Which shops give old style service?

henbane

I think Anguk has the answer, a lot depends on the employer, I've worked in a fair few shops and when you're patrolled and harassed, paid peanuts, overworked and bored, politeness comes very low down your priorities. Even then there are some angels who manage to rise above it all.

But most people, given a good employer who believes in real customer service (not the fake kind) providing varied and interesting work at a fair wage is bound to get better staff.

Also in small shops your business should matter, in large shops do they care if you don't come back?

Henbane

Beaker99

I'd go with the person above that said John Lewis. One store where you really get what you pay for - in a good way! - saying that they're not really that expensive either, they just don't sell the cheap crap! I was in there on Friday (cambridge) and every member of staff will help and treat you with the utmost respect.. perhaps just what happens when everyone who works there also owns a small bit of the shop!

edit: I also love the way that if you buy quite a bit, you can leave it behind the various tills, and someone will take it down to the pick up area so you don't have to lug it around the shop! (that was in Welwyn) - try suggesting that in your local primark!

greenbee

Small independent shops, farm shops, market stalls... and like others the only two large companies I can think of are Lakeland & John Lewis.

I shop online to help me avoid the bigger chains, and try to use small companies there too, as generally the customer service is better.

I very, very rarely find I need to go to the supermarket - I keep reminding myself that the village shop isn't always more expensive, and I can walk there rather than drive!

knithryn

Morrisons in Bolton...on Chorley Old Road
I was having a majorly bad day and went to get Other Half some beer.
Young Asian man on the till gave me a cheeky grin, looked at the beer and asked if I had ID.
I'm over 40.
He made me smile.
The till staff there usually make some sort of 'nice comment'.

Penelope_Penguin

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greenbee

knithryn wrote: »

Morrisons in Bolton...on Chorley Old Road
I was having a majorly bad day and went to get Other Half some beer.
Young Asian man on the till gave me a cheeky grin, looked at the beer and asked if I had ID.
I'm over 40.
He made me smile.
The till staff there usually make some sort of 'nice comment'.

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

rach29

I don't think it's the stores themselves, but the attitude of some people these days. I had fabulous service at my Local Argos in Romford last week. I had reserved an item the previous evening but when I got to the store it had gone up in price. I cancelled the item from my order & just paid for the other stuff, but when I collected my items I mentioned this to the member of staff. She immediately found the item & asked the Store Manager if she could reduce the price back to what it was previously. This was done & she even helped me to the car with it!

I felt like a truly valued customer, but I would lay odds that all customers served by this young lady would feel the same, wether she worked in Argos or the local paper shop.

You can train staff to give good service but it's attitude that really stands out.

Reverbe

What a great thread. I nearly missed it as it was moved to a board I never have reason look at.I do hate it when things get moved to a thread or board that you never read. I have had my posts moved to a totally irrelevant board and I actualyl coudlnt find any replies.

thriftlady_2

My butcher has wonderful friendly and helpful staff. They greet me by my name which is lovely and they give me the odd freebie and carry my stuff to the car. The deli next door is so old-fashioned that they tot up your bill on a bit of paper with their own brains -amazing?! I like to take my wicker shopping basket when I go there.

Generally speaking I find independent shops to have helpful and polite staff and large supermarkets and places like Argos to have surly, unhelpful and frankly stupid staff. I'm sure there are exceptions but I never seem to find them.

Waitrose is the stand-out exception when it comes to supermarkets. Well-informed staff, always friendly and very helpful. I've never had to identify my fruit and veg purchases to Waitrose check-out staff like I seem to need to do at Tesco.

WolfSong2000

Customer service is more about the people than the store itself...I used to work in a jewelers and got on really well with the customers - my boss, however was the total opposite and customers would actually deliberately avoid the store if they thought he was in that day.

It works both ways, though...sometimes I notice sales assistants are having a bad day and I'll say something to try and cheer them up - maybe ask them how their day has been, etc. It's a small gesture that makes a big difference!