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

[Bridewel1]

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.

@Funkypolar

My local Co-op has really rude staff. When lockdown was first started, I remember them shouting at customers to stand on the floor markers to queue to pay. Everybody was. One cashier then said we were all a load of “thicko muppets” to her colleague. 🤷🏻‍♀️

I said hello and thanks to the cashier and she just grunted at me.

I am always polite to retail staff, follow instructions etc and appreciate the job they do but since Covid, a few of them have become pretty rude.

My local coop is the same. I was having a bad day in the nearby Sainsbury’s local and the lady there was so nice to me. I thanked her and said how much nicer she / the staff are in Sainsbury’s and she showed her disgust at how nasty some of the coop staff are. I have only met one nice member there and she was really sweet with dd. One particular woman is vile to women but flirts like crazy with men. Shocking.

I do wonder if this is a reflection on how staff are treated.

Having worked in retail, I do try to see things from the staff POV.

@Isitreally77

I remember going to M&S for a suit for an interview once(a rather large store too). I didn't see any out on the shop floor so I asked someone and she said we don't have them in store only online. Why?! I walked out and went to Next and bought one. Some staff are lovely some aren't but that's the same in most shops.

How does this make a difference to the way staff are? The person you asked couldn't do anything if they only do it online? They told you that and that's all they could do?

Reverse or troll

The cubicle incident is awful! With the food trolley incidents, the staff member could have explained in a nicer way unless you’re just sensitive. However, you already knew that customers had to wait until it was on the shelf so I don’t know why you did it again.

I'm utterly amazed by M&S at the moment - before
Christmas it was absolutely rammed full of people the three times we went to our local one, literally BOILING hot, no breeze or ventilation, literally Covid central - hideous!

When I left the building the man at the door opened it and closed it really quickly behind me - idiots

The cubicle incident is awful!
I agree they shouldn't come in.when someone is undressed, but the staff didn't know, did they. There are people who go to toilet theere, others stuff things into their bags. There is a reason for the counting and minding of the changing rooms👀 actually number of really disgusting reasons

Not in M&S so far, but two or three other shops. When I’m in a shop I look for any signs or floor markings to see if there’s a one way system, or where the queue is etc. But sometimes it isn’t obvious. I’ve been snapped at a few times by staff who could have said politely, “Actually the queue is over there” or whatever. I just don’t go back, there are plenty of other shops. I really dislike rudeness.

There's nothing worse than a bargain hunter when you are trying to do reductions. We put it all on a trolley, take it out the back to sticker it and then put it in the reduction bay and stand back and watch the carnage unfold. Actually there is something worse, the person who thinks I have control over how much to reduce items by, but that's another story.....

I wouldn't be surprised if they go under in the next five years. Their packing of online orders is atrocious. Ordered from Boden and John Lewis all beautifully packed. M& S a crumpled mess.

You 👏 don’t 👏 know 👏 what 👏 clap 👏 teir 👏 the 👏 OP 👏 is 👏 in. Hth

@Edith12 Oh hang on, I did preface that point a few posts back by saying if she was in anything from Tier 3 she ought not to be shopping for clothes.

No one should be out shopping for clothes anyway- it's a pandemic. It's not essential and if it is, go online.

What are all your weird clap emojis about?

I wouldn't be surprised if they go under in the next five years. Their packing of online orders is atrocious.

Yes, the history of retail is littered with stories of business ‘going under’ because they don’t pack online orders beautifully.

Somebody should warn ASOS and Boohoo.com.

@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. 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.

It's obviously not just elephants that never forget! An incident years ago when you were a teenager? A bit like girl leaving inYear 11 who can recall in great, embroidered detail, when I told her off in Year 7 We all need to realise that ppolicies apply to everyone except Moi, the exception that proves the rule.

You are allowed to shop for non-essentials in Tier 3. It must be very tiresome creating extra rules on top of all the actual rules.

@custardbear

I'm utterly amazed by M&S at the moment - before Christmas it was absolutely rammed full of people the three times we went to our local one, literally BOILING hot, no breeze or ventilation, literally Covid central - hideous!

When I left the building the man at the door opened it and closed it really quickly behind me - idiots

Yet in Summer shops have air conditioning yet keep the doors open!

@SchrodingersImmigrant

Let me just add that I also tried to stuff my fat arse into small jeans😂 But i didn't end up shouting at anyone like that women there at the time👀

Same! I'd initially thought this staff shouldn’t be challenging customers who don’t keep to the rules. Was a typo by Edith, then read the rest of their posts!

Now thats a wrong quote from me! Meant to quote this! *slashlover

I find it a tad strange that Edith12 has posted 26 times in a thread of 158 posts and has ONLY posted in this thread

So strange isn’t it*

I wondered 😂😂😂

You sound like you have a chip on your shoulder. Take a chill pill and stop being so sensitive

M and S clothes are absolutely appalling.

I don’t find shops as a whole have rude staff, some people who work in shops are rude and some are lovely, same as anywhere else.

My pet peeve is staff on tills who are serving someone they know, and they continue to chatter away to their friend long after they’ve finished the sale, leaving a queue of people standing about while they catch up about people they know and what they’re up to. It happened in B&M last week. I like Aldi for that reason, they never do it there But I’ve also been served by a lovely lady in B&M who went out of her way to help me find something.

I have an idea. Get a job there for a day and then come back and tell us all about it. My lovely friend worked in M&S for a while and had to leave. She said the customers were SO rude! I try to avoid it personally. Not all obviously but a fair few entitled folks

I've only shopped there a few times. I personally find the staff okay. However you speak as you find. It seems on here though M&S is one of those shops you can't criticize. Is it because its a middle class shop. I wonder if the replies would have been different had you came on having a pop at Primark. Although I do agree with posters when they say why do you keep going there. Surely their stock can't be that irresistible.

@thistimeofyear

I have an idea. Get a job there for a day and then come back and tell us all about it. My lovely friend worked in M&S for a while and had to leave. She said the customers were SO rude! I try to avoid it personally. Not all obviously but a fair few entitled folks

The difference is the staff are paid to be professional and polite.

I worked in a supermarket when I was in school. Some extremely rude customers - but you just smile and nod and ignore them.

We would have got an absolute bollocking had we spoken to customers the way some staff in my local Mark’s and Spencer’s speak to customers.