As if being charged £3.05 for a Cappuccino wasn’t enough, Costa staff now seem to be required to try and upsell you their ‘limited edition’ blend for an additional 40 pence.

I don’t blame the staff, I’ve actually got quite a lot of sympathy for them being forced into this extremely negative form of interaction with customers.

Rather I blame the Coca Cola Corporation which recently bought the 2400 Costa Coffee chain outlets for £3.9 billion, which was apparently well over its market value.

What I hate about it is that it dehumanises the relationship between the staff and the customers even more than was already the case – the staff now have to go through a script when a customer walks in, for fear that one of them might by a ‘mystery shopper’.

They are also clearly required to upsell in an upbeat tone, pretending that they’re happy about it, when in reality this is highly unlikely to be the case, as we both know they’re not upselling for our benefit, but for the benefit of the company’s profits – upselling is basically about them trying to suck money out of my pocket into the shareholder’s.

I guess the psychology is based on the fact that another 11% on top of £3.05 won’t feel like that much, much I think they’re wrong there. Honestly, I watched 6 people after me all refuse the upsell – surely it puts people off, I mean I know Nero’s don’t upsell, I’d rather go there just because they don’t.

What I really hate about it besides the extra cost and the inhumanity of it is that it puts you on the offensive, it puts you in the position of having to say ‘no’, and even if you say ‘yes’ then the best that can happen is that the seller gets and you get to feel an awkward sense of relief.

I’m thinking about getting some badges made up, I’m not sure which, seemed like a good idea for a dpoll vote, so please vote for your favourite anti-upselling logo.....

• If I want your special blend I’ll fucking well ask for it.
• Save us both the embarrassment and don’t upsell to me.
• Go tell your boss to shove his upsell up his Corporate ass.
• Something else (make a suggestion).

I also blame my own weakness for drifting into Costa earlier on this week. Maybe I should just avoid it? After one final trip to try out my new badge that is.

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Something else (make a suggestion). (40.0%) 6 / 15 Save us both the embarrassment and don’t upsell to me. (26.67%) 4 / 15 If I want your special blend I’ll fucking well ask for it. (20.0%) 3 / 15 Go tell your boss to shove his upsell up his corporate asshole. (13.33%) 2 / 15