Mary Portas
- Thread starter maria102
- Start date
D
Drpepper
Even worst, the daft cow was bemoaning lack of customer service in shops that were making 100's of millions in profits. You don't expect customer service in the likes of Primark when your buying a pair of jeans for £2, that is exactly how they make their money. If they had to provide customer service, and employ the staff to make it happen, they suddenly wouldn't be able to see cheap.
Then again, must remind myself it's just a tv show!
Then again, must remind myself it's just a tv show!
Upvote
0
Upvote
0
U
urban33ltd
Well I enjoyed it........dare I say!
I agree with Primark to a certain point, asking for a product should be something you can do in any shop with ease and with some care to no matter what the price!
I don't think she was dissing independents because she wasn't there to make over the whole shop and change it's look like before, she was trying to get some service back on the high street....which is a good thing weather your in an independent or a high street store!
Stu
I agree with Primark to a certain point, asking for a product should be something you can do in any shop with ease and with some care to no matter what the price!
I don't think she was dissing independents because she wasn't there to make over the whole shop and change it's look like before, she was trying to get some service back on the high street....which is a good thing weather your in an independent or a high street store!
Stu
Upvote
0
I asked for a product in Debenhams recently, and I have to say, the service was really really good. But then, that's Glasgow, where to be honest, people do love to talk.
But what i've found with high street shops, supermarkets and all the other places that people moan about poor service - you get back exactly what you put out. So many people are already grumpy when they talk to the shop assistants, it would take a saint in most cases to be polite back, even if that is their job. You ask politely, with a smile, and a positive approach, and 90% of the time, that's exactly what you get back.
But what i've found with high street shops, supermarkets and all the other places that people moan about poor service - you get back exactly what you put out. So many people are already grumpy when they talk to the shop assistants, it would take a saint in most cases to be polite back, even if that is their job. You ask politely, with a smile, and a positive approach, and 90% of the time, that's exactly what you get back.
Upvote
0
A few weeks ago I was browsing in Dorothy Perkins, a really obnoxious women was knocking lots of clothers of their hangers and just leaving them on the floor - she even trod on several.
The sales staff kept going over to pick them up - and then the manageress politely asked the lady if she could be a little more careful (she had knocked off about 10 items) in the few minutes I was in there)!
The customer not happy being told this - gave a few choice words, told the staff that is what you get paid to do........and stormed out.
Imagine being spoken to like that, on a regular basis, and all for the princely minimum wage.
On another occasion I was in monsoon and some girls came in drinking coffee - and when asked to come back with out their drinks, again a rude reply was shouted across the shop.
I cannot ever remember a shop assistant being rude to me, perhaps not all have been smiling (but who is)?
It cuts both ways, please and thank you, go a long way.
Poppy xx
Last edited:
Upvote
0
A brusque lady visiting small shops and spouting common sense. It's amazing it ran a whole series.
Unfortunately the majority of the country can't really identify with going into Old Man Jenkins' Hardware Shop instead of a big brand superstore. Switch the venue to the child-labour friendly mega-stores and suddenly the general public has more interest in the show.
Unfortunately the majority of the country can't really identify with going into Old Man Jenkins' Hardware Shop instead of a big brand superstore. Switch the venue to the child-labour friendly mega-stores and suddenly the general public has more interest in the show.
Upvote
0
M
mike.davis
I normally like watching business shows even if they are hollywoodised like dragons den, but this was just solely made for tv and terrible from a business point of view.
Who really cares if they get bad customer service when they are buying bargain clothes, I'm sure in the sort of shops mary portas shops in you expect customer service but no high street stores.
Something else that annoyed me was when they were all stood by the front door greeting customers, it's pretty widely acknowledged that greeting customers as soon as they walk into a shop is a bad idea as it instantly puts the shopper off. As far as I'm aware mary portas experience is in fashion and brand retail and isn't the best person for a customer service show.
Who really cares if they get bad customer service when they are buying bargain clothes, I'm sure in the sort of shops mary portas shops in you expect customer service but no high street stores.
