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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU To be annoyed at the way M&S staff treat their customers.

366 replies

Bridewel1 · 29/12/2020 11:26

I regularly shop in my local M&S and there have been a number of instances where the staff have been rude when speaking to me through no fault of mine. A number of years ago whilst queuing for clothes even if there was no queue you had to wait for a member of staff to check your items (this now no longer applies). I waited no queue no member of staff to check items and empty cubicles. I got fed up waiting for member of staff so went in an available cubicle only to be confronted by a member of staff whilst half undressed a few mins later saying in a rude tone and stern expression ‘Thought there was nobody in’.
Whilst I was nosying at some food a member of staff was reducing on a trolley they piped up in a stern rude tone ‘you cannot take anything until it’s on the shelf’. 2 occasions this happened.
And during this COVID situation which I know is frustrating they told me off and shouted at me for not keeping my distance just before I’d had chance to stop within 2 metres! And recently when they’d just implemented a one way in the store and one way out. I didn’t realise this was in place and when I was heading towards the entrance to leave I was literally rudely shouted at me across the floor from quite a distance ‘you can’t go out that way’!
And the other day I’d finally decided to buy some boots I’d had my eye on and they’d none left in store. Yet next to the shoes I noticed some green stacked baskets with the boots in that I’d had my eye on that looked like they were waiting to be put out. So I asked a member of staff near by who wasn’t dealing with the shoes who said it should be ok to look in basket, so I did. Then a member of staff who was obviously dealing with the shoes noticed and came over and bit my head off saying ‘they’re not in the sale, they’re just waiting to be put out’ I explained why I was looking and she just wheeled the trolley away. So I asked a member of staff on the counter if the nearest store that i saw online that had the boots in my size would if they’d deliver as that store is a bit for for me to get to and she in a rude tone said ‘no it’s not possible, but we may get some returns in here’. I work in retail myself and I understand that stores have there own policies but that doesn’t give staff the right to be rude to customers! I’ve always been told to be chatty and pleasant when dealing with customers. As much as I love M&S I feel as though I shouldn’t be shopping there anymore! Do you feel I’ve been treated badly.

OP posts:
MemphisMum · 29/12/2020 15:39

yes i believe supermarkets are audited on covid compliance as well as have a duty of care to their staff to provide a safe work environment

customers trying to avoid the guidelines are a problem .... some do need telling how to behave. those coughing in staffs faces and telling them they have covid need prosecuting! i'm truly shocked at that

BritWifeinUSA · 29/12/2020 15:40

You work in retail, OP? Sure you do...

MillieVanilla · 29/12/2020 15:41

Vote with your feet. Shit service is shit service. Plenty of other shops available. Why pay for shit service just because it's M&S?
And before anyone bitches, covid is no excuse for rudeness. Customers are still contributing towards staff wages so should be treated with respect.

upsidedownwavylegs · 29/12/2020 16:14

Guessing you misread my post @LittleBearPad

Meepmeeep · 29/12/2020 17:03

Looks like good old Edith is indeed a troll. It’s thread about masks has been deleted due to being previously banned.

SchrodingersImmigrant · 29/12/2020 17:09

👏 to whoever spotted it first. I forgot who it was

Bluebird2021 · 29/12/2020 17:10

wel well well

a troll!! haha thats hilarious!

LittleBearPad · 29/12/2020 17:11

@upsidedownwavylegs

Guessing you misread my post *@LittleBearPad*
Well not really because my M&S is in tier 4. Still actively selling women’s clothes.
Meepmeeep · 29/12/2020 17:13

@SchrodingersImmigrant

👏 to whoever spotted it first. I forgot who it was
My first thought was she was the original poster but it’s been caught out either way!
Arthersleep · 29/12/2020 17:32

Surely this is a reverse, as no one can openly admit to being such a pain in the arse. The staff at our local M&S food are fantastic. Polite, genuine, friendly, kind and go above and beyond. But then perhaps that's because I'm nice to them too and don't place too much of a burden upon them.

Stripesnomore · 29/12/2020 17:41

Do you work in Lush OP?

Retail staff are not encouraged to be chatty with customers; we are too busy working.

I have always had good service in M&S.

lostfrequencies · 29/12/2020 17:47

You sound a real PITA

WitchQueenofDarkness · 29/12/2020 19:25

@ObliviouslyIgnorant I wear headphones in shops too especially in December to filter out the horrible "music" and the endless pushing of products. If they don't want me to wear them they can turn off the racket!

One reason I shop at Waitrose is that they don't generally inflict the Christmas music on me so I don't need them. Our local Sainsbury's was still running it's pre Christmas tapes offering the "get ready for Christmas" stuff well into January last year

vanillandhoney · 29/12/2020 19:37

Retail staff are not encouraged to be chatty with customers; we are too busy working.

I think that massively depends on the company!

I worked retail for 10 years and in my last job we were pulled up and disciplined if we didn't talk to customers.

randomer · 29/12/2020 19:55

John Lewis staff seem unable to shut up whilst doing the tissue paper thing.Different story if you need to return something.

Onedropbeat · 29/12/2020 20:00

I once queued up to buy some nickers

I took a size 12 to the till

The person behind the till said to me - ‘you do realise these are a size 12 and due to hygiene policy can’t be returned’

I mean, even if I wasnt going to fit into them I’d hardly turn around and say ‘oh silly me I’m far too fat for these I shall change them for a larger size’

Onedropbeat · 29/12/2020 20:01

That was M&S

mbosnz · 29/12/2020 20:03

It's the behaviour of the customers that causes me concern in M&S. I've had one rude staff member, but I've lost count of how many people I've seen shouting at and abusing staff, sometimes racially.

Bluebird2021 · 29/12/2020 20:03

knickers

LadyTiredWinterBottom2 · 29/12/2020 20:06

I suggest if you really feel this way, stop going there.

Onedropbeat · 29/12/2020 20:07

@Bluebird2021

knickers
Biscuit
SchrodingersImmigrant · 29/12/2020 20:22

@Onedropbeat

I once queued up to buy some nickers

I took a size 12 to the till

The person behind the till said to me - ‘you do realise these are a size 12 and due to hygiene policy can’t be returned’

I mean, even if I wasnt going to fit into them I’d hardly turn around and say ‘oh silly me I’m far too fat for these I shall change them for a larger size’

I don't think it was meant taht way. You wouldn't believe how many people try to return underwear😳 It was probably just badly said
NuniaBeeswax · 29/12/2020 20:26

I wonder what the common denominator was in all of these interactions...

InFiveMins · 29/12/2020 20:32

Sorry OP but you seem to have taken this to heart and recalling minor, trivial events from 'a number of years ago' isn't healthy. Try not to get so worked up over insignificant incidents.

FWIW the staff at my local M&S are great Grin

notherchge · 29/12/2020 20:46

donnager

I remember when I was a teenager and my mum was in the changing rooms trying on clothes way before covid and she asked for a bigger size on a dress so I went to get it. I gave it to her and this M&S staff was shouting at me because I didn't tell her and I can't just bring new items. This was before they had the number of items tag (20 years ago) and no one was there to mind the cubicles.

Holy Christ !!! I thought the OP was bad still smarting about a fitting room incident from a "few years ago" but this takes the biscuit.

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