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?

Oh dear, that sounds like an episode of League of Gentlemen or Little Britain - this bed... don't buy this bed...

And I don't know why when Moondog said Americans give good service, my immediate thought was, but do they give good head?

Sorry, random thought that doesn't really belong on this thread!

I am forever telling dd1 not to touch anything in shops in a very loud voice so the shop assistants can hear, therefore, eating a dry bread roll or a bag of crisps is not a sin. As for dropping crumbs on the floor - have you seen some of the S**t (literally) that people carry into shops on their feet . As Misdee said, it's not the fact that she was eating, it is the attitude of the shop assistant, had she been polite I would have taken the roll from dd and probably bought something from the shop. It's amazing how some shop assistants will bend over backwards to help you and others are just MOGs.

I'm having a battle with a really, really grumpy assistant in our local 7/11 at the moment.
I will make her smile, or at least acknowledge my existence. After many weeks, she finally asked dd what her name was. Result! We interacted!! I win!
(My whole working life has been in customer service, being v. v. nice to some really horrible people, so running up against rude shop assistants annoys the hell out of me. I see it as a personal challenge)

Caligula - the only time I ever get out with my children is when we go to Asda! you must have see us.
we're planning a big trip at Christmas

Oh I love these threads

I once got so pis#ed off with the, as WWW coins it ; disinterested children, in Budgens in Crouch End that I contacted the HR department and asked them what they did to their staff, who presumabley must have had a smidgen of gumption or joy in their lives at one point. Did Budgens suck it out purposefully? I got a grovel and a five quid voucher.

Over here they are generally super chirpy and like to ask after your health and general wellfare as soon as you walk through the store door, which I still find a little disconcerting tbh

Tescos. I'd bought the wrong size Tshirts for ds1 so I went back to swap them. I tried to find the right size but couldn't find them. So I found a woman who was unpacking from a box of children's clothes which was as tall as her. I asked her if they had the Tshirts in ds1's size. "We've only got what's out."

Right, apart from the five foot high of crates next to you.

well I've had 2 lots of good service in the last week . It should be the norm, but it isn't. Once was in Boots, I went in for some skin cream but couldn't find it so asked an assistant. I assumed she'd say, well if it isn't over there then we don't have it. No, she went all over the shop trying to find some and came back a little later with a tube. The other time was in Sainbury's. I asked if they were getting any more jackets in as they didn't have my size. She said she'd go and have a look in the stock room and when there weren't any, rang 2 other shops without me asking. I shouldn't be surprised as it should be the norm but it sadly isn't in most places. Sometimes these assistants have such an attitude that I always feel like saying that great line of Ab Fab. 'You can stop the attitude love, you're only a shop assistant' talking to someone in an art gallery!

DG, was that Castlepoint? I got served by a real stuck-up b*itch in there recently. I nearly complained but couldnt be bothered in the end.

yes it was. Where was the stuck up wotsit, in Sainsbury's or Boots?

boots, estee lauder counter, face like a slapped arse

lol, i'm going there in about an hour, i'll have a look.

hopefully she's nbeen sacked!

when are you there? Im going this afternoon ... I laughed when I saw Merlin there last week - the three of us are shopaholics!

I know, i've been there most days this week . It's been nice weather so it's a good little walk for me and dd and it's nice to see other people. What time are you going, I could make it later and meet for a coffee if you like, dd's having a very early nap. Oh, btw, I was wrong about the dresses in Next, they're £22. Bought a fab one in Asda for dd though, really lovely. Saw beautiful ones in Monsoon as well but they're £35+ No way will I spend that, dd dribbles too much.

Just thought, there's bad flooding apparently on Castle Lane east, road blocks both ways.

not sure at the moment, am trying to contact my mum to seei f she can meet ds from school and trying to get an appointment for a hair cut. I'll probably go after lunch, 1.30 ish? Do you have a mobile? If you eant email me the no and I'll ring when I get there or we could make a tentative plan to meet in Next childrens dept at 2.00

god I love american cheesy service

its soooooo good

oh no, is castlepoitn uinaccessible???

Enid I love american service - it is so polite and helpful compared to here, if a bit cheesy!

Thought I heard my name mentioned!.

Would just like to say, that I'm NOT going to Castlepoint today! May go to Tescos though Bunny!!!!

(Sorry for hijacking!)

not ventured to Sainsburys yet the ?

then!

Oh go on Merlin, you know you want to! I'm going to Asda's to get some pics printed!

Sorry for taking over this thread.

Next at 2 then? I'll email you my number, Merlin, i'll ring and hound you

last time I went to morrisons,first got ignored by spotty youth on the fish counter while he chatted to mate, then went to get cheese asked for some cheddar that was reduced and was told to go to a chiller some way awa y as there were some ready cut pieces of cheese,I went grudgingly ( why have a deli counter if you don't want to cut the cheese?) none of cheese in chiller was reduced so I went back and said actualy i wanted the reduced cheddar,"go and gert a piece and we will reduce it here" so isighed and said well none of them are big enough I will have to get two and the rather gormless lad who was serving was told by a lady to cut me a piece.So I asked for 500 gramms and he said "oh I can't cut you a weight you have to, I don't know how much that is" !! At which point I walked of muttering loudly.I checked my receit when I got into the car and found I had been over charged,went to go back in and was stopped at the door "we're closed" "thats alright I just want to to get my money back I've been over charged" "well you'll have to do it next time you come" so I said " I'm never coming back here it a lousy shop with dreadful service, can I speak to the manager please" "well all the tills are closed there is nothing that I can do" so I asked to see the manager, and she said she was a manager , so I asked if there was anyone else I could speak to at which point she decided to go and check if there was a till open, needless there was and I got my money back.

I have just two words for you ladies: mystery shopping.

The joy of getting paid £10 to dob in a rude and unhelpful shop assistant cannot be underestimated. The only downside is that so far I've not done a single assignment where the assistants are sufficiently awful to deserve the absolutely stinging reviews I have been storing up for years....

Ooh, how does one get to be a mystery shopper?