Sunday shopping

[Pete]

Just been into town with daughter number one and was appalled at the lack of service. If they are going to open, have enough staff. If they can't afford the staff, why open?

I must admit I don't queue easily, but we had to queue in Boots as there was no one to help us with a hay fever question - involved three people buying stuff before we got any attention - and then the shop assistant had to leave the check-out to sort us.

Same story at M&S, except people were leaving the queue (one young lad serving everyone) rather than a 10 minute wait...

Rubbish!

[Big Dave]

We also went into town earlier Pete and also into M&S (two pairs of shorts for me, pair of sandals for O/H). There was no queue to pay and the young lad (upstairs near the cafe) was quick and efficient - guess you were just unlucky.

The service in Boots is appalling; always a half hour wait for prescriptions, even if you go in just after opening so we don't shop there for anything now - their loss, not ours.

[Pete]

You must have been up early Dave.

[Big Dave]

On a Sunday, no way - the time on the M&S receipt is 11.12am.

[Pete]

As I said... 

[Alsatian]

Trouble is that some of the shops (M&S used to be one of those) employ people specifically to work Sundays, plus perhaps a few extra hours on other days. The problem in doing this is that the staff aren't as efficient as someone who is there for 40ish hours a week.

[Old Cruser]

I never did agree with the Sunday opening for shops, the staff get little holiday breaks as it is (was) so will avoid if at all possible.

[Scimitar]

I never did agree with the Sunday opening for shops, the staff get little holiday breaks as it is (was) so will avoid if at all possible.

  I'm with you on that one OC.
If you can't buy what you want in the 6 days of the week (especially as Tesco is 24 hrs), then I give Sundays a miss.

[Big Dave]

I never did agree with the Sunday opening for shops, the staff get little holiday breaks as it is (was) so will avoid if at all possible.

But, as Alsatian writes, they employ Sunday staff who don't work during the week - the weekday staff have Sundays off. The young chap in M&S this morning was fast, efficient and polite - unlike some full-time shop staff who think that working in a publically accessible place means they can chat with thier friends and ignore customers.

I was in a PC World once and, fed up with bring ignored by the staff, I phoned the store and on hearing the phone ring, watched a member of staff answer it and told them to look across at the chap who was waving to them. In the end I had the store manager attending me and staff holding the door open and carrying my purchase to my car and a "Well done mate." from another shopper.

[Pete]

Nice one Dave - with you all the way.

[Alsatian]

I was in a PC World once and, fed up with bring ignored by the staff, I phoned the store and on hearing the phone ring, watched a member of staff answer it and told them to look across at the chap who was waving to them. In the end I had the store manager attending me and staff holding the door open and carrying my purchase to my car and a "Well done mate." from another shopper.

Love it!  )

[Alsatian]

unlike some full-time shop staff who think that working in a publically accessible place means they can chat with thier friends and ignore customers.

Of course the other side of the coin are the ignorant customers who regard shop workers as the lowest of the low and speak to them as if they are a piece of sh1t. 

I was once on the order desk @ M&S when a lady (who came from Bakewell) came up and asked me to order an item for her. I apologised and said it was no longer in stock and that I was therefore unable to order it for her. Her reply was "well what are you going to do about it, I thought this was MY M&S (as per the then tv adverts)?" 

On the other hand we also had a lot of very nice customers 

[Big Dave]

I've worked in retail too - worst customers were teachers and farmers. The first had no idea how the real world worked and the second were always asking for maximum discount and then some more but they always paid cash.

Worst customer ever was a chap who had appalling BO, he cleared the shop as soon as he walked in. I had to ask him to leave as he was so smelly - it was making me feel sick, it was so bad.

[Alsatian]

Worst customer ever was a chap who had appalling BO, he cleared the shop as soon as he walked in. I had to ask him to leave as he was so smelly - it was making me feel sick, it was so bad.

M&S used to have a female customer who was the same, she was a lovely person - she just stunk.

People in a queue behind her would very often drop their purchases and leave, it was best when young kids were in the queue and they would ask what that awful smell was!! 

[Scimitar]

Many years ago I worked for "the largest Building Society in the World" on Knifesmithgate. We had corporate uniforms, suit and tie etc. You go in to M&S to buy a sandwich, get a tap on your shoulder, and a wrinkly asks you where the chicken legs are?
Still attached to the chicken hopefully-she didn't see the funny side and asked for the name of my manager- which I gave her freely cos I was with the Halifax, and she thought I was with M&S!
Happy Days )