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Original poster

Which local shops have the worst customer service?

31 replies

knittingmum · 09/10/2008 19:21

Just because I was thinking about this today on my daily outing around Crouch End. I'm getting really fed up with certain shops in the area that leave me resenting spending any money in them. I'm talking about ignoring customers, chatting to other staff whilst ringing your goods through the till etc....You'd think that these days they'd be wanting to hang on to their customers.
Who have you found to be the worst culprits and for what reasons???
Go on, have a rant......

OP posts:

wobbegong · 09/10/2008 19:57

You're thinking of Budgens, yes? I can only assume that all of the staff are incredibly badly paid, and therefore utterly miserable.

But also the photography shop on the corner opposite Monkey Nuts. The owner was standing around having a massive bitch about the lack of customers, leases going up, lack of business, who was going bust etc. etc. and completely ignoring her actual living customer standing at the till!

I had service with a snarl today in Dunns too.

Now come on, who are you thinking of?

Original poster

knittingmum · 09/10/2008 20:41

Ah Budgens! Yes, they are generally pretty bad in there aren't they.
My particular dislike is they Haelen Centre by the clock tower. I've stopped going in there now. On several occasions I have had to ask staff to move baskets, boxes etc out of the way to get the pram in there (its not huge is it) and they've looked at me like I'm a piece of dirt, said nothing and very begrudgingly helped. They always ignore me when I'm paying and carry on conversations with each other, just holding out a hand for payment. I started to come out of that shop feeling like cr*p, so I've taken my business elsewhere.

humph!

OP posts:

wobbegong · 09/10/2008 20:50

Oh noooooooo, you must have bad luck. Some are lovely. Just today the checkout girl played peekaboo with DD in her buggy as I nipped upstairs for some nappies. I could hear DD laughing as I came back down ths stairs.

You haven't taken your business to that posho Planet Organic in Muswell Hill have you?

elkiedee · 12/10/2008 22:18

I've never been in either shop in Crouch End - the only place where customer service has left me deciding never to go back was a cafe whose name I sadly can't remember near Priory Park - think it might be on Middle Lane. It looked like the full menu might have included some nice things as well, but...

They do have a highchair but they insisted for "fire regulations" that we folded up ds's buggy and put it outside the door. The cafe wasn't full but we were put on a table which had a lot of space near it taken up by fire extinguishers.

We generally go to Cafe Solo at the top end of Park Road (near to the Clocktower etc) - always happy to welcome our custom and that of our crazy toddler - the first time we went there with him perhaps about 16 months ago they helped rearrange things to make space for his enormous pram near the front of the cafe. Their prices are quite good value too. And they have several highchairs.

cmcloughlin · 31/10/2008 13:46

Red Shoes is always a trial - unfortunatley there aren't that many baby shoe shops in CE. They leave you waiting for hours (30 mins last time), and then take real pride in telling you the shoes your child is wearing will cripple them for life! On a positive note, the shoes are lovely just v expensive!

cmcloughlin · 31/10/2008 13:46

Maenad · 12/11/2008 13:41

Oh, no - there are some lovely people working in Budgens! They're always really smiley and chatty. And one lady in particular was incredibly kind when I was pregnant and came over all faint in the shop.

Sadly I see that Cafe Solo has closed down and will be reopening under new management.

elkiedee · 12/11/2008 13:47

That's sad news Maenad re Cafe Solo

Turniphead1 · 10/12/2008 06:55

Ever been in Indish modern designer home accessories on Tottenham Lane? Wow - are they up their own ar*es. SOOO rude and snotty. My sister, who doesn't live here - went in (I had said nothing to her beforehand) and immediately commented how uppity and unhelpful they are.

My hope is that the credit crunch will sort this sort of attitude out

MinkyBorage · 11/12/2008 16:38

You must walk around with an enormous chip on your shoulder if you find the staff in the Haelan centre or Budgens rude. The Haelan centre staff are particularly lovely, and you should not need to move the baskets out of the way to park your buggy, there is loads of room. The photography shop people are lovely too.

MinkyBorage · 11/12/2008 16:39

I'll agree with you on Indish though, they are grumpy. I'm sure they are nice if you spend enough, but I am yet to meet that level.

Turniphead1 · 11/12/2008 20:27

Oh Minky don't worry. The Indish people are rude even when you do spend lots of money there. Don't see why one is deemed to have a chip on your shoulder to find the Haelen Centre people rude. That's knittingmum's experience. I find they are OKish but no especially helpful and they do spend an awful lot of time chatting instead of trying to help.

