I had a very poor experience I Boots,Perth ,Scotland yesterday.Female on perfume counter did not want to serve me and directed me to self service.I politely and calmly explained I wanted to be served by a human being,as it was she was a poor excuse for one.I was warned that if I didn’t use self service jobs would be lost.That seems rather back to front to me.After keeping me waiting she reluctantly served me most begrudgingly.Little wonder the High Street is ailing.I won’t be back.Very rude and aggressive.She was as nice as nine pence to the perfume buying man in front of me.

I was pleasant to a point then just popped a button “Oh no you don’t.. lemme use your phone I need to call my husband to come get this shopping. Then you and i will go upstairs into the office and go down formal policy and procedure you have to follow include calling the police. I will not stop you doing your job come on let’s go”

Oh my God she was due to clock off in another hour and didn’t get home 7pm. An extra five hours on Christmas Eve all because she picked the wrong time, place and the worst person on Earth to start playing the little bastard routine with. I didn’t give a shit how long we rolled that over and would have sat eating Christmas Lunch on shop floor the next day if need be she was not getting away with that.

Never a need for bad attitude and bad namers and bullying.

Email sent late yesterday aft –

“Dropping you an email in the first instance to allow you the chance to look into this before I do anything else but I’m contacting you following an incident at the _____mall and Boots store this afternoon which has actually left my daughter so worked up and worried she genuinely thinks the police could even come knocking.

She and her friend visited the store this afternoon and my daughter H picked up and tried an eye-shadow which was by the “try me” tester station. She was quickly approached by a female staff member__ both girls described as bolshy and intimidating pointing them towards the main counter and saying it had to be paid for in full.

H explained and pointed out where she’d picked it up – right by the “Try me” and it was unsealed / open and she had honestly believed it was a tester but said she was cut short and almost barged to one side by her reaching underneath somewhere, pulled out another eye-shadow, kind of thrust it at her and went “THIS is the tester. You have to pay for it in full at the counter”

H and her friend left and she was worked up enough to come all the way home on the train and still be teary and worried as she walked inside the house.

Assured her she hadn’t done anything wrong, her face wouldn’t be up on the FBI’s most wanted and there wouldn’t be police rocking up at the door after her so not to worry. If it was an honest mistake, the eye-shadow was already open / unwrapped and anyone would assume the same thing too so she needn’t worry.

She is worried though. It’s still bothering her now and this is a 21yr old she’ not a kid. That suggests at least to me it warrants a quick word to let you know, give you chance to find out exactly what happened and confirm what the situation is regardless.

If this is an actual issue / the store stands by what happened and the member of staff please let me know so I can take it up formally.

Would rather not do that unless and until however because mistakes happen. Wires get crossed and things do go wrong.

Please respond within the next day or two if only to acknowledge receipt of this email.

Many thanks”

I’m sure when the manager does respond they will be as appalled as I would be but very often when you find staff with an attitude like that person is the manager or higher ups are as bad and could not care less.

I’m a believer in plain good old fashioned manners, courtesy and giving people the chance to put right any wrongs before taking it to the wider world but if you don’t bother – no problem. I’ll take it to the wider world and you wish for the rest of your days you had just not been such as arsehole. Doesn’t pay. There’s always much bigger, smarter and bigger arsehole that can make your life a misery – like me.

You were absolutely right and I agree entirely it’s the fact that people can’t be bothered to do what most of us do as almost involuntary thing. It’s like someone asking you in a panic whether you know the nearest police station or place they can use a telephone and looking up from sending a text then going “No sorry”

So much depends on attitude and tone of voice.

Try complaining via ‘resolver’ it’s a free website that pre fills your complaint and pushes it higher up the management system as you get your responses, that’s who I used and they seemed to respond better when I did! Really you shouldn’t have too, I find it so upsetting that people can be rude for no reason – especially to nice customers who aren’t doing anything wrong! xx

I live in Whitehaven in Cumbria and I was also extremely upset by a member of staff in boots who treated me with such contempt that I just walked out. I then decid d to go back and to speak to the manager and was rudely told he’s on holiday. I will try again to put my complaint in writing.

I totally agree, it’s become such a hassle to get them to resolve the situation- if it was my store I would be mortified and want to get it sorted ASAP! I am so glad you feel you can complain now (I’m hoping this post has helped?) we shouldn’t have to accept shitty customer service anymore! xx

I am so glad I’m not the only person who noticed this! I had this idea that everyone would be MORE friendly outside London so I got a bit of a rude awakening when we moved lol xx