're still putting on offers?

Things get more expensive. It's how the world works. Freddos cost 30p now, but people still buy those.

 

[bb21]

Instead a lot of members seem to be upset that they're still putting on offers?

Things get more expensive. It's how the world works. Freddos cost 30p now, but people still buy those.

It is a lot more complicated than that.

People of course will complain about what effectively amounts to a price increase, to a rip-off level exploiting the near monopoly this retailer has with regard to on-site catering.

What I keep reiterating, but seems to be ignored by people making the arguments you did, is that the one thing most people object to is being treated like an idiot and fed blatant lies and spin. If they want to increase prices/reduce discounts/reduce portion sizes because it is no longer economical to do what they did before, say so and be honest. I doubt there would have been as much annoyance if they did that. There will still be complaints, but far less.

I doubt that many people will completely boycott SSP, but people are certainly using their Bite Card less than before and taking custom elsewhere. I doubt that they were not making any profit even at 20% off prices so any custom lost will be losing them money. Their loss I guess. They made this decision and they will have to live with the consequences, whether for better or for worse. The custom lost may well be made up by people who now pay inflated prices, but that is something only they will know themselves.

As to their core customers base, one thing I can say is that they cannot afford to ignore the large section of society who are watching their pennies in times like this. If enough people decide to abandon them, then they will be forced to take remedial actions. We will have to see over time whether they made the correct decision this time.

 

[Paule23]

Things get more expensive. It's how the world works. Freddos cost 30p now, but people still buy those.

Freddos cost 30p! When the heck did that happen?

 

[spacehopper]

Chomps still 10p???

 

[Arglwydd Golau]

Freddos cost 30p! When the heck did that happen?

What on earth are Freddos?

 

[yorksrob]

It does still seem extremely strange to me that people are having hissy fits and boycotting a company just because they dare end their very generous promotion.

If there was a company that I rarely used that put on a great offer for FREE with no negatives, I'd be happy to have it for however long they put it on. I'd be having no complaints if SSP even took away the BITE card entirely because they have no obligation to offer it in the first place.

Instead a lot of members seem to be upset that they're still putting on offers?

Things get more expensive. It's how the world works. Freddos cost 30p now, but people still buy those.

The fact is that I didn't see the 20% offer as a brilliant offer in the first place. It was a reasonable offer which made it worthwhile buying SSP products where it other wise wouldn't have been.

You point out that Freddos costs more, which is true, but as someone who has bought a lot of cups of tea from SSP in the past, it's not as though they have been holding their prices down in lieu of the card increase. Routine increases have been taking place in addition to the increase for card holders, so how am I cutting off my nose to spite my face to seek out better deals?

 

[Chrism20]

What on earth are Freddos?

Cadbury chocolate. They should bring back the popping candy one lol

Freddo

 

[Greenback]

It does still seem extremely strange to me that people are having hissy fits and boycotting a company just because they dare end their very generous promotion.

I'm not having a hissy fit and I resent the accusation. I'm simply making a rational decision that the 10% discount is not worth bothering with.

If there was a company that I rarely used that put on a great offer for FREE with no negatives, I'd be happy to have it for however long they put it on. I'd be having no complaints if SSP even took away the BITE card entirely because they have no obligation to offer it in the first place.

If they discountinued the card compeltely they would be no worse off as far as my business goes. They wouldn't get any more or less money than they will now in any case.

Instead a lot of members seem to be upset that they're still putting on offers?

I'll admit to being a little annoyed by their spin in trying to justify cutting the discount. I'd have had more respect for them if they'd just said it was uneconomic. But I still wouldn't have used the card, it's simply not economic for me when there are better value options available.

I used to enjoy the Upper Crust baguettes but they have gone down in both quality and size since their peak in the 1990's and early 2000's. The reduction in the discount was merely the final straw for me.

Things get more expensive. It's how the world works. Freddos cost 30p now, but people still buy those.

I don;t know why you've brought Freddo's in to the equation. If that's the going rate for one, I will pay it if I want one. With baguettes, sandwiches, coffee cold drinks and the like, then there's a variety of products available of variable quality and at variable prices. I'm not going to choose one that I perceive as offering poor quality at a high price.

I can't make my own Freddo's either :cry:
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

The fact is that I didn't see the 20% offer as a brilliant offer in the first place. It was a reasonable offer which made it worthwhile buying SSP products where it other wise wouldn't have been.

Exactly, very nicely and succinctly put!

 

[extendedpaul]

I've only used my card occasionally and not at all since the discount was cut. I find there is a Subway or Greggs within sight of most stations that have catering outlets and both offer good value breakfast and all day deals.

