T W A U ... The Chase....today's...
Film, Media & TV1 min ago
Homebase/Dunelm And Others
47 Answers
Am just in from the above and the unbelievable apathy from the assistants is diabolical.
In Dunelm a large queue had formed and one assistant on till, other two others a$sing up and down behind her - pretending to be doing something with paper - folding and blowing on it.
Same at Homebase, one assistant didn't even know if there was a lift to the next level had to ask another assistant.
I asked a guy to show me where a certain item was - he pointed "over there". No I said I have been "over there" and it wasn't there.
Everybody hiding behind these masks are the biggest excuse out for laziness. Bad enough before masks - now so much worse.
I won't be shopping for a very long time. Also these shops are massive you would need a mobility scooter to get around.
In Dunelm a large queue had formed and one assistant on till, other two others a$sing up and down behind her - pretending to be doing something with paper - folding and blowing on it.
Same at Homebase, one assistant didn't even know if there was a lift to the next level had to ask another assistant.
I asked a guy to show me where a certain item was - he pointed "over there". No I said I have been "over there" and it wasn't there.
Everybody hiding behind these masks are the biggest excuse out for laziness. Bad enough before masks - now so much worse.
I won't be shopping for a very long time. Also these shops are massive you would need a mobility scooter to get around.
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I’m afraid shops will go the way of sailing ships. One or two will remain as curiosities but most will be consigned to history.
I went into my local WH Smith today to get a newspaper. I don’t usually go there but the local Tesco Express where I usually get the Torygraph is closed for refurbishment. Nobody in there apart from a couple of people browsing books. Four tills, none open. Each had directions to use the single “DIY” till nearby. One shop assistant nearby holding up the counter, presumably in case it should suddenly collapse. The conversation went something like this:
NJ: “Can you take the money for this please?”
SA: “Nah sorry. I’m on the self-service till”
NJ: “But there’s nobody there, and in any case, isn’t the idea that they serve themselves?”
SA: “Yeah, but in case they need assistance.”
NJ: “Well I need assistance.”
SA: “Why. What’s the problem?”
NJ: “Well, here’s my credit card. Here’s what I want to buy. I simply need the two putting together via your till.”
SA: “Ave you tried using the till?”
NJ: “No. I don’t work here. I haven’t been trained.”
SA: “I can help you through it if you like.”
NJ: “No thanks. I’ve got a better idea. Why don’t we both go to one of those tills and you do it for me?”
SA: “Sorry. I’ve got to stay ‘ere in case….
NJ: “…anyone needs assistance. I know. Well when you get a second in between all these people you’re assisting you can put this Daily Telegraph back on the shelf.
No, not her fault, I know. I wasn’t nasty or aggressive towards her. I just let her know how I felt in the hope she might tell her manager (if there is one).
Homebase stores are terrible. The chain’s been sold a number of times in recent years - once for the princely sum of £1 - and in that time haven't really decided whatthey want to be. I once did a “click and collect” order in my local branch. Got the text to say it was ready for collection and arrived at the store. Nobody could find my goods so I went to the aisle where they were displayed and picked them up myself. "Click and find the goods yourself" would have been more accurate.
There’s only one thing that High Street shops can do to compete with online sellers. That’s to provide some personal service. If they can’t be bothered to do that and even expect their customers to run their own stuff through the till, then they deserve to go to the wall.
I went into my local WH Smith today to get a newspaper. I don’t usually go there but the local Tesco Express where I usually get the Torygraph is closed for refurbishment. Nobody in there apart from a couple of people browsing books. Four tills, none open. Each had directions to use the single “DIY” till nearby. One shop assistant nearby holding up the counter, presumably in case it should suddenly collapse. The conversation went something like this:
NJ: “Can you take the money for this please?”
SA: “Nah sorry. I’m on the self-service till”
NJ: “But there’s nobody there, and in any case, isn’t the idea that they serve themselves?”
SA: “Yeah, but in case they need assistance.”
NJ: “Well I need assistance.”
SA: “Why. What’s the problem?”
NJ: “Well, here’s my credit card. Here’s what I want to buy. I simply need the two putting together via your till.”
SA: “Ave you tried using the till?”
NJ: “No. I don’t work here. I haven’t been trained.”
SA: “I can help you through it if you like.”
NJ: “No thanks. I’ve got a better idea. Why don’t we both go to one of those tills and you do it for me?”
SA: “Sorry. I’ve got to stay ‘ere in case….
NJ: “…anyone needs assistance. I know. Well when you get a second in between all these people you’re assisting you can put this Daily Telegraph back on the shelf.
No, not her fault, I know. I wasn’t nasty or aggressive towards her. I just let her know how I felt in the hope she might tell her manager (if there is one).
Homebase stores are terrible. The chain’s been sold a number of times in recent years - once for the princely sum of £1 - and in that time haven't really decided whatthey want to be. I once did a “click and collect” order in my local branch. Got the text to say it was ready for collection and arrived at the store. Nobody could find my goods so I went to the aisle where they were displayed and picked them up myself. "Click and find the goods yourself" would have been more accurate.
