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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:
donnager · 29/12/2020 12:16

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. I looked around for staff and no staff and I just gave my mum the dress only to be shouted at across the store. Why didn't this staff just come around when I was looking for her? I totally agree, some of the staff there can be unpleasant. Some people would say you should follow rules and the etiquette, what rules though and what etiquette? What if I can't read? What if I'm not aware and in this case what if there's no staff to mind the cubicles? Just because you have shit management doesn't mean you should take your anger out on customers, take it out on your manager for not providing you with enough support. A few years ago I was in the queue and an old lady couldn't find her purse and clearly misplaced it and all I can see is eyes rolling between staff and huffing and puffing. M&S is ok if you're using self check out and don't have to ask anything to the staff.

LittleBearPad · 29/12/2020 12:17

[quote LoveNote]@Edith12 how, exactly,were they rude? and does op know whats going on in the staffs lives whilst shes there touching everything buying her none essential items?[/quote]
Contributing to M&S revenue.

Come off it! M&S desperately need people to buy non-essential stuff.

catx1606 · 29/12/2020 12:17

I worked in retail and there is nothing worse than customers looking through reduced goods before they were even ready to go on the shelf. I remember working through a rail of clothes when I had no work on a jewelery counter at a supermarket . I went for my break and put the rail in the enclosed area of the counter where customers weren't allowed to go and they were still trying to lean over to reach for the clothes. A little bit of patience wouldn't have hurt.

Jenasaurus · 29/12/2020 12:18

For context, I went to M&S on 23rd December, was greeted cheerfully and politely by the man at the entrance of the click and collect door, paid and had a lovely socially distanced chat with the cashier, who was apologetic about the trolleys not being available. I think it depends which store you visit, but mine are all hepful and lovely and dealing with a store full of customers during a Pandemic. It could be your store that has employed rude staff :)

Edith12 · 29/12/2020 12:18

taken off down aisles and waited on!!

How emotive and unhelpful I guess you are just one of those people who has a complex.

Illberidingshotgun · 29/12/2020 12:19

Our local store is lovely, but every shop will vary I guess.

First step - stop shopping there if it upsets you. They don't do anything that you can't get elsewhere.

Second step - put all this in a letter or email to the store manager. If others have also complained then there may be a pattern of behaviour that needs addressing. At least then you will know that you have done all you can to try and improve the shopping experience for others.

WorraLiberty · 29/12/2020 12:20

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Edith12 · 29/12/2020 12:20

Agree about writing a letter it’s fascinating to me how the “staff mental health” crowd using mental health as an excuse for rudeness and being obtuse don’t seem to have a care in the world for customers mental health

Belladonna12 · 29/12/2020 12:21

I've never noticed this. To be honest, if everybody appears to be rudely telling you off it is perhaps you that is a problem....

Edith12 · 29/12/2020 12:21

Not that mental health is unimportant but it works both ways

LeaveMyDamnJam · 29/12/2020 12:21

Many many years ago, when I was a student I worked in M&S on a Saturday. We all knew the ‘challenging’ customers as they were regulars. We had special names for many of them. 😉

Edith12 · 29/12/2020 12:22

@LeaveMyDamnJam

Many many years ago, when I was a student I worked in M&S on a Saturday. We all knew the ‘challenging’ customers as they were regulars. We had special names for many of them. 😉
Workplace professionalism at its finest.
Plussizejumpsuit · 29/12/2020 12:23

I feel retail staff have had a rough time during the pandemic. But I've had a selection of shit experiences in m&s over tha past year or so. One where somone in the sled checkout basically accused me of trying to steal because she wasn't familiar with new products on the bakery. However I've worked in retail in a similar shop (Waitrose). It's hard work and I can't imagine the stress. So unless somone is really rude I just move on. However I definitely think m&s don't provide excellent customer service, if they ever did.

Edith12 · 29/12/2020 12:25

@Plussizejumpsuit

I feel retail staff have had a rough time during the pandemic. But I've had a selection of shit experiences in m&s over tha past year or so. One where somone in the sled checkout basically accused me of trying to steal because she wasn't familiar with new products on the bakery. However I've worked in retail in a similar shop (Waitrose). It's hard work and I can't imagine the stress. So unless somone is really rude I just move on. However I definitely think m&s don't provide excellent customer service, if they ever did.
I would agree with this but it works both ways it seems that staff don’t even think of their customers as human but customers are expecting to cowtow to any sort of bad treatment and ignore any rudeness of abuse no matter how bad
LoveNote · 29/12/2020 12:25

@Edith12

taken off down aisles and waited on!!