Something else that annoyed me was when they were all stood by the front door greeting customers, it's pretty widely acknowledged that greeting customers as soon as they walk into a shop is a bad idea as it instantly puts the shopper off. As far as I'm aware mary portas experience is in fashion and brand retail and isn't the best person for a customer service show.
Upvote
0
M
mike.davis
Well obviously in this instance it's retail shops and the moment the customer walks into the shop, in which case I can say I am correct.
Upvote
0
In the last two years I have walked in both comet and curry's and waited around for a sales person to come and help me, on all occasions none have bothered yet hung around ignoring people,My answer has been to walk out and never been back to both stores again
If I go into John Lewis I get service
If you are happy to accept crap service you get what you deserve
If I go into John Lewis I get service
If you are happy to accept crap service you get what you deserve
Last edited:
Upvote
0
C
crossdaz
try buying a mouse from pc world
Stood there ten minutes while girl looks at me disdainfully and intermittently while counting change. Eventually manager runs over to help - only because he senses aforementioned girl is about to get mouse inserted in her ear hole.
problem is, if your mouse packs in at 5pm and you have work to do there is a limited number of options - this is how they stay in business.
Upvote
0
Upvote
0
C
crossdaz
you're in the wrong shop crossdaz, you want Pets At Home
Mmm, yes, that would explain the funny looks then?
Upvote
0
Not really, you made a generalisation. Not all retail premises are the same. With small businesses, a genuine greeting from the person behind the counter is often more than acceptable, it's appreciated. Larger businesses having someone stand near the door just to say hello to you? That's uncomfortable and usually doesn't go down very well. These are still just general examples but more indicative than your "lol im right" reply.
Perhaps you only shop in the larger, blander national chains. That might explain such an inexperienced view on the matter.
Last edited:
Upvote
0
M
mike.davis
Not really, you made a generalisation. Not all retail premises are the same. With small businesses, a genuine greeting from the person behind the counter is often more than acceptable, it's appreciated. Larger businesses having someone stand near the door just to say hello to you? That's uncomfortable and usually doesn't go down very well. These are still just general examples but more indicative than your "lol im right" reply.
Perhaps you only shop in the larger, blander national chains. That might explain such an inexperienced view on the matter.
Perhaps you're again ignoring the fact that my opinion was based on the tv show greeting people at the door, in which case you have agreed I'm right.
Like you say somebody behind a counter is fine, but that's not what I said...
Upvote
0
I wasn't ignoring it, I simply lost when you switched away from specifics to making poor generalisations. My apologies.
Upvote
0
E
Esk247
didn't watch the show but she's not making over the company she is making over the customer service which i have to say, the UK has been getting a bashing and rightfully so.
Until recently, i thought the customer service in this country was total tosh. There have been a few companies that have restored my faith in staff training such as House of Fraser and Debenhams i think it was but as for our local Co-Op..i haven't stepped foot in the place in two years, i can't do it, i feel like i'm going to bite someones head off because the staff are so aggressive and just sit at the till gossiping about one of the customers or some celebrity. They don't even acknowledge you exist, they just rip the money out of your hand and shove it in the till then give you the wrong change.
Yes some of these staff are on naff wages. I used to be on naff wages too but i wasn't aggressive towards a customer and i didn't argue with someone over the price of chewing gum. << they did that in the Co-Op too, much to my amazement. A checkout supervisor arguing with a customer that she had moved the label on a 75 pence packet of gum. Shocking.
Until recently, i thought the customer service in this country was total tosh. There have been a few companies that have restored my faith in staff training such as House of Fraser and Debenhams i think it was but as for our local Co-Op..i haven't stepped foot in the place in two years, i can't do it, i feel like i'm going to bite someones head off because the staff are so aggressive and just sit at the till gossiping about one of the customers or some celebrity. They don't even acknowledge you exist, they just rip the money out of your hand and shove it in the till then give you the wrong change.
Yes some of these staff are on naff wages. I used to be on naff wages too but i wasn't aggressive towards a customer and i didn't argue with someone over the price of chewing gum. << they did that in the Co-Op too, much to my amazement. A checkout supervisor arguing with a customer that she had moved the label on a 75 pence packet of gum. Shocking.
