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[Hillper]

I agree Theo.  I was in Tescos at 7.30 this morning, in a 'line' at the only manned checkout, thinking how different it is in the States.

I had the choice of a long wait in the queue or use the DIY checkout.  DIY checkout???  

Good grief, in the States, not only are all the checkouts fully manned, not only do they pack the goods for you, not only do they give you the choice of "Paper or plastic", but then they'll wheel your cart out to your car!  (The obligatory "Have a nice day Sir" can be a bit false though).

[Elite Pete]

"but then they'll wheel your cart out to your car!"

Thats only because your a Brit and they think your incapable of doing anything without their help

[bob.dent]

I couldn't believe what I was hearing in Sainsbury's last Sunday. I was waiting to be served at the paper/magazine section and there's this spotty faced idiot counting and bundling the unsold copies of Sunday papers about 20 mins before the store closed. A customer seeing that there were no copies left in the paper rack goes up to the idiot and says he wants to buy a copy of News of the World (of which there were about 50 copies). "I'm sorry but I can't let you have one as I've already counted them" says the idiot......uuhhhh!!!!! So the customer says "well can't you deduct one of from your count?" The idiot then replies "look sir, I've already told you I can't let you have a one!!" Anyway the customer says a few choice words to the idiot and storms off. Now what sort of customer service is that??!!
If that had of been me I would have stormed staight over to the customer service desk and told them EXACTLY what I thought of their "customer service"!!!!!!

[omegaV6CD]

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.

I think the problem might lie under the fact that most of the retail businesses are offering the minimum pay which attracts students that want to work part time in order to study. Then there are other factors that kick in like the behaviour of the arrogant piece of shit unqualified manager that works at places like that and then  treats the inferior student badly. I remember when i was a student i worked as a glass collector (completely irrelevant to my field but needed the money), when i fist started i tried to perform well and set priorities which made sense to me, the managers though which were more than the actual staff started bullshiting with me mainly due to racism and due to the fact that i was temporary there having a better future waiting for me while they would spend their lifes in there being "managers" showing their authority to international students and teaching them how to clean windows properly as this is their only skill. Therefore people that face daily that kind of behaviour lose interest on the job and don't give a toss about customer satisfaction.

[Marks DTM Calib]

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.  

Funny you should mention that....I had a run in with MFI over a wardrobe I bought (2 year or so ago).

Twice they failed to deliver and then they turned up with everything but the wardrobe carcass. I refused to accept delivery (which pissed them off) as I am not an extension of MFI's warehouse and if the doors etc were damaged whilst in my possession it would be my liability.

Following this I went to the local store and passed on my disappointment to the manager....after some 30 minutes of discussion I was given a firm date for the delivery of a complete set of items (MFi ship, carcass, doors, trim , insert all separately as they are made of component parts) and also had the cost of the main wardrobe refunded (some 200 quid).

I did follow this up in writing to the head office and included the full details including praise for the store manager who dealt with the issue efficiently and effectively. Praise where praise is due....

We in the UK do NOT complain enough.....

[Allenm]

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.  

Funny you should mention that....I had a run in with MFI over a wardrobe I bought (2 year or so ago).

Twice they failed to deliver and then they turned up with everything but the wardrobe carcass. I refused to accept delivery (which pissed them off) as I am not an extension of MFI's warehouse and if the doors etc were damaged whilst in my possession it would be my liability.

Following this I went to the local store and passed on my disappointment to the manager....after some 30 minutes of discussion I was given a firm date for the delivery of a complete set of items (MFi ship, carcass, doors, trim , insert all separately as they are made of component parts) and also had the cost of the main wardrobe refunded (some 200 quid).

I did follow this up in writing to the head office and included the full details including praise for the store manager who dealt with the issue efficiently and effectively. Praise where praise is due....

We in the UK do NOT complain enough.....

You've got that right.  Don't complain enough ... and even worse, pay full price for things !!!!