by Alan Watkins
The Watkins residence has an oversized library with rows and rows of books, often three deep with more piled on top.
Like Codger Cook I have always been a sucker for a book bargain. That’s why I like trundling into the one surviving bookshop on every High Street, namely WH Smith.
I used to have one of their regular customer cards until the marketing team scrapped it. Now I am feeling suckered by one of their saver offers that isn’t.
It’s the one that says: “Buy One Get One Half Price”. It has a gold circular label often stuck on to the books (but not always).
The other day I dropped into a branch where I picked up various items including two books advertised under this offer.
One was a James Holland Second World War story, the other was a Jo Nesbo.
They were ideal reading for the poolside in Egypt where I am currently soaking up the sun and hunting large fishes on the nearby coral reef.
I was told they were different offers (even though I pointed out that they were the same wording, the same label and the same offer.
I was told the Nesbo offer (additionally marked Mix and Match on the supporting shelf label) was different from the Holland book offer.
I left the two books on the counter, along with a magazine, assorted stationery and a few pencils, erasers and a pen.
I rang the customer support team at WH Smith’s call centre where a pleasant young lady named Kirsty said they were different offers even though they did look the same.
She admitted: “I have suggested to the marketing department myself that they should use different coloured stickers.
“Unfortunately, it is not something we are able to do,” she claimed.
The old cobbler is at work here. It is the simplest thing in the world to print different coloured labels.
It is even simpler for a junior promotions person to design a different sticker for the offers.
Pity. That was about £25 of business they lost. I picked up the books on the internet for less than WH Smith were charging.
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