W H Smith v Wilkinsons

Poppy9

I needed to buy printer ink lunchtime for my home printer. First port of call Tesco has stopped doing ink in that branch. Only other nearby place in City Centre is WHS. I was loathed to go there as they are expensive but bit the bullet. Found the ink I needed, there was no "out of stock" sticker and loads of cards so off I went to the till. Only ONE person on the tills and about 15 people in front of me.

A chap was standing there trying to get people to use the 2 self serve tills but I couldn't use them because the ink is behind the cashier's desk so I had to queue.

Finally after about 10 minutes I'm next. She had a quick look and said "out of stock"! I said there are loads of cards out to take to till point etc. and she just said "out of stock". Such a blooming waste of my time!

Now I'm faced with having to go after work to get the blooming ink and as I'm walking back to work I pass Wilkinson and I remembered I bought blank CDs there before so in I pop. Not only did they have my ink it was loads cheaper:T

Geniune Epson cartridge - WHS £12.99, Wilkinson's £8.80
Compatiable cartridges, multipack - WHS £38, Wilkinson's £13.99

Still mad at the inefficiency of WHS though!

OneYorkshireLass

I've found Smiths to be inefficient for years.

There's never enough staff at the tills, staff are generally rude, I hate how they ask if you want chocolate/stamps/phone cards when you purchase something, but never ask if you want a bag.

I don't bother to buy anything in there now as they're always the most expensive. I don't know how they keep going tbh.

flashg67

I know a WH Smith employee and the system seems poor, and not always the staff's fault.

Apparently, all the cards are put out all the time, regardless of stock levels. When you present a card, if the staff memeber notes that they are selling you the last item in the drawer, they are supposed to put an out of stock card in the display until new stock arrives.

To me, this won't work because, the out of stock card could get moved from the front of the display, or it may never get there in the first place as it relies on staff doing it when busy etc, or if the person in front of you bought the last cartridge, the out of stock sign could never get there in time to stop you getting peed off!

I suggest you complain to WHS head-office - maybe they'll change if enough people complain...

Edit for oneyorkshirelass - please don't always blame the staff - over the years staff has been pared right down, benefits severely cut, wage rises non existent, expected to work overtime for nothing and they have to explain in front of everybody if they haven't flogged you enough half-price tat at the tills!- you can put the violins away now, but I wouldn't work there (again!) PS - no bags because they have to charge 1p and the shop (yes, this is true) get a budget for bags and can't get more if they don't charge for so many over the year!

OneYorkshireLass

flashg67 wrote: »

Edit for oneyorkshirelass - please don't always blame the staff - over the years staff has been pared right down, benefits severely cut, wage rises non existent, expected to work overtime for nothing and they have to explain in front of everybody if they haven't flogged you enough half-price tat at the tills!- you can put the violins away now, but I wouldn't work there (again!)

Oops, sorry. I wasn't blaming the staff per se. I know management set the rules re flogging stuff at the tills, and they're mostly responsible for the low morale etc.

flashg67

OneYorkshireLass wrote: »

Oops, sorry. I wasn't blaming the staff per se. I know management set the rules re flogging stuff at the tills, and they're mostly responsible for the low morale etc.

I don't work there but my OH does and I suffer the fallout everyday! I told her to leave but are other places any better - retail seems to be in a bad way nowadays! No doubt some staff are rude - no excuse for that although grumpy I can understand!

Poppy9

flashg67 wrote: »

PS - no bags because they have to charge 1p and the shop (yes, this is true) get a budget for bags and can't get more if they don't charge for so many over the year!

I'm in Wales and all bags are now 5p, no such thing as a free bag anymore. I refuse to pay 5p to advertise a store.

According to the news the 5p charge on bags since 1st October has been 100% successful. Not sure how they measure success but I've walked out of Debenhams with a coat and handbag in my arms and I've seen people walking out of M&S with their undies in their arms!

fozmcfc

I rarely shop in WHS, but always found the staff helpful. I'm always asked if I want a bag and yes do I want any of these for £1.

I bet there is a surprising amount of people who say yes as well.

I can well imagine what flashg67 says is correct, if they don't try to flog it, they get bollocked. I have noticed a downgradge in the amount of staff over the years as well.

I do believe though that WHS are one retailer who hasn't suffered too badly over the past few years. They have seen sense it seems and have got rid of most of the entertainment items such as CD's, DVD's, Games etc and seem to be focussing more once again, on their long term stalwarts such as stationary, books and magazines etc..

eyelinerprincess

I always have found WHS more expensive for a lot of stationery. Can't fault the staff, though, they are only doing what they are told in regards to upselling.

Alex-Riley.

my friend used to work in Smiths she was fired for not offering people the half price tat

I would stop using there if other shops stocked WWE Magazine Smiths is the only place I know that stocks it

OneYorkshireLass

When it comes to magazines, I miss Borders

dreamypuma

I'm surprised WHSmiths still exist in this day and age with their tired outdated overpriced shops.