Staff chatting in shop

Yes, Stansgran, my HTC phone was definitely not machine-washable.

I often go into our local shop & buy the papers without the assistant giving any eye contact or coming off their mobile phone. I've had some lovely conversations with the M&S foodstore check-out staff

But j08 is it washable? I've just laundered my DH'smobile and he is one unhappy bunny. I'm off to buy him a new one nowish.

Anno we got our food and free coffee too. It was the staff night out so we were quite a crowd. But no need to ban us, we all gave the place a miss after such awful service.

I live in a small town which still manages to sport : Tescos; Morrisons; ASDA; Lidl and shortly Aldi. There just is no room for the little local shop sadly so it would be impossible to do the WI thing and spend £5 to keep the highstreet alive. We do have a market but rarely does the money spent at this help towards regenerating the town.

Many of us tried to fight the planning authority but how could we compete with offers of new halls, planted sitting areas in the town centre and town centre car parking.

When it comes to politeness in the supermarkets ASDA has my vote they seem to know how to 'treat the customer right'. Remember 'The Customer is King'.

What a good move, Aka. Did you get your food? Or have they banned you?

Once we waited so long between courses that I actually phoned the restaurant we were sitting in and gave orders for dessert over the phone. They insisted they didn't deliver, so we all stood up and waved and explained that we were still actually on site.

You should all come to Bridport...... briliant butchers shops. independent bakeries, fruit and veg shops, fish shops, lovely wide pavements, absolutely fantastic hat shop, amazing flea market and food market on Saturdays and loads of lovely quirky shops, West Bay and the sea a mere 2 miles away, and some of the friendliest people in the world, home to PJ Harvey and Billy Bragg nearby, with Martin Clunes up the road past Beaminster

Despite all this the town also boasts a co op. Morrison, lidl, and waitrose, and all co exist quite happlily

Wonderful J0 I'll order one for each handbag.

I remember shopping with my grandmother once when I was about 10.
When we went into Woolworth's, all the staff were chatting behind the counter and in a very imperious voice she said, "Excuse me my dear, but do you work here?" It must have made a great impression on me because I remember it a good 60 years later!

I do agree it is rude for shop staff to carry on with personal conversations when customers are waiting.
When I was at university in Cardiff I had a part time job in Sainsbury's and I almost regretted telling a customer I did Business Studies at Cardiff University.
Every time he came in he wanted a chat about what I was studying and sometimes a little chat about football.
I did not want to be rude but it could be a bit annoying if I was busy or had customers waiting.

Frank

I really object to shop staff having personal conversations with each other when serving me. Worst, was recently in Debenhams. The assistant taking my purchases was describing to another assistant, the stomach complaint that she had been off with, the day before! I thoroughly washed my hands when I got home! Aka:
Mobile phones, an I phone, car phone warehouse do great deals. Then you can gransnet wherever you are!!(smile) x

definitely this one aka

Mobile that is.

I'm actually after a new phone. Any recommendations?

Nearly every shop in our town that have closed have reopened as phone shops, surely they can`t ALL be making a profit?

Our local grocer's was just like yours KatyK. I would drop my mother's order in in the way to school once a week and in the afternoon the box of groceries was waiting on the back doorstep. Great service.

Las Vegas is everything I disapprove of - and it's wonderful. Love it! My advantage is that I've never been able to figure out this gambling lark so just get to see the free shows.
Once when we perched at a bar for a drink we were asked if we were using the poker machines - seven different games. I can hardly master one!

I have a good pal who loves Vegas. She was very happy her daughter chose to marry there. I would have been sad! I have only been to NYC in the US so the joy of Vegas is yet to be for me but I would like to go to see the spectacle!

I can remember one particular local shop when I was a kid. Smoked bacon being sliced, butter out of a tub, being patted into shape by the shopkeeper. Loose biscuits out of big square tins - always hoping you would be served when he opened a new tin so the biscuits would not be soft. Brown paper bags. Bags of Oxo crisps.... I do like the convenience of supermarkets though.

nanaj - absolutley no offence taken! I am off to Las Vegas in September to play some poker - now there's a town that knows about customer service (as long as you have the money to pay for it!)

Nanaej! Not whatever Fire said!

Agree Aaron. Out of town ones are the worse culprits.

p.s. Vegas I was not being rude..sorry if it felt like that.. we all like different things and that's OK!

I think High Sts need a balance..supermarkets and popular chain shops are important to attract 'footfall' and small independent shops welcome this.

I think the issue is when the supermarkets are out of town so nobody goes to the High St. We are lucky to have butcher, fish monger greengrocer plus independent clothes & gift shops along with the banks, estate agents, pubs, cafes & the ubiquitous charity shops and some otheer High St shops (e.g. Boots/Waterstones). Waitrose and Sainsbury plus Homebase and Pets at Home all within walking distance of each other on the High St.

I think it is important to maintain High Sts as they can be the focal point for the community and create a sense of belonging. I don't want to feel I belong to Tesco!