PostsPound world under fire from ASA ... 10th October 2014 11:39 AM The owner of Poundland says they have far smaller margins than anybody else. Apparently they used to buy for about 0.30p and sell for £1.00, they now buy for about 0.70p. They are about volume not mark-up. Also, most of it is foreign, pick-up some of their products and look at the back, a lot of the items do not contain a word of English. CUSTOMER ANECDOTES AND IRRITATIONS 9th October 2014 12:38 PM It doesn't really apply to the situation above but what gets to me A LOT is that without doubt people are getting ruder and ruder. I've been in retail for 21 years now and the older i get the more rudeness really takes it's toll on me. I have a small Shopping Centre stall, i don't jump on people, i leave them to browse and do their thing, i do however try to smile, make eye-contact, nod or say hello. Oh my goodness! Saying hello to people? These days? That's a dirty word! Also what is it with having no respect for someones stock? I have t-shirts hanging on the corners of the Unit (as well as 2 eye-level rails) 80% of people will go up to the hanging t-shirts, screw the bottom corner of the t-shirt between their fingers as if to feel the material rubbing it like there is no tomorrow, then swing it right the way round to see the other side, because apparently taking a footstep round the other side is too much trouble! The amount of broken hangers and manky finger stains is incredible. Then there is coming to the unit, touching everything, putting it back nowhere near where it belongs, then walking away without any sort of acknowledgement that they have seen you. My response now...a vaguely loud, but oh so polite, "thank you very much for looking" as they walk away as if you do not exist. And it is not the stereotypical 'baseball cap brigade' that is the most problematic, it's mostly 40/50/60 year olds, and mostly female. Politeness really is free of charge.
CUSTOMER ANECDOTES AND IRRITATIONS 9th October 2014 11:05 AM Standing at the Unit: Hi, yes there's quite a few things, anything in particular? "no, just anything Superhero will be good" I show the Superhero t-shirts, mugs, glassware, tins, money boxes, coasters. "no, no, no, no, no, no, no i'll leave it" Aarrrrrrrrrrrrghhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!! Holidays - do you / can you switch off? 6th October 2014 12:17 PM I'll probably just leave a very brief message on the screen saying... *Thanks for visiting but we are currently on holiday. I've just finished a run of 413 days in a row in my Shopping Centre without a fresh-air break never mind a day off. Customers are getting more and more ill mannered so i've decided to disappear for 3 weeks. If you're one of the friendly ones you will patiently await my return, if you are one of the ones who picks up a £19.99 bag and offers me £7.50 then you might as well stop reading now, assuming you can read. When i come back i will immediately check all messages, if you have left one i shall reply if you have not then do not pester me upon my return. Good day to you all, have a nice life, eat breakfast, always make sure your shoe-laces are tied and spread goodwill* Something like this may do it i think... Holidays - do you / can you switch off? 4th October 2014 9:11 AM I don't have friends nearby my current abode As for 'er Indoors she'll be on holiday with me. I guess i could leave the kids at home and start them off early, by then they'll be 9 and 11, that's legal right?
“How about a family member or friend that can sort the sales in your absence ?”
Holidays - do you / can you switch off? 3rd October 2014 4:59 PM Switch off? Ooh noooo, can't stop thinking about chump work Question though, slightly off-topic...i shall be holidaying next July for the first time in 3 years, stall-wise it's easy as i just won't book into the Shopping Centre that month, but any thoughts on what to do with the website? Only started it this April, i'm a one-man band so no option of 'staff', i can't put a message on the website saying 'Buy today receive in 3 weeks, can i?!
CUSTOMER ANECDOTES AND IRRITATIONS 3rd October 2014 9:26 AM
“I keep threatening to write a book, we even save some of the funnier emails just in case
A few of my favourites over the years: How much is the free listing? Nothing... How long does a lifetime listing last for? As long as we're still here... If it's a one off payment, how much do I pay next year? As much as you'd like to give us. Is that the tax office? No. Why can't I see my listing when I search for builders? Because your not in the builders category Who authorised you to display my business details? You did 8 months ago Where's my parcel and why is Royal Mail so incompetent? No idea, go and ask them How do I edit my Touch Local listing? We're not Touch Local Is that the My Local Job Centre? No. A day in the life...” #NationalPoetryDay - Share yours 2nd October 2014 4:49 PM Nah...it's been alright for a change, this is my good mood poem!
#NationalPoetryDay - Share yours 2nd October 2014 3:59 PM Roses are Red Violets are Blue I hate customers They hate me too CUSTOMER ANECDOTES AND IRRITATIONS 2nd October 2014 3:57 PM Not sure if this will kick-off or not but i'll give it a go. If any of you guys do the face-to-face customer thing you'll have loads of these, so i'll just start with a few separate head shakers from this week. 1) Whilst standing at my Unit rearranging stock...Customer "do you work here"? 2) Handing me a Star Wars t-shirt (a standard cotton t-shirt)...Customer "do you have this in silk"? 3) Customer "i don't have any cash i don't suppose you take card" (i replied that i did) "Oh sorry i meant i don't suppose you do PayPal (i replied that i did) "Oh that's great but i'd rather pay by cheque" (i replied that i DO NOT take cheque). Away she went... |
