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[theolodian]

What is up with the cr@p service industry over here?  I'm all pissed off at my laptop, but I notice at ASDA that a new Terry Pratchett book is out.  This brightens me up considerably.   I keep my inner child well fed with Top Gear, Terry Pratchett, etc.    

I decide to look for it at Waterstone's b/c they usually have it for a few quid off.  I go there today.  It isn't at the entrance with the new books, it isn't in the sci-fi/fantasy area, I finally find a total of 3 copies in the children's section.  As I pay for it I mention that it was a bit hard to find.  

She says, "Well, it is a children's book sir." with a touch of attitude.  I mention that ASDA has it in a big display.  Now the manager chimes in and says, "They don't sell many books."  WTF?!?  Looks to me like ASDA does a better job of selling books than they do!  Are they there to sell books or act superior?  Is that parochial or what?  

I do like it over here, but sometimes it boggles the mind how things work.  There are reasons that the US is the largest economy.  They aren't all good reasons, and it is far from perfect, but it isn't just a matter of size.  At least people want to sell you stuff instead of just stroking their egos.  Yes, many places here aren't like that, and you can find them in the states too, however it seems far more prevalent over here.

And no, I'm not cut out for working in sales  

[Bo Bo]

I have to agree, probably why I can't stand shopping!

[Gwilym]

You are so right!

I was once in a shop where they asked me if I could come back tomorrow because they hadn't unpacked the stock yet! It ws out the back, but still boxed.

Only after I made a fuss did they go and unpack it for me. That was a book shop as well.

[Allenm]

Nothing to do with being a septic    Poor service, couldn't give a toss attitude and the feeling that we are somehow "bothering" these people annoys the hell out of us too!

[Marks DTM Calib]

Unfortunately I give as good as I get.....cleared Dixons in Nottingham one Saturday.....got what I wanted though.

Had the same with the first house we bought....they soon sorted it out when I was handing out leaflets in front of the sales office to potential customers.

[theolodian]

Nothing to do with being a septic    Poor service, couldn't give a toss attitude and the feeling that we are somehow "bothering" these people annoys the hell out of us too!

That's a relief.  I was wondering if people were just numb to it.  Be interesting to see how things change with the Polish/Bulgarians/Romanians.  Probably end up that they want to sell you stuff but you're still frustrated because their english sux  

[theolodian]

Unfortunately I give as good as I get.....cleared Dixons in Nottingham one Saturday.....got what I wanted though.

Had the same with the first house we bought....they soon sorted it out when I was handing out leaflets in front of the sales office to potential customers.

Cleared Dixons, that sounds like a story!  I was so stunned that I walked out without saying any more.  30 seconds later I wanted to go back in and give them a piece of my mind but didn't.

[Allenm]

Unfortunately I give as good as I get.....cleared Dixons in Nottingham one Saturday.....got what I wanted though.

Had the same with the first house we bought....they soon sorted it out when I was handing out leaflets in front of the sales office to potential customers.

Yeah, I take that approach too!  I remember MFI delivering a kitchen minus Taps (without telling me!), 2 hours on the phone being told there was no way I could get them before a week, I lost it and headed off to the shop.  They phoned back just after I left, the wife said you better have a Tap waiting for him.  When I got there, they had removed a display tap, moved their desks into a u-shape round the office door and were all standing behind the desks with the door open ready with the Tap and offering refunds.  

[Admin]

Knowing Mark, and his intolerance of poor service (dealers that don't stock head bolts...) and match that with his readiness to voice his opinion on anything and you have a customer who gets what he wants.  

Oh and add a quick temper with muppets and he then becomes a store clearing custmer from hell (if you happen to be the muppet providing poor service! )

[Kev]

Unfortunately I give as good as I get.....cleared Dixons in Nottingham one Saturday.....got what I wanted though.

Had the same with the first house we bought....they soon sorted it out when I was handing out leaflets in front of the sales office to potential customers.

Yeah, I take that approach too!  I remember MFI delivering a kitchen minus Taps (without telling me!), 2 hours on the phone being told there was no way I could get them before a week, I lost it and headed off to the shop.  They phoned back just after I left, the wife said you better have a Tap waiting for him.  When I got there, they had removed a display tap, moved their desks into a u-shape round the office door and were all standing behind the desks with the door open ready with the Tap and offering refunds.  

[Auto Addict]

My mate went to a restaurant the other day and called the head waiter over to tell him the vegetables were undercooked. That's the way we serve them Sir, crispy, he said.

Then why did you bother to ask how I wanted my steak, say's my mate.

The head waiter did not have an answer!

[Kev]

My mate went to a restaurant the other day and called the head waiter over to tell him the vegetables were undercooked. That's the way we serve them Sir, crispy, he said.

Then why did you bother to ask how I wanted my steak, say's my mate.

The head waiter did not have an answer!

Probably thought he was being a smart arse before being clamped.  

[TheBoy]

Oh and add a quick temper

Ahh, so Mr Perfect has a weakness then.....  

[royston1945]

Hi, Mr Theolodian
 Waterstone's employees seem to consist of graduates with useless irelevant degrees who think that working in a bookstore for peanuts is more socially acceptable amongst their peers than working at Asdas or M&S for more money.
You can also find a smattering of the same up their arse types in Starbucks, although most of them are still studying for their own particular unneeded and worthless degree.
Not one of them could actually sell anything if their life depended on it.
Having owned retail businesses both here in and in the USA over the last forty years,I have employed countless so-called salespeople ,but very few who could really sell. The ones who could sell learnt what they could from me and moved on,usually to self employment and lots of money.
A true salesman doesn't need or want a basic salary and a 3 series BMW,he wants a good commision rate and a Bentley.
Selling is an art and the ability to bounce straight back after rejection is a prerequisite!
BTW, try Borders bookstore,American owned, similar snobby staff but lots of special offers and discounts!

If anyone on this forum works in the above mentioned stores, then obviously I wasn't including you.

[Elite Pete]

I too was in retail for a long time and I would class people who work in Waterstone's or Starbucks as shop assistants not salespeople.