How emotive and unhelpful I guess you are just one of those people who has a complex.

complex about what? unhelpful?? sorry love but the virus doesn't care about that....its about lessening chances of catching it and taking it home to my family. customers want to come in to shop then they need to be prepared to help themselves rather than try to trap staff down aisles with endless questions
annevonkleve · 29/12/2020 12:25

I think some M&S stores have some peculiar policies at the moment.

As an example, my local store is just a food store but you can do click and collect. The other day I went there to buy some food and I couldn't go in because all the click and collect people were inside the shop. I would have thought it would make more sense for click and collect people to wait outside, and those who want food to go inside.

Even better is the policy at the Willows store just outside Torquay where they have the queue for the food section inside rather than outside (apparently due to people not wanting to wait outside in the cold). I am not sure an inside queue is very sensible - but even better, if you go in, see the queue is massive and decide not to bother and want to go back out, you can't - because of the one way system. Apparently if you try they shout at you over the tannoy. Not that I would let that put me off, but really!

However, most stupid retail policies come from HQ rather than the staff, so don't give the staff a hard time.

LoveNote · 29/12/2020 12:26

so...wheres the op gone??

MacDuffsMuff · 29/12/2020 12:26

Never had any issues at all in any M & S I've been in and I regularly shop in 3 different stores. I think it might be you OP.

Plussizejumpsuit · 29/12/2020 12:26

@Becca19962014

I need to get meds daily, you wouldn't believe the way I've seen staff in that store treated by customers. Twice I've witnessed customers coughing at staff and then saying they've given them covid. Customers stealing from the stock baskets before its put out and then complaining it won't go through the till. Demanding the same price they saw online/Amazon. I've been pushed over twice for refusing to go into a packed store and being silly queueing. I've had more than one person tell me they're more ill than I am so don't need to queue.

Today people were arguing with staff because their meds, which they'd not collected before the only other pharmacy permanently closed, were not there - the other pharmacy having very clearly said if not collected by 24th meds would be destroyed. No more home deliveries as they've too many customers now (no replacement for other pharmacy) so people having a go about that too.

And they've now lost half their staff due to sheilding.

Honestly I don't know how they do it.

I actually bought them two tubs of chocs and a thank you card.

If they don't remind you of covid rules they risk being closed. Our council have been sending people into stores to delibrately disobey rules to see if they're corrected or not.

Is this in m&s?!
Edith12 · 29/12/2020 12:27

complex about what? unhelpful?? sorry love but the virus doesn't care about that....its about lessening chances of catching it and taking it home to my family. customers want to come in to shop then they need to be prepared to help themselves rather than try to trap staff down aisles with endless questions

Complex in that you seems so emotional and upset about any challenging of perfect retail staff. I fail to see what difference it makes as the customers and staff should be social distancing. Sorry this thread has upset you.

AliTheMinx · 29/12/2020 12:28

M&S staff are always super polite and helpful in my experience. The ones at our M&S Foodhall are exemplary.

Edith12 · 29/12/2020 12:28

@AliTheMinx

M&S staff are always super polite and helpful in my experience. The ones at our M&S Foodhall are exemplary.
That’s as it should be.
DuchessofDerbyshire · 29/12/2020 12:29

I don't know how recent these outings were, but given most of the UK is in Tier 4 or 3 @Bridewel1, we are supposed to only shop for essentials.

Why don't you shop online and get the items delivered then you can stay safe and we all can too.

LoveNote · 29/12/2020 12:29

@Edith12

complex about what? unhelpful?? sorry love but the virus doesn't care about that....its about lessening chances of catching it and taking it home to my family. customers want to come in to shop then they need to be prepared to help themselves rather than try to trap staff down aisles with endless questions

Complex in that you seems so emotional and upset about any challenging of perfect retail staff. I fail to see what difference it makes as the customers and staff should be social distancing. Sorry this thread has upset you.

lol upset? nah not upset me AT ALL...but people do need to be corrected from time to time on mumsnet. i find it hilarious
Nomorepies · 29/12/2020 12:30

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