Must confess I've never managed to eat a meatball marinara sub without making a mess, Can anyone ?

It would be a worthwhile marketing ploy to offer a higher discount, say 20-25%, at one participating outlet each month and see the results. Maybe something along those lines is planned.

 

[DelayRepay]

My view - and I have no experience in this field, either - is that a significant proportion of rail-side catering custom is not price sensitive. For example: those unwilling to leave the station and therefore 'hostage' to rail-side outlets; business travellers on expenses; the inebriated after an evening out; and overseas tourists who struggle with the exchange rate calculation or don't care. Plus those who have so much money they don't need to worry about whether the coffee is £1.50 or £2.50.

The kind of person who would swap to making-up a flask at home is not, I suspect, the core SSP customer.

I have no experience of catering either but I suspect SSP outlets appeal to two types of customer:
1) Irregular rail users, who don't mind paying a little extra because it's not often, and don't use the stations often so don't know where better value products are available
2) Regular rail users who do know where alternative, cheaper products can be sourced (me buying my coffee 2/3 times a week).

The Bite card was probably an attempt at price discrimination - a way of charging two levels of prices to two different markets.

SSP obviously think that enough of group 2 will continue to use their outlets, paying the new, higher prices to make up for those who decide to shop elsewhere.

I personally think they have made a mistake.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

It does still seem extremely strange to me that people are having hissy fits and boycotting a company just because they dare end their very generous promotion.

Who is having a hissy fit? Saying I shall no longer use a shop because they've increased their prices and there are cheaper alternatives is not having a hissy fit.

20% off a rip off price is not a generous discount anyway!

 

[BestWestern]

I strongly suspect that SSP are making plenty of money, and the decision to do away with the higher discount and reduce product size was just a move to further boost the takings. As has already been pointed out, other firms have done this steadily over the years; for example the numerous articles about tins of Roses getting smaller etc. My own gripe with the SSP situation is that they've been allowed to monopolise UK railway stations the way they have whilst offering such a crap and expensive product. Of course that isn't something you can blame them for; they would do that, wouldn't they. It's NR and the TOCs who allow them steamroller out every other business which irritates me. There are many other outlets who can do so much better.

 

[jon0844]

Most people don't seem to have a Bite card. I doubt Gold Card users even knew when waving their season, they got 20% off. But these days you can't afford to lose any customers, unless you know everyone else will still come to you, even when prices rise and quality/size falls.

I'd have thought a lot of irregular travellers would see other non SSP brands, especially supermarkets, and shop there. Okay so M&S is SSP but the others aren't. So SSP has got competition, so should be careful about what it does.

But I don't have shares so my only involvement and interest is on this thread.

 

[Billy Hicks]

When I lived in Sheffield for a few months in 2011, I soon became the most popular person amongst my friends whenever we were in the Burger King at the station as, with one showing of my Bite card (the old one with the bite in it) they would happily give the 20% to every single one of us even though I was the only one to have one, which I'm sure wasn't strictly allowed but they never seemed to mind.

The fun went out of it a bit when the new card came in around a year later. Disappointed to hear the discount's been cut but I haven't used it in ages, generally now there's some sort of meal deal that ends up cheaper than using the card discount.

 

[Bletchleyite]

When I lived in Sheffield for a few months in 2011, I soon became the most popular person amongst my friends whenever we were in the Burger King at the station as, with one showing of my Bite card (the old one with the bite in it) they would happily give the 20% to every single one of us even though I was the only one to have one, which I'm sure wasn't strictly allowed but they never seemed to mind.

The fun went out of it a bit when the new card came in around a year later.

Why's that? There's no rule I know of about buying for others. You buy, the others pay you back later.

Neil
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I have no experience of catering either but I suspect SSP outlets appeal to two types of customer:
1) Irregular rail users, who don't mind paying a little extra because it's not often, and don't use the stations often so don't know where better value products are available
2) Regular rail users who do know where alternative, cheaper products can be sourced (me buying my coffee 2/3 times a week).

The Bite card was probably an attempt at price discrimination - a way of charging two levels of prices to two different markets.

Didn't it originate from a rail staff discount scheme?

Neil
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Most people don't seem to have a Bite card. I doubt Gold Card users even knew when waving their season, they got 20% off.

Sorry, a Gold Card season ticket worked as a Bite card?

Neil

 

[Mojo]

You'd look a bit stupid if you binned it and they suddenly relented and returned the discount to 20% </delusional>

That's okay, because they'll probably send everyone a new card in the post that they didn't ask for.

Oh wait, they've already done that :roll:

 

[MrCub]

Pumpkin coffee is really pretty dreadful. Recent experience attempting to use a Bite card has resulted in real distain and long faces from staff. I'd rather go to the Caffe Nero down the road.

