This months Complete lack of customer service award goes to

SteveB_Sigma33

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25 Nov 2003
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Port Solent, UK
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Went into a certain super store located in Port Solent marina yesterday.

After looking for the new toughened Admiralty charts and not finding them had a conversation with the so called assistant behind the counter.

SY = Spotty youth

Me: I've looked for the toughened Admiralty charts, do you have any in stock.

SY: I'm not sure, really.

Me: Do you plan to get some in?

SY: I'm not sure, really.

Me: Is it possible for you to get them in?

SY: Slight sigh (as in bugger I may have to do some work here), Errr well, I'm not sure I guess we could.

Left the store thinking why the hell am I trying to support a local business if they're going to employ idiots! Surely I pay enough in my taxes to keep this particular brand of moron in day care somewhere!
 
They even have trouble selling those!!

Went in to look at some XM oilies that I saw advertised on their website. Went up and down the tightly packed rails of Musto and Henrys. Couldn't see XMs. Asked one of the assistants.

''Oh we don't sell them'' says she.

''But your website says you do '' says I.

''Oh'' says she. ''Have you looked on the rails''

(What, thinks I, for something you don't sell?)

''Yes'' says I

''Oh''

Eventually found them on Henry hangers..... and bought them !

Having taken the p*ss I have to say I find them friendly and it's a well stocked store BUT......... !!!!
 
Whilst they are the only chandlery at Port Solent they will never feel threatened - they have a monopoly with or without good local customer service.

I think you will find the Spotty Youths are the result of Sunday Staff giving full time staff a day off.

Got my copy of the new tough loose leaf A3 size Admiralty Charts from Bookharbour.com Great for the cockpit and adding Waypoints held on my GPS as a back up reference for eyeball navigation in Solent. No substitute for proper charts.
 
SWMBO had her mobile charger stolen so I had to buy a new one from a mobile shop. The general consensus was the phone was so old they wouldn't have one. They didn't bat an eylid when I replied 'Yes, it's six months old. That's almost an antique'

Why do phone shops employ spotty herberts with more peircings than brain cells and fash Harrys with cufflinks and cut glass earings and estuary English who regard phones as status symbols?

Full marks to the market trader who sold me one for a tenner having checked it worked on SWMBOs phone.
 
SYs cost less than people who know what they're talking about. The PS mob are quite the worst I've come across, however there are some staff there who are both knowledgeable and helpful and don't rely on it being the OFs either (Old Farts).
 
Oy Ref. That's a foul.
I have used the Port Solent store many times and always had good polite and efficient service.
Why is it that only wingears get heard on this forum, not the '000s who have had good service?
 
Hardly true !!! I have read many posts praising Companies where the service is BETTER than expected, none where the service is what you'd expect (and pay for !!!) and MOST negative comments are supported by fact.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Why do phone shops employ spotty herberts with more peircings than brain cells and fash Harrys with cufflinks and cut glass earings and estuary English who regard phones as status symbols?



[/ QUOTE ]

Would you work in a phone shop?
 
If you walk down any high street at weekends they are mostly populated by the spotted youth brigade. Most of us did it ourselves at one time or another.

They are probably paid near the minimum wage and it's the price WE pay for demanding low prices. In the same breath WE demand full service but expect others with knowledge and experience to work for a pittance on a Sunday just to suit ourselves. Would you give up your sail on a Sunday for £5.50 an hour ?

Be pleased that the place was open at all and you are free to wander about and make your own choices based on your own accquired knowledge and experience.

I take the view now that if I want to make a serious purchase it's up to me to find out about stuff. This forum for example is a fantastic place to gain the info.Please don't take it out on shop staff. They need our support.
 
I agree that we have all done it at some time, but I like to think that I was polite and curteous with 99% of the great un washed that I dealt with.

Has Gordon Brown taxed being curteous?
 
I am lucky that I can make a detour to Aladdins Cave at Swanwick. Well informed and pleasant staff all of whom have been there for years and know their stock, how it works, etc,etc.

I have been into Port Solent and agree that it is fairly hopeless if you have to ask for anything, of course the fault of the managment not the kids behind the bar.

Regds Nick
 
[ QUOTE ]
I agree that we have all done it at some time, but I like to think that I was polite and curteous with 99% of the great un washed that I dealt with.

Has Gordon Brown taxed being curteous?

[/ QUOTE ]

I am sure that you were courteous but probably like most of us, unrealistic in this day and age. Did you really expect a one day spotty youth to know this kind of information or were you just bullying the lad for no good reason ?. Sounds like it to me.
 
If I can wait for the item, I am happy to buy it via www.sailroom.com or the like,

But as has been said, Aladdin's cave at the Moody Yard, I think thats the one that was mentioned, is great. I particularly found a young lady by the name of Kelly very, very knowledgeable on any item I asked for. It became a bit of a mission for me, but she new her onions!

Very impressed was Tina also, This Kelly lady was patient with her also when looking at the sizes and pricing of foulies.

I hope I have her name correct, but if not it was the pretty dark haired lady in her early twenty's.

Credit where credit is due.

Maldon Chandlery, Omi good guy,
P.Solent, I wont be going back there in a hurry, found the service a tad poor,

But the best service that I have ever received is from SEMS in Basildon. They go way beyond my expectations every time.

Al.
 
I would hardly call a question about charts in a chandlery a bullying question.

The fact I'm 36 not a complete old duffer with nothing better to do than upset whipper snappers.

I would have been fine if he replied in a slightly more interested manor that he knew nothing about anything rather than the tone of 'I'm bored with life, but the world owes me a living'
 
I suspect you have been using the outlet across the bridge..I have been in there, but usually use the main shop across on the western side in Deacons yard.

I think the staff there work on a roster and so have 'days off' during the week so that the shop doesn't end up with all the competent staff being at home when the shop is at its busiest .


Regds Nick
 
Sounds fair enough to me.

It is the one over the bridge, it has a bus lay-by right outside, agree though, they are good. Kelly is full time staff, may even have been Ass. Manager !!!

Any road,

Regards

Al.
 
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