Another 4p for a pint of milk if you pay by cash
Hannah and Joe at their wedding ceremony MILKMEN have accused bosses of discrimination after putting up the cost of a pinta unless customers pay online.
Milk & More – which delivers to 500,000 homes – charges cash customers 4p a pint extra.
Milkmen and women say the move has hit the elderly and vulnerable who rely most on their weekly deliveries.
One said he lost nearly 10 per cent of his customers in four days, with 30 OAPs telling him they cannot afford 85p for a pint that typically sells for 50p in supermarkets.
The milkman – who has had a round for more than 50 years – said: “They want to herd the customers online but many of mine don’t have the internet. We all had to deliver a leaflet last week saying the cost was going up 4p but they wouldn’t have to pay the increase if they went online.
“The days of the friendly milkman are numbered.”
Milkman Tony Fowler, 61, has foiled burglars and saved the lives of 16 people during more than 35 years in the job.
He said: “When everything goes online you take all the communication away between the customer and the milkman. Some customers have been getting their milk from the same person for 40 years. They have become friends.
“The milkman will look out for people. There’s a community spirit.”
Customer Tim Attridge said milk had been delivered to his doorstep since 1968 but the increase was “taking the p***” when prices were already “a lot dearer” than supermarkets. He wrote: “Just left a note for my milkman telling him not to deliver any more. Sad day.”
Another customer called Allison wrote on social media: “At 81p a pint I already pay a premium.This represents a cynical attempt to coerce customers on to your online system.”
Last night Milk & More said the price rise was “to recover increased business costs” of processing cash, cheque, card and direct debit payments.
A spokesman said: “We value all customers, no matter how they choose to pay. We have been able to hold the price for online customers because there is significantly less administration involved.”
Milk & More was bought by dairy giant Müller from Dairy Crest in December 2015 and is Britain’s biggest doorstep delivery service.
It has seen a surge in business due to growing consumer concern about plastic waste.