Upvote
0
M
mike.davis
I wasn't ignoring it, I simply lost when you switched away from specifics to making poor generalisations. My apologies.
I just quoted my original comment, how in any way is that making generalisations, I specifically say greeting customers at the door.
Clearly you have nothing better to do than be pedantic about other peoples comments
Upvote
0
Wow, rude. I apologised despite not being wrong. Maybe you should calm down a little. We're all friends here!I just quoted my original comment, how in any way is that making generalisations, I specifically say greeting customers at the door.
Clearly you have nothing better to do than be pedantic about other peoples comments
This is a statement in your post and clearly an inaccurate generalisation. You can get upset and stomp around saying "that's not how I meant it" all you like, just don't take it out on me.
Last edited:
Upvote
0
M
mike.davis
Wow, rude. I apologised despite not being wrong. Maybe you should calm down a little. We're all friends here!
This is a statement in your post and clearly an inaccurate generalisation. You can get upset and stomp around saying "that's not how I meant it" all you like, just don't take it out on me.
Well no you are wrong, that statement alone explains itself enough and when you don't delete the first part of it it helps
Don't start wrongly criticising my posts then call me rude when I show you up.
Upvote
0
Starting a sentence talking about a specific example before switching to a (rather inaccurate) generalisation? Then getting upset? You're certainly showing someone up.Well no you are wrong, that statement alone explains itself enough and when you don't delete the first part of it it helps
Don't start wrongly criticising my posts then call me rude when I show you up.
Anyway, you're taking the thread off topic. I was simply highlighting your error in case anyone took your generalisation as genuine advice. If you'd like to discuss the, er, merits of your posts, feel free to PM me, I'm sure I can help but this thread isn't about your bruised ego so let's leave it at that.
Last edited:
Upvote
0
M
mike.davis
Starting a sentence talking about a specific example before switching to a (rather inaccurate) generalisation? Then getting upset? You're certainly showing someone up.
Anyway, you're taking the thread off topic. I was simply highlighting your error in case anyone took your generalisation as genuine advice. If you'd like to discuss the, er, merits of your posts, feel free to PM me, I'm sure I can help but this thread isn't about your bruised ego so let's leave it at that.
You really are full of yourself.
There was no error in my post, the part of my post that you claim "switched to a generalisation"
Which you even agreed with in your reply
If you can't understand that "greeting customers as soon as they walk in the door" and "a greeting from the person behind the counter" are very different then I'm afraid thats down to your lack of intelligence.
You need to stop trying to speak to me like your teaching me a lesson and try to shrink your ego a little bit.
Upvote
0
*sigh*
For everyone capable of reason, remember that the efficacy of greeting customers is situational, your mileage may vary, etc. Don't let this guy convince you or confuse you into believing otherwise.
For everyone capable of reason, remember that the efficacy of greeting customers is situational, your mileage may vary, etc. Don't let this guy convince you or confuse you into believing otherwise.
Upvote
0
M
mike.davis
Unbelievable, you're so arrogant that you can't admit that my post was directed at an exact situation and didn't make any generalisations what so ever. Reason would be reading my post and seeing that it clearly says "they were all stood by the front door greeting customers, it's pretty widely acknowledged that greeting customers as soon as they walk into a shop is a bad idea as it instantly puts the shopper off."
Thats not a generalisation thats an exact specific for the programme we are talking about! Do you actually have any experience of business or do you just come on a forum to try and prove people wrong but when you fail you just resort to childish tactics.
And you can't see that it's you acting like a child that refuses to be proved wrong
You were wrong, deal with it and grow up.
Upvote
0
D
Drpepper
For my two pence worth I will always greet someone, from behind the counter, after about 20 seconds or so. Just a friendly "Good morning/Afternoon" as it acknowledges the customer without jumping on them the moment they cross your threshold. Doing this also gives them the opportunity to engage in further conversation should they wish.