There’s only one thing that High Street shops can do to compete with online sellers. That’s to provide some personal service. If they can’t be bothered to do that and even expect their customers to run their own stuff through the till, then they deserve to go to the wall.
maybe he's tried to use my local M&S one, TCL. I always need to summon assisance because whichever of its 10 tills I go to, it misbehaves. And every time I buy a steak it sets off an alarm as I leave, even though I have invariably scanned it and paid for it.
Tesco and Waitrose are okay, at least in my part of town.
Tesco and Waitrose are okay, at least in my part of town.
//NJ, have you not used a self-service check-out before?//
Yes, I used one once in a branch of B&Q to buy a small paintbrush and got charged for a wheelbarrow (well, I would have done had I paid). Intensive manual intervention required to cancel the "purchase" that I'd never made followed by another ten minutes to take my money via a manual till. I have used them very occasionally when there have been long queues at the proper checkouts, providing I only need one or two items. However, where I refuse to comply is in instances like yesterday. There was a member of staff standing nearby, doing nothing and unlikely to be called upon to do so in the time it would have taken to serve me. Yet I was expected to operate their machinery to make a purchase. WH Smith won't go skint from the loss of my £2.50 but they will probably do so when all their other deficiencies come home to roost.
Yes, I used one once in a branch of B&Q to buy a small paintbrush and got charged for a wheelbarrow (well, I would have done had I paid). Intensive manual intervention required to cancel the "purchase" that I'd never made followed by another ten minutes to take my money via a manual till. I have used them very occasionally when there have been long queues at the proper checkouts, providing I only need one or two items. However, where I refuse to comply is in instances like yesterday. There was a member of staff standing nearby, doing nothing and unlikely to be called upon to do so in the time it would have taken to serve me. Yet I was expected to operate their machinery to make a purchase. WH Smith won't go skint from the loss of my £2.50 but they will probably do so when all their other deficiencies come home to roost.
WH Smith have been on the downward slope for some time now, and I don't think it will be long before they bite the dust completely. Most of their stores are stuck in a time warp, and so are the staff, also very expensive. The only reason for the so called modern self service checkouts is because in the long run its cheaper than paying good staff. I've not used them for anything for many years, its cheaper elsewhere.
I think the only reason they are still going at the moment is that many post offices are operating within their stores, well that is the case in my area and many others that I've visited. Then you have their rip off shops in a lot of the hospitals were they charge three times the going price for a box of tissues, and other basic items.
I think the only reason they are still going at the moment is that many post offices are operating within their stores, well that is the case in my area and many others that I've visited. Then you have their rip off shops in a lot of the hospitals were they charge three times the going price for a box of tissues, and other basic items.
//For me self service at the till is no different to filling my basket myself.//
Of course you’re joking. Taking an item from a shelf takes no particular skill. I imagine the checkout staff at your supermarket have received training in how to operate the various devices they use and how to deal with the multitude of problems that stem from their usage. I haven’t. They get trained and paid for what they do. I don’t. I’ve no objection to waiting a little longer to be properly served by a checkout operator (though in practice, the delays faced by those using the self-service facilities are often longer). But I won’t patronise shops which give me no choice. I’m not making a point, I’m suggesting that the shops provide the only thing that online suppliers cannot.
//Seem's the way forward to me. And I work for a supermarket .//
Possibly for less time than you think – unless you work in the home delivery department.
Of course you’re joking. Taking an item from a shelf takes no particular skill. I imagine the checkout staff at your supermarket have received training in how to operate the various devices they use and how to deal with the multitude of problems that stem from their usage. I haven’t. They get trained and paid for what they do. I don’t. I’ve no objection to waiting a little longer to be properly served by a checkout operator (though in practice, the delays faced by those using the self-service facilities are often longer). But I won’t patronise shops which give me no choice. I’m not making a point, I’m suggesting that the shops provide the only thing that online suppliers cannot.
//Seem's the way forward to me. And I work for a supermarket .//
Possibly for less time than you think – unless you work in the home delivery department.
I only fill up about two or three times a year and usually pay in the kiosk because I buy a newspaper at the same time. That said, the comparison is not appropriate. All I have to do to pay at the pump is simply insert by card into a reader and enter a PIN - no different to drawing money from a hole in the wall. I don't have to scan my goods, don't have to swipe loyalty cards, scan discount vouchers, move my goods from one side to the other (***Unidentified object in the bagging area***), wait for someone to confirm my age when I buy a bottle of wine, pack it (in a totally inadequate space), pay for it. It's a totally kettle of fish.
The problem is there are large numbers of people who are quite prepared to put up with this gradual decline in the level of service they receive and even think it's good (see bob at 11:48).
It won't be long before customers are expected to order their stuff from a wholesalers to save the retailers the trouble of doing so. They could do this online. And instead of having the delivery made to the retailers they could have it delivered directly to their address. Hang on....I think I've hit on an idea!
The problem is there are large numbers of people who are quite prepared to put up with this gradual decline in the level of service they receive and even think it's good (see bob at 11:48).
It won't be long before customers are expected to order their stuff from a wholesalers to save the retailers the trouble of doing so. They could do this online. And instead of having the delivery made to the retailers they could have it delivered directly to their address. Hang on....I think I've hit on an idea!
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