Where do you receive the best customer service?

[SheSaidHummingbird]

Inspired by a few threads. Not really a 'shopping' dilemma so don't think this belongs in that topic but happy for this thread to be moved.

Where do you feel that you experience the most kind/ supportive/ polite/ attentive/ mood-boosting in-person customer service? Could be from anywere: shops, salon, bank, pub etc. Anywhere that you are a customer, client, service user.

And what makes you feel that the service is great?

For me, it's the library. I always come away feeling really good, I'm asked how I am, how has my week been, or I am helped with something on my phone or the computer that has been worrying me all week, or simply having spoken to a kind-hearted person.

Please share yours!

Timpsons are always polite, helpful and cheerful. And fairly often do things for free.

First Direct always pick up the phone and does their best, though sometimes a bit more knowledge to go with the positive attitude would be good.

The Volvo dealership at York. We drive 3 hours to take our car there as both our more local dealerships are crap. York staff are awesome.

Yep, have to agree, never been disappointed or had any problems with aTimpsons and we’ve used a few in different places.

Argos in Crosby, Liverpool, where I collect my Tu orders. Any problems when confusingly my account wasn’t associated with my order were resolved after extensive help. Wonderful. The service is unswervingly friendly and impressively efficient. Before I’ve driven home refunds are being processed (take note other retailers). In Argos I trust.

Octopus energy are really excellent even if their ads are shockingly awful 🤣

Amazon are always very fair and Costco good.

Local places like independent butcher where you'll get knowledgeable, interested, helpful staff.

I think with big retail then in store it depends who you get. Online they're following a script and generally don't have a clue that's if you can understand what they are saying.

I always used to buy through John Lewis because even if they were a bit more expensive their customer service was excellent however it's gone really downhill so now I shop around.

Pandora over the weekend. Every member of staff made my daughter feel so special. They were all late teens / early 20s but so kind and warm.

First Direct bank. I'm never disappointed when I have to speak to them.

I've also received fantastic customer service over WhatsApp from Churchill recently. It's was quick, easy, to the point, super helpful, and I had a written record of everything that I said and they committed to.

The reception team at my GP surgery are incredible. Helpful friendly and patient.

Timpsons for me too. I very rarely have to go in, but the staff remember what they've done for me in the past and check everything is still okay. I think they must be one of the few retail employers who don't just use a box-ticking exercise when they recruit, and invest in training and development of staff they can see the potential in. I'm sure I've read they often give ex-offenders a chance, which I'm all for.

Which has reminded me of another shop which isn't a standard charity shop (they sell only new, branded items, mainly M&S), but they run with the purpose of helping ex-offenders get back to living normally. I don't know which of the staff fall into that category, but they're all always very helpful and polite, and take their time to serve customers properly - two staff on each counter, one concentrating on the till and the other packing and chatting. It's called Rebuild for Hope or something.

It's from more 'one man/woman band' shops - you know, where the owner is likely to be there. Obviously they are much more invested in you having a satisfying experience. In big chains so often the shop floor staff have very little control over what they can do to fix an issue.
Warren Evans though did actually come through and changed their advertising tag line after dealing with my husband!
My absolute worse was Magnet in the 1980s. I took it to the top and still got little satisfaction.

Next
Waitrose

Whoa!!! They have Caramac? Ohhhhhhhhhhhh

Mum’s care home, maybe. Those women are so kind, to me as well as mum.

Oliver Bonas had cheery, helpful members of staff in two branches recently.

Special shout out to the lady in next when my little girl was kicking off at the weekend I've just lost my dad and was getting very flustered with everything- she had some a warm way of saying "it's so hard isn't it" (can't remember her exact words) she was likely old enough to be a grandma now but she was so kind even though it was busy and it felt like she actually remembered these days (only reason I mentioned her age - I thought god I wish you were my mum remembering the hard days and a next discount too 😆)

Octopus
The Euronics shop in Bishops Waltham
Ultraplan Kitchens (independent and local to me) - so patient and helpful

Online - cultpens are amazing as are hobonichi (I love stationery). Slightly reluctant to admit it but Amazon have always been very good

In person - the coffee stand at Norbiton Station is staffed by the two nicest people in the world, if it gets taken over by Costa or something I will cry.

Received good service at a local furniture store. Only a lamp but the lady put the bulbs in first to see which looked best. I then forgot it so she rang me and came to the door with it as the store is massive.

BT are the worst. Service so dreadful and stressful over the phone words cannot describe it. Overcharging so badly, putting me on hold x5 .

Proper Openreach engineer was good and hardworking but the earlier contractor was terrible, beyond bad. I worry about dealing with them.

A park near us has a brilliant cafe with the loveliest staff... always friendly and the food is great and not too expensive

On my nearest high street I have to say The Works...the staff in there are always so nice.

I always think Holland and Barrett has good customer service too...the staff are really helpful

Agree with Octopus and Waitrose, and would also request confirmation re Caramac in B&M @Tooty78 😍

A bit niche, but the kiosk in Moorgate station where they repair shoes and watches. They reheeled my expensive boots in less than a day and for under twenty quid, and fixed my popped-out watch bracelet for free in seconds 😊

Amazon and my dentists.

worst is John Lewis, I have a personal boycott against them now after an awful customer service experience that went on for months and just a whole variety of rude people.

Independent yarn shops. Anything from a big wool purchase to a query about a pattern gone wrong to just looking. Interested, involved, kind, expert.

Most places in Japan. Now that's not the UK of course haha, but we came back and it really drove home how customer service has badly slipped here. And how dirty the streets are here. And how rude the British public can be.. Japan isn't a utopia though, they have their own issues too of course.

What I don't "get" is why the service standard in different branches of the same chain store can be so different. Staff at our nearest big Tesco are absolutely wonderful, really friendly and helpful, yet, we've had horrendous experiences at other Tesco stores, not just with one odd staff member, but several in the same branch. But presumably, they're paid the same, doing the same job, etc., so why such a difference? I just don't get it at all. Is it poor local management, trouble recruiting "decent" people in some places, or what?

Like I said upthread about the York Volvo dealership. Again, I presume they have to abide to the same customer service standards via feedback, mystery shoppers, etc., the same training courses, same uniform and dress code, etc., but the service from York staff is literally chalk and cheese compared with the customer facing staff at our two nearer Volvo dealerships, some of whom are barely coherent and incredibly rude and unhelpful.

I'd have expected pretty consistent standards from different branches of chain stores and major franchises.

Also, I hate to say it, but eBay and Amazon. If there's a problem, nine times out of ten you can sort it. A lot of smaller businesses make it so difficult to remedy issues that I find my self, against my better judgement, using the "big two".