Expert says the refusal to accept coupons at Subway on campus is unfair to students

By AVERY ST. GERMAIN

Students are expressing frustration that the Subway restaurant at Langara will not accept coupons, leaving them to seek discounted sandwiches at off-campus locations.

Subway franchises at UBC, SFU, Capilano University and Columbia College all accept discount coupons that are a common part of Subway’s marketing and a chance at cheaper meals for cash-strapped students. Subway locations off-campus also takes discount coupons.

At the Langara location in the T Building, customers are greeted with a sign at the front counter that reads: “Unfortunately, Subway coupons are not currently accepted at this location.”

Franchise problems

Sofia Bernaldez, a second-year history student, works in fast food and said she understands that smaller franchise locations sometimes lack the resources to accept coupons, but she added that students in Vancouver face significant living expenses on top of tuition.

“I completely understand not being able to accept coupons, but it is really frustrating, especially because a lot of students are really struggling financially,” Bernaldez said.

Second-year film arts student Angela Nevy said not everyone has a steady income to cover food costs on campus.

“Some people are relying on government loans to be here,” she said.

Partnership policies

The Voice reached out to the campus Subway manager and to Chartwells, the company contracted to provide food services on campus. Both declined to comment. Subway Canada’s media contact and managing director did not respond by publication date.

June Francis, a marketing professor at SFU, said Subway franchises at post-secondary institutions might have different rules about coupons than restaurants located off-campus.

“If they don’t think they’re going to make back the loss . . . the coupon gives you, they’re not incentivized necessarily to accept your coupons right now,” she said.

But she said, the lack of coupons at a campus location is unfair to a student market served by a company that has a monopoly on food services.

“it’s a great hardship that students have to leave the campus to now pursue Subway somewhere else,” she said.

She said a contract that gives an exclusive right to accompany on campus comes with specific responsibilities.

“And I think one of those responsibilities should be that students who shop at Subway on campus should be not ever put it at a disadvantage if they were to buy the subway somewhere else,” she said.

VIDEO: Langara Students explain why Subway should accept coupons