I am responsible for the recent closure of high street shops...

worried_jim

Me too. If Tesco don't sell it I don't buy it. simple as.

fc123

sunrise27 wrote: »

re customer service in shops
I am fairly new to retail work so perhaps thats why its all still fresh and exciting to me ( I have a sad life lol ) but I get a real buzz from being able to help the customer
I always take them to the aisle where the item they require is and try to give them as much help and advice as I can
If I don't know the answer then I will find a member of staff that does and if somethings not out then I always offer to look in the warehouse for them
if its an older couple or someone with a buggy and the item they're looking for is upstairs then I offer to go up and get whatever it is they want

This ''Customer service'' subject comes a lot on retail threads.

If you really want to get a bit of good customer service (whether it be from an overworked, 4 hr contract min wage part timer in a chain or a F/T shop owner) try a bit of ''Do as you would be done by''.

If some old bag says ''Girl, have you got this in a 16 or is it too much to ask for a shop to sell 'normal' sizes' ''(bearing in mind I am 45 so girl is not quite appropriate) and I may reply with same amount of manners ''Older lady, we don't stock big sizes as size 12 is normal in this shop'' and in a similar tone.....she will stomp out moaning about appalling customer service bla bla.


Had she tried '' Excuse me, but do you stock this in a 16?'' and I will smile and say, ''No not that style but (guides her to another part of store) we have these up to a 16''.


It's a 2 way thing...charm the staff and they will respond...simple human behaviour.

TBH I have had enough of frontline retail...+ we have had the thieves back in town again.

Also, just because someone ''just'' works in a shop, don't assume they are beneath you or fickos....we have it all the time.
Patronising people talking down to you, dropping stock on the floor and just leaving it there for the lowly staff to pick up after them.

sunrise27_2

my brother in law said on finding out that me , my son and my daughter had to work on boxing day as we were all in retail ' well they should find proper jobs then !!!
my lovely mother in law tore him down a peg or two saying that my son and daughter bought everyone christmas presents out of their own money and where had that come from ( retail work ) she also pointed out that he was able to have a nice christmas with all the food , drink and presents because of retail
my son works in a shop and my friend said he was wasted there and surely he could do better
he has now stepped up the ladder a bit and goes to work in a shirt and tie
my friends reaction now is ' you can do well in retail can't you , you can really go up the lady '
that makes me soooooooooooo cross

neverdespairgirl

sunrise27 wrote: »

my brother in law said on finding out that me , my son and my daughter had to work on boxing day as we were all in retail ' well they should find proper jobs then !!!

cor, what a charmer!

treliac

Any wrote: »

Last year - save save save for your old age
This year - spend spend spend - and if you don't, we will make sure your savings will be worths less as the inflation is higher then the interest!

Charging around like bulls in a china shop; they've got no idea. What they are really trying to say, is 'do both.' Just shows what little understanding they have of the people they are supposed to represent.

treliac

fc123 wrote: »

Had she tried '' Excuse me, but do you stock this in a 16?'' and I will smile and say, ''No not that style but (guides her to another part of store) we have these up to a 16''.

They won't be the ones she wants. They don't look like a 20 year old would wear them.

It's a 2 way thing...charm the staff and they will respond...simple human behaviour.

Quite - it's psychology (or people skills)!

Also, just because someone ''just'' works in a shop, don't assume they are beneath you or fickos....we have it all the time.
Patronising people talking down to you, dropping stock on the floor and just leaving it there for the lowly staff to pick up after them.

Good behaviour and manners cost nothing. I think it's behaviour born of ignorance.

WEEGIE

sunrise27 wrote: »

re customer service in shops
I am fairly new to retail work so perhaps thats why its all still fresh and exciting to me ( I have a sad life lol ) but I get a real buzz from being able to help the customer
I always take them to the aisle where the item they require is and try to give them as much help and advice as I can
If I don't know the answer then I will find a member of staff that does and if somethings not out then I always offer to look in the warehouse for them
if its an older couple or someone with a buggy and the item they're looking for is upstairs then I offer to go up and get whatever it is they want

You will fall into the bad habit of just pointing to the aisle after a few months. I work in Sainsburys in Aberdeen (there are two here) and we are told to take the customer to the product which I still do (and I have worked in retail for the last 8 years), but I have seen managers (senior managers) just pointing to the aisle or telling them (the customer) the aisle number. My point is if the managers don't give a damn wht expect your staff to bother. Lead by example.:D

stephen163

Just to add my opinion to the car parking charging issue....

I'm not in the business of defending councils but surely car parking charges in town centres are justified by: 1) Lack of overall parking space, thus charging is the only fair way of allocating spaces, 2) As a means of controlling traffic congestion, especially during rush hours and busy shopping days.

If free parking was introduced in City and Town centres, imagine the chaos it would bring. Traffic would increase to even more intolerable levels and even worse, the spaces available would be consumed on a first come first served basis. Charging is just the normal response when faced with imbalances in supply and demand.

I would be very suprised if any council would either openly admit to, or have as one of their justifications, the revenue making potential of car park charging. Look at the consultations, you'll see the measures taken are designed to remedy local traffic congestion problems and supply/demand issues.

That said, I do get annoyed when the times of parking restrictions are extended the evening and other times that are obviously quiet.

prowla

We often go "shopping", and end up just paying for the car park and a coffee.

MrsE_2

mattwallisuk wrote: »

Nothing worse than supermarket clothes. I am the reason Debenhams is still in existance.

I don't think the supermarkets will ever compete with Debenhams & Next & M&S & Wallis & etc.

But I think they probably have taken lots of cheaper clothes shops business.

I don't buy any clothes there, but I do buy stationary & car bits (deicer - screenwash) & I even bought this PC from Tesco:D

So they do nick a lot of high street business.

When you go to the High street, parking is always an issue, its expensive & often not enough of it.

I will always choose an out of town place with free parking, if I have the choice, BUILD MORE OF THEM:D

I LOVE Bluewater, unfortunatly its a 45 min drive, but I go there for big shopping trips;)