People who are lovely - most of the waiting staff in Monkeynuts. They are really helpful about my DD's allergies. Banners however can be unpredictable. Friendly one day, arsey the next.

katherinejane · 12/12/2008 14:15

oh - hurrah! Not just me then who thinks the bird in Indish is a bitch from hell. You can feel her eyes burning the back of your neck - look lady like I'm about to nick half her shop

I do love to go in there, and get my five year old to muddle some stuff up.

greenday · 12/12/2008 14:46

On a seperate not, for all you crouch enders, what happened to cafe naturel?? It opened and closed very quickly.

I find the staff at that Italian place (by the green), cafe spiazzo(?) either erratic in their service and 'duh!' at times.

greenday · 12/12/2008 14:48

My take on Muswell Hill - the kebab restaurant, Kilim, has a staff there that has such a grouchy face he immediately makes you feel unwelcomed at the door.

EssieW · 12/12/2008 15:00

Indish are awful. Don't go in there on principle now.

But Budgens staff are mostly lovely (there's one who seems as though she' couldn't care less though) - they always smile and say something to DS.

Dunn's - great bread and cakes, but service is often grumpy. I also resent having to move across the shop to be served because they can't be bothered to walk to me.

There is not loads of room in the Haelan centre - I only go in there with DS if he is in a carrier. Staff are generally OK though...

Agree with Spiazzo comment though.

DaDingDaDongDaMerrilyOnHigh · 12/12/2008 15:44

Yup, I also resent spending money in Indish. Just as well they only sell useless tat really.

How about the legendarily grumpy bloke in the flower shop next to (what used to be) Florians? What an arse! The blokes that run Cult are also a pair of cults.

Best waiting staff are in O's or the Belash. Oh, and old Mrs Rhoda is lovely.

suzywong · 12/12/2008 16:01

oh Crouch End shops! Trip down memory lane
tell me, is the gorgeous Greek Cypriot Greengrocer with the bald head still there a couple of shops up to Islington from Budgens? Next to Purkissssss's? I loved him.

I never went in Indish on the money for Old rope principle

I wouldsay the miserable old bastard in Leonidas in Highgate village must be pretty high up there

and as for Budgens as it used to be 4 years ago before it got a makeover, I was prompted to write to head office about the curmudgeonly surly service

Bunch of miserable c in Eurpa in Highgate and all, but isn't that a Tesco Express now, daylight robbers they were and all

I often dream about shopping in Crouchy, I used to do it all the time for my job when I catered at The Church studios opposite The World Cafe many moons ago.

Does anyone remember Mr Trebus and his palace of trash?

SparkyFartDust · 12/12/2008 16:15

EssieW · 12/12/2008 18:43

Yep the greengrocers are still there!

Also remember Mr Trebus - lived opposite him on crouch hill. He quite often used to raid our rubbish

MinkyBorage · 12/12/2008 18:50

oh bless Mr Trebus. Poor old thing! lol that he used to raid your rubbish EssieW.

suzywong, yes the grocer is still there, are you thinking about the tall younger (40 ish) guy?

Turniphead1 · 12/12/2008 18:55

I only ever saw Mr Tebus on TV in Life of Grime. Didn't realise at the time he was just round the corner. God rest his soul.

I have always found that the man in the Flower Shop is nice - but think there is one nice one and one not nice one.

Now powder how is that for a shop to make you feel like sh*t...Sometimes the girls are nice, sometimes the girls look at you like something their cat vomitted up. One thing you can depend on...crazy prices!

suzywong · 13/12/2008 09:57

I saw mr Trebus in action, I thought he as a dear old chap and wondered why no one was helping him lift his suitcase (of newspapers) on to the pavement so I stopped to offer a hand when some passer by advised me to "Leave the old bastard to it, he costs the council 30k a year to clear up his mess>

yes, the about 40ish bald with a moustache green grocer .......

Original poster

knittingmum · 02/01/2009 15:21

oh and as for the service in red shoes.... Why is that woman sooo aggressive? I will never buy anything in there. She has no manners!

OP posts:

Looby4 · 03/01/2009 22:33

Hate Red Shoes as well. It's impossible to fit children for shoes when they have those scuttlebugs and other wheeled toys around to play with and the owner is very unfriendly indeed.
Not that keen on Frocks Away in Muswell Hill as the staff are snotty there too. By far the best service for shoes is Clarks in Muswell Hill; the manager there is terrific, but their shoes are variable.

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