Personally I would avoid shops with a "meet & greet" at the door, just intimidates the customers and it's never sincere.
That's my input for what it's worth, now let the battle resume
Personally I would avoid shops with a "meet & greet" at the door, just intimidates the customers and it's never sincere.
That's my input for what it's worth, now let the battle resume
Upvote
0
I really do like Mary Portas and I thought her previous shows were nothing short of excellent. However, I have to agree with most of you that expecting customer service in the types of stores she entered, primark etc is kind of off the mark isnt it. I have never ever gone into primark expecting to be ushered around and given service like it's Harrods! You get what you pay for... simple as that. I think it would be better to tackle the issue of fast fashion if she really wanted to make a valuable impact - that for me is where the real issue lies and not customer service in stores where you wouldnt expect any in the first place.
Upvote
0
Calm down.
Now look, I don't mean to come across as a troll, but this thread really isn't the place for your embarrassing tantrum. There's no point in trying to shout me down with the "no, you!" technique. If you'd like to discuss the specifics of your post, then by all means drop me a PM and we can hash it out there, but let's leave the advice offered in this thread as is and not muddy the issue any further.
Upvote
0
I think you both miss the point that they were at the door for the grand opening after a refurbisment when there was a queue waiting to come in, I think you will find that quite normal. there was nothing that I found that indicated this was to be the normal procedure
Sorry cannot understand that you expect less from Primark than other places, whilst price is an important item in a sale it has been proven that it is not the only item, you do not find may Waitrose customers shopping for tins of beans in Aldi although they are cheaper (yes an extream comparison) but all shops have compeditors whatever price range they are in and Helpfull happy looking staff can only help improve sales
Sorry cannot understand that you expect less from Primark than other places, whilst price is an important item in a sale it has been proven that it is not the only item, you do not find may Waitrose customers shopping for tins of beans in Aldi although they are cheaper (yes an extream comparison) but all shops have compeditors whatever price range they are in and Helpfull happy looking staff can only help improve sales
Upvote
0
D
Drpepper
I think you may have contradicted yourself there Chirs, Waitrose customer service is as you say a million miles away from Aldi. And you do get the service in Waitrose together with the higher price and better quality. I wouldn't go to Aldi for quality or service, it's just not their market.
If Primark were to invest in Customer service they would need many more and higher paid staff. Then they would no longer be able to sell so cheaply. Also if they are making £250,000,000 profit a year I would guess they are happy with their business model.
Also remember with Primark, all those untidy displays, stock on the floor etc create the perception that you are getting a bargain. It's probably not accidental their shops are always apparently disorganised!
Last edited by a moderator:
Upvote
0
Sorry the comparison was ment for price not customer service, i.e. they are happy to pay more for the same item , not a very good example agreed but what came to my mind
The money they make does not really mean they are not interested in making more after all in the program the owner was happy with grumpy staff as he could not or did not understand that service could bring in more
The money they make does not really mean they are not interested in making more after all in the program the owner was happy with grumpy staff as he could not or did not understand that service could bring in more
Last edited:
Upvote
0
Similar threads
Latest Articles
-
90,000 jobs are heading your way. Your rates bill might get there firstIf you run a business in Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds or Bristol, you were probably told some...- Ozzy
- Updated:
- 8 min read
-
How to Price a New Product or Service: We Asked UKBFOn 5 August, @Data Swami posted in the General Business Forum with a question that ought to have...
- Ozzy
- Updated:
- 7 min read
-
70 years of director bans in six months: Companies House has stopped asking nicelyCompanies House published a release on August 6th 2026 that every company director should read...
- Ozzy
- Updated:
- 7 min read
-
MTD for Income Tax: your first quarterly update is due 7 August.If you are a sole trader or landlord and your gross income from self-employment and property was...- maka
- Updated:
- 4 min read
-
Andy Burnham's Manifesto for Small Business, and How It Stacks Up Against Count BinfaceIf all goes to plan (or rather, to Labour's timetable), Andy Burnham will be sworn in as Prime...
- Ozzy
- Updated:
- 5 min read