Blimey John Lewis is rubbish!

OK never mind. I thought *who needs a mirror to look at a handbag*was rather curt. I clearly need to get off this damn machine and push past the depression and interact with people face to face.

I've always liked John Lewis and, over the years I've bought a lot from them. I recently went into the Cheadle store to buy flooring for my living room, dining room and kitchen. The instore assistant couldn't have been more helpful and she offered suggestions that I hadn't considered. Once I'd made my choice, the assistant made an appointment for their in-store rep to come to my house and measure up and give me a price quote. The appointment was changed, by John Lewis, 3 times before they eventually turned up. The rep was completely different to the in-store staff; he dismissed my choice of flooring as being unsuitable and offered something completely different that I wasn't keen on. I was then informed that every piece of furniture would have to be stacked up outside, or put in storage before they would begin the job. I was told that I would have to do all of that myself due to "elf & safety for their staff". As I live alone, there was no way I could do it. Instead, I went to a small independent retailer who agreed with my initial choice, worked around the furniture that I couldn't move myself and did a 1st class job. Maybe it depends on which branch of John Lewis you go to as to the level of service you get.

oldbatty I do understand, but I think you have to take account of the lack of body language. It can be difficult on forums where all you have are the words, nothing else, not even an idea of what the person saying them is like.
Keep posting on GN, you will find a lot of people genuinely willing to support you through any difficult times.

Chewbacca, your experience with that same branch of JL is similar to my friend's battle with them over curtains - I won't go into that! Like many other companies, JL has undergone a massive re-structuring exercise in the past year and it sounds as if no-one knows who is responsible for what. One major problem seems to be that work that was previously done by in-house 'partners' is now being out-sourced to companies with no loyalty to JL and its reputation. It sounds as if that is the root cause of many of the incidents reported on this thread.

It's just that fitting rooms have mirrors, batty.

I put some feedback on the JL website but no response from them about the Leicester store. My comments were that there never seems to be anyone at the cash desks now, the beauty hall is often deserted and I have to search for someone to serve me and the entire soft furnishings dept. was a ghost town- I expect they are cutting down on staff too. I really like all their goods, they are overpriced but I used to buy there for the excellent service - I think this is going.

TK Max is good for handbags imho, and has mirrors!
Elrel I wanted to buy a sun hat in TK Maxx but couldn't find a mirror and couldn't be bothered to cart about 10 sun hats to the changing room.

So I bought a handbag instead (it's very nice and half the price it would have been in JL)!

I think this thread is actually on a plane of life that I've never experienced, thank goodness: "desperate for a handbag". Clearly I've been lucky so far. Long may that last!

Haha, given your username Baggs that made me chuckle

Are the JL stores independently owned/run?
The stores I'm familiar with are Oxford St. and Newcastle, Eldon Square. The Newcastle one is better ( staff and stock.)

Have read this whole thread, nodding or tutting as appropriate and am now anxious to know who the 'main players' are. Didn't spot any!
I only use JL on occasional visits to Edinburgh so no strong feelings there. I do tend to email to praise good service wherever I experience it and also send a grumble if necessary!

When I say 'desperate' I mean I own one very small one, which I bought for my sons graduation. As my brain is overloaded and the existing bag is small, I was afraid I would lose a card or purse.

oldbatty Very understandable imo,I always look at the length of handles/straps etc to make sure they look right for me,when you are spending a decent amount of money on an item you want it to be right for you don't you.

the comment about not being on the plane of people who are desperate for bags is the sort of thing which is uncalled for.

I am not some saddo woman flouncing about buying handbags. I have one, unsuitable small bag, one pair of sandals and a pair of trainers. Hardly a shopaholic.

It was supposed to be a throwaway comment kind of linked into previous discussion about House of Fraser.

fennel, JL is a company uniquely owned by its employees who are all known as 'partners'. Therefore it isn't quoted on the stock exchange. Partners share profits in an annual bonus scheme. Waitrose is also part of the partnership. Of course there has to be a hierarchy of management from the chief exec downwards.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Lewis_(department_store)

I regularly shop ant John Lewis. I am 81 years old now and have shopped with them since I was 23. I love gthe shop and have most things ing my home from JL. Sorry to hear some of you have had bad experiences.

Sorry about the mistakes.

well there you go Royal....some you win some you lose. What are your favourite purchases from JL?

John Lewis is the only place in our city centre that I can buy a light bulb or a spool of thread. To have somewhere that you can pop in for that, and also buy major appliances, carpeting etc is unique.

Love JL in store and on-line.

Thanks, annodomini . So that explains the variation in standards - they're not ruled from the top.

Not ruled from the top
I’m not sure I follow your logic Fennel. I imagine there is company policy, as well as a well-defined hierarchy of departmental, branch and possibly area managers.
However profits must be maintained and competition on the high street is ever keener so I suppose cuts have been made. But as “Partners” I.e.staff enjoy a share of the annual profits there is a greater incentive than ever to keep the Partnership profitable.
Styles change sadly and one is no longer addressed as Madam (or by name as soon as a JL account card is proffered) as used to be the case.
My local branch has some mirrors on the shop floor (for the likes of handbags, hats, shoes) so I can only assume yours is different oldbatty. I am not sure where you would want to leave your own stuff though. Unattended packages and bags must be seen as a security issue.
But to dismiss it as “rubbish” on that account ....? Long queues? Must have been busy that day!
Heating in shops is a thorny issue. You can roast in a department store and freeze in a supermarket regardless of which one it is.

I personally find JL as reliable and pleasant to shop in as it always was though I don't shop there so often nowadays as I have accumulated most things I need & I am trying hard to reduce my carbon footprint! We all have bad days when minor irritations are magnified and I suspect that was your experience oldbatty. Hope your next shopping experience is less stressful.

Oh! Just remembered friends hada really bad experience with a new kitchen..much like Chewbaccas flooring experience. Ordered kitchen in store. helpful service all going well. Unaware that the kitchen fitting is then subcontracted.... it took almost a year and all kinds of calamities until it was all sorted. Maybe before JL did all their own fittings etc but now use contractors??