Blimey John Lewis is rubbish!

I always look in the mirror to look at handbags.

Thought you might like to hear the end (more or less) of the saga of my daughter's new cooker. Apparently the problem was caused by their decision to have items delivered by the suppliers instead of using their own drivers and lorries. Suppliers don't always share JL's "values" (remember that word) Electrolux told us it was more than two weeks before they were told the cooker had to be picked up. The collection was fixed for last Thusrday. DD took the day off work and waited in for the collection which didn't happen. Well you can imagine the emails and phone calls that kicked off then! It culminated in DD being told that JL could do nothing because Electrolux was closed and there was no "value" in talking to her. I started emailing the chap who was supposed to be dealing with our case, naming names and telling him what I thought about their so called service. Result, DD got grovelling apologies and a new collection fixed. Actually got rid of the cooker this afternoon and now I just have to wait for the refund!

I don't live very near to a John Lewis so only go there occasionally when I make a big effort to get there. I do buy sometimes on line and have the parcel delivered to the local Waotrose for collection. This is usually a very speedy service sometimes it arrives 24 hours after I've ordered it. I did have a surly man speak to me in the lighting department a few years ago when I took back a faulty lamp but he did apologise when I told him he was rude!

supposed to be a throwaway comment

My comments were supposed to be throwaway ones too.

Stick 'life' between my and I've

Don't have a lot of experience of JL but we were very satisfied with the service we got when we bought a new king size mattress. The delivery chaps had to carry it a long way up a hill to our house because their van wouldn't fit up the track. They were completely cheerful and pleasant about the whole thing and carried our old mattress down the hill too.

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

batty, this was not a comment about you so you don't need to take offence. I'm actually very fussy about bags. I only have cross-body ones and the strap has to be wide so it doesn't dig in. Most of my I've only had one shoulder bag at a time and it has to do for everything.

Please don't feel you have to justify what you want. None of my comments have been criticisms of you. My comments are simply me joining in the conversation with no ill intent whatsoever. e.g. the one about fitting rooms—if I couldn't see a mirror in a shop when I needed one, the fitting rooms are exactly where I'd head, so I suggested it.

I love John Lewis. It's my go to store for electrical appliances, I enjoy the haberdashery department, bought wallpaper there recently and once had (expensive ) curtains made. The measuring and fitting of those curtains was a treat in itself and 10 years later, they're good as new.

We had cause to complain about an expensive item of furniture. It was replaced with one of better quality with no difficulty.

I like the clothes department, though I still prefer to shop in smaller, individual shops but JL has a good range.

I've found all their associates/assistants very helpful.
Yours sincerely
a happy shopper

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??

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.

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.

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

Love JL in store and on-line.

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.

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

Sorry about the mistakes.

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.

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)

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.)

Haha, given your username Baggs that made me chuckle