Am I right in thinking that the SSP chain was originally part of BR's Travellers' Fare, or have I made that up?

 

[Billy Hicks]

Why's that? There's no rule I know of about buying for others. You buy, the others pay you back later.

In this case it was them actually buying their own food, in seperate transactions, but I'd still show them my Bite card and it counted for everyone as long as they were in the same party. As said, it made me a popular person

I tried the same with someone at one of the places in London Waterloo a year or two later and this time the staff got a bit fussy about it, especially by then it was the new card with my name on the front. Still allowed me though.

 

[jon0844]

Sorry, a Gold Card season ticket worked as a Bite card?

Neil

Yup. Along with various staff cards and for Network Rail etc. There was a poster on the wall showing samples, and you just waved it - not swiped it (obviously you couldn't do that with a season).

I expect there was scope for fraud. Potentially give discounts for people without cards, don't issue the receipt and pocket discount. Hence why you now have the 'No receipt? Get your money back' offer to stop staff fiddling.

And why Bite cards need to be swiped.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Pumpkin coffee is really pretty dreadful.

The one at MKC used to do filter coffee which I quite liked, I prefer the milder taste of filter to espresso.

Neil
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

And why Bite cards need to be swiped.

I think the main reason for them needing to be swiped is that, like Tesco Clubcards, they're data-harvesting. Though it isn't done too well, as they claimed in an e-mail once that Camden Food Co was the most common place for me to use my Bite Card, when I barely ever go there, once I think if that. OTOH, I use Caffe Ritazza at Euston at least once a week.

Neil

 

[jon0844]

I think it's that too, yes.

But there was definitely scope for fraud before, just as it was possible for staff to take money from customers and not put it through the till (hence no receipt). It's sad that it takes signs saying 'no receipt - get your money back' to effectively get the customers to keep staff in check, but presumably works.

I've even had this happen on local buses, and quite a few times too.

 

[Tom B]

But there was definitely scope for fraud before, just as it was possible for staff to take money from customers and not put it through the till (hence no receipt). It's sad that it takes signs saying 'no receipt - get your money back' to effectively get the customers to keep staff in check, but presumably works.

Those signs seem to have disappeared recently, mind.

I've even had this happen on local buses, and quite a few times too.

A local company in the Doncaster area were known for not wanting to issue tickets and the rudeness you'd get if you asked for one. Some drivers would charge (say) £1 for a fare, or £1.50 if you wanted a ticket! Unsurprisingly, they went bust.

 

[jon0844]

Yes, I've had drivers who have given discounts and with no ticket.

Situation; board bus with only about £1 in change, and a £5/10/20 note. Fare is £1.70.

Bus company policy is that if they can't break a note, a change voucher is printed. While I have seen one, I've never been issued one and I've said I'll take one many times! They ask if I have anything smaller, and if I say I only have 90p or whatever, the driver then says 'that'll do', take it and wave me on.

Sure, the driver is clearly hoping I'll think that's a result. They pocket the money, I get a cheaper fare - what's the problem? But it's not good when said driver loses his job and I lose a bus service altogether as it wasn't making money and was axed.

Anyway, back to Bite cards (which I am pretty certain don't give discounts on buses!).

 

[BestWestern]

Another common fraud on the buses was issuing 'lesser attentive' passengers (ie drunk ones) with a concessionary fare ticket (what the OAPs got when boarding with their free passes) instead of the proper ticket for their journey, and pocketing the fare. Now that the new generation of ticket machines require the pass to be 'touched in' I presume such practices have ceased.

 

[bnm]

Another common fraud on the buses was issuing 'lesser attentive' passengers (ie drunk ones) with a concessionary fare ticket (what the OAPs got when boarding with their free passes) instead of the proper ticket for their journey, and pocketing the fare. Now that the new generation of ticket machines require the pass to be 'touched in' I presume such practices have ceased.

I used to regularly have drivers of a certain Bristol bus operator (the one named after a former west country kingdom...) issue me a concessionary fare ticket when paying for my journey. It happened with some regularity. Rarely was I 'less attentive' or 'drunk'. First couple of times I let it pass, but subsequently I'd request the correct ticket for my fare, pointing out that should an inspector board, the driver would be in trouble and I might be liable for a standard (penalty) fare. I'd sometimes get the 'machine is broke' excuse as well, when it quite clearly wasn't.

After the first couple of occasions I reported each incidenceof a zero fare ticket being issued for a cash fare, both to the operator, and, as the routes I use are subsidised by the City Council, to them also. The practice seems to have stopped.