Crap service in shops gets on my nerves - most retailers don't deserve to make a profit this Christmas but it's their own stupid fault

[HRHWickedwaterwitch]

A small rant really. We went shopping this morning and in 6 out of 8 shops we went into:

• The shop assistants (who were children, I mean under 20 in most cases) were more interested in arranging their displays than serving us or asking if we needed any help. Has it not occurred to them that without CUSTOMERS it doesn't fking matter what the fking displays look like?
• One said "oh we don't have that suit (for dp) in that leg measurement" and walked off! Not "but would you like to try any others? Or "what is it you're looking for?" We had some money, were prepared to spend said money and were in their bloody shops, what is wrong with these retailers? WHY do they employ disinterested children? Am I the only person who gets really irritated by poor customer service? I was on a course with someone last week who said she asked someone on the cheese counter at Tesco to help her because she wanted to buy fish and their reply was (imagine bored monotone) "nah, I only do cheese" - no offer of getting someone else, absolutely shit service. AAAAAAAAAAGGGH. I am going to do all my Christmas shopping online for the sake of my blood pressure and so I don't slap any shop assistants. I'm getting old, aren't I?

I think the service is mostly okay nowadays, if you can actually find an assistant! At this time of year it's hardly surprising the staff don't know where things are, as many stores have rearranged their shelves to make room for Xmas stuff.

like i said - dont have a problem with them not knowing - its not having the nouse to find someone who does!

Moondog- I would disagree strongly about little shops- in my experience they are the worst! There is a haberdashery shop here, the owner actually works in the shop. He is so rude that I gave up going in there long ago- one of those who makes you feel he is allowing you into his shop.

This week we had 2 girls at B&Q carrying on their conversation about their night out the entire time they were ringing up our purchases- does anyone have a suitable put-down to that?

Then the other extreme, looking at furniture yesterday in two different shops with a salesperson glued to our heels. Once you have said "we are looking around" and agreed to go back to them personally once you have found something, why can't they leave you alone? I want to sit in the seats and make up my own mind, not have someone following me commenting on every piece. We always end up cutting our trip short and hightailing it out the door- I hate being hassled.

Funniest thing a few years ago we went to a particular shop looking for furniture and got pounced on by the assistant (Eric). Got fed up, walked out, and came back a week or so later. This time got jumped on by saleswoman Julie. Same thing- left as soon as possible. Came back following week and got approached by Eric again, who recognised us. Julie came up, and mentioned to Eric that she'd seen us last week- we were "her" customers. Oh no says Eric, I saw them before... and they stood in the middle of the shop arguing about which of them we belonged to. I couldn't believe it! While they were busy we took the opportunity to sneak out, and haven't been back again until recently. None too pleased to find Eric in the shop we tried yesterday, and have him follow us around.....

I've had two examples of what I consider to be good service from supermarkets this weekend. Went into Sainsburys and bought a dvd as a birthday present for DS2's friend. You have to take the case to the checkout and they then get another assistant to go off and actually get the dvd and then bring it back. Well twitto here walked off with all my shopping totally forgetting that the dvd hadn't materialised. Only realised several hours later, called the store and they were perfectly happy for me to turn up with receipt and hand over the dvd. DH said I could have been trying to get two copies. But no questions asked.

Then had to go to a major Tesco store (hate them but DS3 wanted a Tamagochi version 2 and knew they were on sale here). Didn't know my way around the store so collared a supervisor. Asked if they sold them and a young male assistant nearby immediately jumped up and not only took me to where they were but hovered nearby to ensure I could reach the one I wanted on the top shelf.

As an aside, I used their self-service till for the first time. Not sure what to make of their security for alcohol sales. I put through a bottle of wine and it flagged up that this item needed a supervisor's approval. I put everything through, paid and just left. No one came over to check that I was over 18, or maybe someone looked without my realising and it was dreadfully obvious just how much over 18 I am!

Was in Asda earlier and no one could find the newspapers or the shampoo, FFS! I abandoned my trolley and went to Morrisons....

These comments are all interesting, what a mixed response. Actually, I did have some great customer service earlier in the week from John Lewis. As a direct result I spent about £300, they were superb, there's a company who know about customer service. Maybe being a partnership has something to do with it: the staff really do have an interest in satisfying the customer and making more profit as a result. I don't mind staff not knowing either or not having something but I think they should still try to help! In the case of dp's suit we'd have happily looked at one they did have in his size.

i think a lot of places are quite good these days BUT - i hate it when i ask have you got this in a different size/colour/have you got boys winter hats/whatever and you get "there's just what's out on the shelves" aaaarrrrghh yes but there are 250,000 things on the shelves and i haven't got all day i happen to have a baby with me and you are meant to know more about what this shop sells than me you daft bint.

