Where do you receive the best customer service?

Booths
My local Costa
A few local independent coffee shops
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Locally our dentist, if I go on my own the receptionist asks after my husband and kids which I like
Also our library, I'm a frequent user and we always have a chat. It's a community library so I'm keen to keep it going.

My local Starbucks has a lovely friendly lady there who makes everyone feel.welcome, as does our local independent coffee shop. Next I find great and also the local farm shop. JD sports is my worst on the flipside, they act like they are doing you a favour selling you a £150 pair of trainers, same with sports direct, they huff about being asked for certain sizes of things

Thank you, neighbour !

I just want to preface this by saying I'm not a regular at Greggs (honest) and go because I get free coffee with the 02 Priority app. However, every time I go in they are so happy and friendly I always come out feeling really chirpy.

Also every time I've ever been to Timpsons their customer service is excellent. Once they fixed a watch strap without charging so DH bought them some doughnuts he was so impressed

We now travel an hour to a butcher in a small village who have the best produce, deals and staff. I think most people in a drive able distance use them.

Last time I was in I seen a traffic warden approaching my abandoned car 🙈 (like I say small village+lots of people= parking chaos) the butcher sent me out to move my car then came and found me carrying all my bags/boxes of heavy goods.

Air Canada, due to some cricumstances I had to drop a leg of a prebooked flight. I called and fully exepcted to take the cost of changes and cancellation on the chin. The amazing lady on the other end of the phone, waivered the fee to change the ticket, moved the 2nd leg forward by two days and got me a refund for the first leg. She was so incredibly kind and understanding. 5* review from me.

Every B&M I have ever been in have lovely friendly staff, even when they are really busy. Always a smile and a little chat, ( mainly about my multiple bars of Caramac. Don't judge.)
Their staff training is brilliant, and I did e mail their head office to let them know how exceptional their staff are.

Octopus energy
My dentist
Marks and Spencer - they seemed to go through a period of being staffed by ladies in their 50's and over who didn't give a shit but more recently the demographic in my closest one has changed and they are all really helpful.

Waves at @VacuumPacked I also live in Thame and agree.

Lovely helpful chap in my next nearest post office on Saturday morning 😊

The best: Amazon. In my experience they go above and beyond and I don't even need to get out of bed 🤗
The absolute worst for years and years now? Tesco Extra. Can only speak for my own Customer service staff always chatting in a group with their back to you. Make you feel like you are interrupting their fun.

The Saturday staff are usually good, but this week it was a rude girl who very obviously wished she was anywhere else 😬
Have been that girl though (in another shop) so I have empathy somewhat..

M&S. Their services Just Work, and when I need to return or have a query it’s seamless. TBH I prefer dealing with a well oiled system with a human back up as necessary, rather than human first.

My dentist!

When I got my first job in BHS 20+ years ago, they drilled you on manners, service skills and smart presentation, so neat hair etc. This was to anyone be they the Saturday kids on 6 hour contracts, or their full time store managers. Now, retail is so desperate for staff, they'll stick anyone in a name tag on minimum wage & manners/service aren't considered skills.

However, my local Waitrose staff are wonderful, B&M locally are also pretty good and we have a lovely independent farm shop where all of the people onsite are lovely people and incredibly knowledgeable about their products.

I always find Argos really good. Actual people answer the phone and they sort out returns/issues very efficiently. Premier Inn also very efficient/friendly, never had a fuckup there.

Local fishmongers and butchers. Great range of products, very knowledgeable, always cheerful and busy. They are both real assets to the area.

Wrens Butchers, in Thame - quality product, knowledgeable good humoured pleasant all male butchers/staff, paper carrier bags, receipts, advice

Thame House dentists, all female staff, efficient, up to date, patient, excellent service

Thame Library, a quiet haven with helpful staff, in a civilised town.

Amazon - faultless around here, speedy, & efficient

doing their best in a sea of mediocrity - looking at you Sainsbury, Waitrose and Robert Dyas, Lloyds Bank, Glynswood Art Supplies