MY home town of Romsey in Hamshire has a branch of WH Smith. Not an uncommon site in many towns and high streets throughout the UK, in fact a shop that is a household name. In a small market town, such as Romsey, WH Smith is the only place available for the purchase of office stationery and a bonus for local business.

I have, for some time, been annoyed by the company policy of being asked “would you like some of our chocolate today?”

when at the till trying to pay for my chosen items. I shop in Smiths, like so many other people, for newspapers.

magazines, books, stationery and the like. And sometimes I might decide to buy some chocolate. My body already carries enough weight and if I choose to buy chocolate it is a self-made decision and not a prompted one.

There is already a great debate about having chocolate for sale at supermarket checkouts and whether the temptation is too great for the masses. But nobody at Tesco, Waitrose, Sainsbury’s or the rest asks “would you like some of our chocolate today?”.

They do in WH Smith.

So what is it with Smiths? Why does the company see fit to make its staff ask that question of the customer? Is it an attempt at raising profit? Does the company think the population is too thin?

It is a policy that normally sends me elsewhere to make a purchase, but sometimes only Smiths has what I need.

Well the policy of being a chocolate pusher has just got a little worse.

Today I went to WH Smith to buy two local newspapers – the Romsey Advertiser and the Lymington Times. I buy both papers each week, and normally elsewhere in the town where I won’t be asked “would you like some of our chocolate today?” It was early, about 8:45am, and only one member of staff, who was stocking shelves, seemed to be working. I went to the till to pay and he appeared, I assumed to serve me, but suggested I use the new self-service pay point. The same sort seen in the supermarkets.

Easy. Just follow the screen and press the right things and answer the simple questions: Have you got your own bag? Scan your purchase; Finish and pay; Debit card or cash and so on.

Only one problem – when you press “finish and pay” a picture of a chocolate bar and a question asking if you want to buy some chocolate appears!

Come on WH Smith, do me and the rest of the UK a favour, give up.

Nick Hatchley (slightly overweight and not needing chocolate), Romsey