Rotten chicken from M&S

Meepster

MrsE wrote: »

On account of me being ran around the place (much more than I needed to be) then I think they are well obliged to pay my petrol.

The only thing they are OBLIGED to do is offer you a refund or exchange (SOGA) which they did. They can OFFER compensation as a gesture of goodwill, but that is completely down to them.

If every company gave compensation to customers who had a problem (and I've dealt with enough of them), they would all go out of business. The whole "compensation nation" thing is going to far IMHO, we're going to end up like USA soon...

avoniel

What about compensation for the food that you had to throw out?

NotJustAny...

"Most" stores would have got their hours of trading correct.

MrsE, I'm not excusing the error the girl on switchboard made, but do just want to explain it. Most M&S operators are now based in a different store to the one you ring. For example, the switchboard in London Colney store fields calls for around 14 or so other M&S in the 'area'. So when the operator picks up the phone and says 'Thank you for calling your M&S Bloggsville,' they're probably sat in an entirely different location.

They do usually have access the hours of all stores they field. She obviously made an error.

As far as I am aware, calls are not taped, except by Retail Customer Services. Could be wrong on that one, though...

In this case, I don't think it is ureasonable to ask for some compensation for travel. Speak to a manager in the store. If you are polite and reasonable (which you sound to be from the posts so far), they are likely to agree.

MrsE_2

NotJustAny... wrote: »

"Most" stores would have got their hours of trading correct.

MrsE, I'm not excusing the error the girl on switchboard made, but do just want to explain it. Most M&S operators are now based in a different store to the one you ring. For example, the switchboard in London Colney store fields calls for around 14 or so other M&S in the 'area'. So when the operator picks up the phone and says 'Thank you for calling your M&S Bloggsville,' they're probably sat in an entirely different location.

They do usually have access the hours of all stores they field. She obviously made an error.

As far as I am aware, calls are not taped, except by Retail Customer Services. Could be wrong on that one, though...

In this case, I don't think it is ureasonable to ask for some compensation for travel. Speak to a manager in the store. If you are polite and reasonable (which you sound to be from the posts so far), they are likely to agree.

I do realise she was a central "info" line. But to be honest I would have thought that all the more reason to have store basic info ready, after all this is generally what people will be calling for.
Yes it was a simple human error & we all make them.
But in this instance (because of the extra distance traveled that was due to their omission of info) I don't think its unreasonable to ask for petrol money. I have also thrown some food (meat, veg & salad) products out, missed ny dinner & was late for & unprepared for my evening arrangements too, but these things happen.

The store are not interested in my petrol claim, they say that issue is with the operator - I didn't have time to argue the matter with them on Monday (I was so late already). So the store have done as much as they will do.
Which was the value of the chicken towards two steaks (couldn't face chicken!!!), I paid the extra.

pinkshoes

MrsE wrote: »

I explained it was dinner & I had to get a replacement & I asked her what time they closed, she told me 8pm (I've since found out the XXXXXXX branch closes at 7pm). I asked if I could visit another store as ZZZZZZ was 7 miles south & XXXXXX 8 miles north & XXXXXX busy at that time. She said of course. That was the moment I feel she should have warned me ZZZZZZZclosed much earlier, but she didn't so off I went.

This girl was on a general call line, with a computer in front of her, probably with the same information as you have access to on their main web page. I very much doubt she knew the XXXXX store personally,hence could only rely on the latest information on opening hours on the screen infront of her.

Unless you specifically asked her what time ZZZZZZ opened until, then the girl wouldn't have known, and it wouldn't have been on the screen infront of her. As you demonstrated you knew both stores well, and that you knew the other one would be busy, she probably though YOU knew what time it was open until!!

I think you're being rather unfair, as I would put it down to your mistake over the store being closed.

Do you not have a microwave that can defrost things in a matter of minutes?

ps - did you send the email as you wrote it in your first post??

MrsE_2

pinkshoes wrote: »

This girl was on a general call line, with a computer in front of her, probably with the same information as you have access to on their main web page. I very much doubt she knew the XXXXX store personally,hence could only rely on the latest information on opening hours on the screen infront of her.

Unless you specifically asked her what time ZZZZZZ opened until, then the girl wouldn't have known, and it wouldn't have been on the screen infront of her. As you demonstrated you knew both stores well, and that you knew the other one would be busy, she probably though YOU knew what time it was open until!!

I think you're being rather unfair, as I would put it down to your mistake over the store being closed.

Do you not have a microwave that can defrost things in a matter of minutes?

ps - did you send the email as you wrote it in your first post??

She was manning an information line

When I was talking about being busy, I was referring to the area. XXXX is by an M25 junction, so mental at rush hour.
I did query the opening hours as it was 5.20pm (so she would have known I was not familar with the opening hours). Then she mentioned I could take it to "any" M&S, & I suggested YYYY, but she neglected to tell me it closed at 5.30 & I neglected to ask. She did however tell me XXXX closed at 8pm & it was 7pm, lucky I didn't leave it till 7pm.

I don't defrost meat/poultry/fish in a microwave, never have. I don't like it. Always comes out a bit warm:eek:

Yes thats the email I sent.

upsadaisy

I think you were right to complain. I would, my family makes me write their complaint letters for them! I outright ask now what are you willing to give me for my trouble.

It is not acceptable for a store to sell you rotten food. (As for the comment from a pp about so you bought a rotten chicken who hasn't? I never have.)

I would have argued about paying the extra for those steaks! And asked them to give them as a good will gesture as it would be costing them less than if they had given you food poisoning.

I do have a tip for defrosting -for every minute you defrost you let the food rest in the micro for that long. And you should only defrost for say 5-10mins and rest 10 check food and do cycle again, that way you shouldn't have that warm or partially cooked food.