User Reviews

Alf is surprised to learn that Ada has been buying goods for The Cafe off The High Street, paying retail prices, her aim, a free steam iron. Old friend Vic pops up with an offer that seems too good to be true.

Don't ask me why, but this one felt like an episode from an earlier time, it's a little more old fashioned, but there are a few amusing moments. Alf's annoyances and penny pinching ways are amusing.

I'm not sure if viewers now would know how those stamps worked. My parents had a full range of crystal glasses, all paid for with Green shield stamps, what a great idea that was, definitely better than Clubcard points.

Good to see Victor Madden back as Vic, although you'd think that Alf would have learned not to trust him after that whole fiasco with the darts match. They've managed to bring Vic back, but there's still no mention of any of the missing family, it's so strange.

6/10.

Some viewers might get lost with the story if they are not from the generation that remembers Green Shield Stamps. When you purchased items from selected stores or petrol stations. You would be given some stamps that you stuck in a book.

Collect enough of them and you could then exchange it for an item. The more valuable the item such as a food mixer or a steam iron, the more stamps you need. In fact several books worth and it would take ages to collect them.

In fact Ada is going out of her way with Myrtle to buy in such retail stores so she can have enough stamps to get a free steam iron.

Later shifty Vic turns up with a business opportunity. He already owes Alf £50 but offers them a business opportunity that has the cafe offering trading stamps to customers. Ada is all up for it.

Soon they are inundated with customers purchasing stuff in exchange for trading stamps. The valuable items are on trade for less stamps as well.

Both Ada and Alf are unaware that the stamps are valueless. Vic is just churning them out on his printing press. The goods have been stolen from a warehouse raid hence why they are going cheap.

Soon the police come calling looking for Vic.

Victor Maddern reprises his role as dodgy Vic from an earlier episode. At least Ada and Alf repent at the end of the episode for their part in the scam.