Wetherspoon denies ‘trick’ to make customers ‘spend more money’

There are hundred of “Spoons” pubs across the UK

JD Wetherspoon has come under fire for a “trick” said to make customers “spend more money”. It’s all to do with its menus, though chain bosses have denied the “design feature” being a profit-boosting ploy.

Jade Jordan, customer experience expert at digital marketing agency Add People, told the ECHO there are a number of ways food and drink businesses get us to hand over more cash, such as trying upsell products on an order, and offering double measures for spirits. She also said ordering via mobile apps can make us more inclined to order more, as there is no fear of judgement because there is no face-to-face interaction.

And the expert has pointed out something on Wetherspoon menus that she believes can make people overspend. Ms Jordan said: “Many menus omit the £ when listing their prices. This is purely a way to convert more customers into ordering, as studies show that removing the sign disassociates the money from numbers, so you don’t feel like you’re spending money.

“Without it, the price and number are less meaningful. Wetherspoon removes £ signs from lots of its printed food menus. But they also use pound-signs when they want to draw your attention, such as a deal or promotion”.

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A Wetherspoon spokesperson told the ECHO: “All posters have pound signs on, as do the table talkers advertising drinks. On the main food menu on the front cover we have pound signs, and inside where there is an offer i.e. ‘3 small plates for £14.93’, we use the sign.

“Apart from that, inside the menu we don’t. Same with the steak and curry club wrap menu, the headline price has £, while the rest doesn’t. This isn’t a new thing, our menus have been like this for years, and it is simply a design feature. There are no hidden tricks.”