Do you think shop staff should be trained in what goods they sell?

I just feel sorry for this assistant, imagine growing up not knowing about 'Pooh sticks" or "WOL" or about "Roo and his medicine". This was a deprived child!
My favourite shop is the hardware store near us. It's family run and all the staff offer DIY advice with your purchase. Brilliant!

But your opinion of cleaners LullyDully and yes it was offensive

I think it's more of a question of customer service skills, rather than literary knowledge, as others have pointed out.

BBBevan, you would have reported the girl for that ? And been happy is she had been dismissed

I tried the first two parts of your quiz, anno, and gave up, feeling thoroughly ashamed of myself And I was just considering applying for a voluntary job at our central library!

Mind you, an assistant once asked me what my veg was, at checkout. I'd forgotten myself and had to run back to check (it was fennel).

I'd only ever complain about service if it was rude. Nobody's perfect.

Anniebach I said nothing in either of my posts about reporting anyone. You have inferred that.

My husband was a store manager for years, employed by several major companies, and he never got any product training - everything he was taught was based on the way each company merchandised their goods, ran their promotions, handled their paperwork, etc. As far as I know, the people on the shopfloor also aren't taught much about the products they're selling. I think it is usually assumed you'll pick up that sort of knowledge after a while. I think one of the few times my husband was genuinely baffled by a product request was when he worked for Superdrug and an old lady asked him for a Tweeny Twink...Took him a few minutes to work out that it was a home perm!

Im absolutely gobsmacked how this thread has gone with the nit picking comments! Still its given me a good laugh for a Monday morning

Re Lullydullys throw away comment about the cleaner Im 100% sure she wasnt making a derogatory remark on actual 'cleaners' she was merely pointing out as the cleaner wasnt actually working on the shop floor she might not have any knowledge of the books on the shelves, whereas the shop assistant should have.

Just to clarify the assistant wasnt reported to the manager which some have presumed.

John Lewis train their staff about the products they're selling.

Thank you must.

Of course you are entitled to your opinion Mumsy but ..........

Get off your your high horse mumsy it won't win you any friends and I've had a sample of your own brand of nit picking for which you failed to apologise.

Dont ride horses Anya!
Pot / kettle springs to mind!

FFS try for a little originality mumsy that's exactly what you trotted out last time

And d'you know why? Because I hadn't said a single thing against you. You had me mixed up with another poster with a similar name

FFS? whats that mean?
trotted! I told you I dont ride horses!

mumsy I'm not prepared to trade insults with you. Carry on without me