Customer Service in UK shops

catmiaow

I think customer service in Currys/PC World is quite bad, especially in the Durham stores. The Gateshead stores are much friendlier. The ones in Durham don't give a damn and either ignore you when you are trying to buy something or try and sell you something you don't want!

Some stores are good though... I have never been in an Apple store that hasn't given great service.

marvin

MothballsWallet wrote: »

UK customer service is better than Russia, it's official

Have just asked my Russian wife if this is true and it seems we excel only in the fact it is not acceptable for a customer service person to tell you to F off when you raise a complaint!

Otherwise it seems it is fairly similar in that if they care they care if they don't they don't.

Jakg

pmduk wrote: »

Stores can't win, the complaint usually is that customers get harassed by sales staff. Did you think to actually ask if there was anyone who could help you?

Money-Saving-King wrote: »

You never said you were even looking for a TV so this is pure complaining for the sake of it!

I have to agree with the above posters. It doesn't sound like you genuinely wanted to buy a TV, and that was probably obvious to the members of staff, so why should members of staff "pester" you? I'm sure if you'd of asked for help you'd have got it!

CKhalvashi

marvin wrote: »

Have just asked my Russian wife if this is true and it seems we excel only in the fact it is not acceptable for a customer service person to tell you to F off when you raise a complaint!

Otherwise it seems it is fairly similar in that if they care they care if they don't they don't.

This is actually very true!

CK

duchy

My local PC World/Currys is dire.

I went in to buy a tablet -got the most ignorant boor who was very off-hand to the point of rudeness. I left and went back later the same day (Yes I know !!) and got great service from one of Phones4u staff there -who when we got to the point of purchase explained he'd have to go get a PCW staff member to handle the sale. I had no problem with this until he brought over the boor from the morning. I insisted on been served by someone else .

I work in a customer service enviroment and have worked in pure retail in the past . I can totally relate to what the previous poster said about the lads all chatting and ignoring the customers in Currys/PCW. Rochester has exactly the same issue .

You'd think Comet going under would be a heads up that they need to try harder or go the same way-Obviously not !

Money-Saving-King

Jakg wrote: »

I have to agree with the above posters. It doesn't sound like you genuinely wanted to buy a TV, and that was probably obvious to the members of staff, so why should members of staff "pester" you? I'm sure if you'd of asked for help you'd have got it!

It was just stereotyping & having a dig at people who work in retail. There was just no need for it at all. It just amazes me that the op tries to take a dig at people who work in retail but think it's fine to behave the way he's just done. Talk about double standards!

tom15387202

I know full well that most companies want you on that customer like a fly on !!!!. But nearly retail workers know that most customers do not wish to be bothered.

Walking into a shop and the staff are having a chat looks awful, they could be doing something productive I agree.

The average retail wage is terrible and having to put up with arrogant customers isn't worth the salary. Better wages attract better staff, lower wages attract staff who don't really care and why should they?

If they don't care why do they work there? If you don't like the service, why do you shop there?

prowla

I went to a Currys/PCW to buy a tumble drier a couple of weeks ago, and was ignored - I mean are the staff trained not to make eye contact with would-be customers. So I decided to sod it; on leaving I had a word with the manager and asked why when the store was so quiet were the staff not bothering to help customers, and if it was like that then I may as well just use the internet and save myself the time & effort.

Actually it worked out, because I fixed my old one anyway, so I saved a few quid.

tom15387202

prowla wrote: »

I had a word with the manager...

What did the manager say?

prowla

The other one that bugs me is the staff who question you in an "are you sure you know what you are talking about, ...Sir?" tone of voice.

I went to a Maplin on Saturday to buy a Speakon socket. I couldn't find one and so asked an assistand if they had one, to which I got "Do you mean one of these XLR speaker sockets, ... Sir?", to which I replied "no, I am looking for a Speakon socket, such as I would plug one of these Speakon connectors into which are on display here.

Having verified that such a thing did really exist, the assistant went to see if they had stock and told me they didn't but head office did so they could order me one to be delivered if I liked. I said no thanks (again thinking I could have just got one on ebay).

As it turns out I went to another town on the weekend and their Maplin did have one, so I bought it there.