Totally agree WWW - does my head in! There is no excuse for crap service - no, a particular assistant may not know how to help you but what's the problem with manners, a conversation to work out how they might be able to help or whether they can get someone else to help you.

There are many things that pee me off about shops (like saying there's only what's on the shelves etc) but most of all it's just utterly crap communication/social skills, or even complete lack of them. Even if the shop don't have what you want or can't help, a polite and friendly manner with a bit of a hint of actually caring or being sorry that they can't help you means you walk out of the shop having at least had a positive experience in one respect - you may even go back next time!!

On a couple of occasions when she has been treated very rudely,my sister has let the offending assistant ring up all her purchases and then she suddenly smiles brightly and says
'Oooh I've changed my mind.I don't think i want them after all...''

They get the message.

ha ha ha. You've got to have a lot of purchases for that one to work though.

I loved Tallulah's experience. The only way to deal with a salesperson who won't go away, is to start canoodling and exchanges sweet nothings with whoever you happen to be shopping with. It makes the salesperson want to vomit and they soon bugger off.

i hate rudes shop assistants, but find "can i help you?" annoying too.

there's one supermarket near where we live where someone is on your back the whole time, BUT if you need to find something, nobody knows, and they park their shelf stacker trolleys all over the place and block the aisles. very annoying.

I see Caligula has picked me up on my pet hate. Do you really take your toddlers out shopping until 10 pm? I realise that I am lucky that I am not a single parent so on Friday after the children had gone to bed I had the luxury of leaving them with DH while I went out shopping (to take back the dress I bought as a top amongst other things) but if DH wasn't there I know for sure I couldn't face the shopping centre with them in tow at that time.

I worked in Asda for a while, and the number of families that used to come in late at night with toddlers and kids in tow was staggering . Children should not be out at 10pm doing the shopping FGS. One of you stay at home with them, and one of you do the shopping - sheesh.

My other bugbear is shop assistants that don't say please and thank you, and don't tell you how much they want from you, just hold out their hands for the money

Er no, not till 10PM!

8PM at the very latest, and that would be at a weekend or holiday - bedtime is usually between 7pm and 7.30pm for my two, the oldest is still only 6.

And even then, it would only be for supermarket type shopping that had to be got and I couldn't avoid, like milk. The idea of taking them shopping late for "leisure" shopping, like clothes, is a bit mind-boggling.

Um, Paolosgirl, "one of you" has to be with them at all times if there's only "one of you".

That applies to a quarter of families in the UK.

Thats what I meant Caligula. Honestly I went to Meadowhall and I was in Debenhams at 9.30 pm and there was a little boy on his reins being told off for not walking properly. He didn't look any older than DD who is 18 months and had been in bed two hours. Of course, its not the children's fault that they are grumpy but when you've had your own a full day it is irritating.

Gawd, just the thought of all those poor, fakey shop assistants back in the US, having to pretend to suck up to you for a measly $7/hour. Shiver! Give me the UK any day.

Also was in Asda on Thursday night and there was a family in front of me with two kids aged approx 5 and 3 (and two parents btw!) and they were kicking up a stink.

Might as well go shopping in the day time and take DD with me!

I think a lot of families see going to Asda as some kind of leisure activity.

They genuinely enjoy it.

Loons.

Paolosgirl - agree wholeheartedly about those that don't say please or thank you. I tend to say "thank you in a very exaggerated way.

Was in H&M the other day (with dd2 in her buggy) and asked the girl at the changing rooms if they had a larger cubicle that I could get the buggy into. Her response? "it's broke". Me - "How do you break a cubicle?". Her - "Door's broke". Me - "Oh, don't worry then" - handed her the clothes and walked off. I mean, do some of them even get any training???

Caligula, I meant the families I saw with 2 adults. If there's only one of you, I appreciate it's impossible to leave the kids to do the shopping - but a)if there are 2 of you, you don't have to make a shopping trip at 10pm a family outing, and b)our Asda is open 24/7, so is 10pm with toddlers necessary?

Oh - expat - disagree - the service in the US is fantastic IMO. At least the assistants smile, are polite and actualy seem to enjoy what they are doing (in my experience anyway).

LOL Caligula. Think we agree really.

I think a lot of the smiley helpfulness that you get in the US is actually real. They don't have the same disdain for service that we have here.

I couldn't care less re authenticity of smiles. If the service is good that's all that matters and yes,Americans give good service.