On 14 Sep 2015 at 12:32pm Just Me wrote:
Just heard that Esso has been sold again and will be turning into a BP garage with M&S in there. I like M&S lunch selection so hopefully this one will offer a good range.
Hopefully they will train their staff to be a bit more joyful when serving customers. Even a hello would be an improvemet
On 14 Sep 2015 at 12:35pm S+M wrote:
What's to be joyful about working for the min. wage ? If you don't like it go to Tesco.
On 14 Sep 2015 at 12:42pm Ducatipete wrote:
Plonker!
On 14 Sep 2015 at 12:44pm Smile wrote:
I used to work for minimum wage and could muster a smile and a hello.
On 14 Sep 2015 at 12:45pm Driver wrote:
Hopefully the new owners will remove or set back some of clutter at the entrance. I don't use this garage, as the visibility is limited on exit and traffic comes round the bend too fast.
On 14 Sep 2015 at 12:58pm Earl of Lewes wrote:
I'm not sure if I want "joyful" staff - I just want to pay for my petrol and go.
There's a difference between a polite greeting and the insincere "Have a nice day" approach that an increasing number of retailers are forcing their staff to do, with mystery shoppers assessing and marking them.
I noticed that Tesco made all of their checkout staff start chatting to the customers a few months ago - probably because they're losing sales to Aldi and think that friendly service will lure us all back. But the reality was painful, as not all of us are naturally chatty and I had several painfully awkward conversations with people who clearly didn't have anything to say.
I agree that however little you're paid, basic civility to customers is part of the job. But forcing staff to feign delight as each customer approaches the till is too much.
On 14 Sep 2015 at 1:44pm S+M wrote:
Ear of Lewes, well said. Ducati Pete, Bigend.
On 14 Sep 2015 at 2:55pm ClicketyYak wrote:
Will I be able to buy me M&S pants in Lewes now?
On 14 Sep 2015 at 3:00pm Just me wrote:
I agree that they dont need to be bringing out the celebration balloons each time people walk in but a hello, please, thank you and goodbye wouldnt go amiss.
On 14 Sep 2015 at 3:02pm Just me wrote:
I go into shops and say have a nice day to the person who has served me. Its not always a forced thing to do.
On 14 Sep 2015 at 6:18pm Ed Can Do wrote:
I think the people who work in the Esso are all perfectly pleasant, can't say I've ever had anyone in there be rude to me. Also, when you buy a business and carry it on as the same kind of business you legally have to employ the same staff so no, they won't be changing any time soon.
The sign for cheap petrol two days a week does make it a touch tricky to see what's driving up the hill as you pull out of Esso but unlike the Tesco garage, your credit card details are pretty secure when shopping there so I always go to Esso.
On 14 Sep 2015 at 7:12pm Knowall fish wick wrote:
Had my card done in esso 3 weeks ago , and they couldn't add my club card points all seemed a bit dodge to me at the time ,
On 14 Sep 2015 at 7:36pm Sussex Jim wrote:
When I get an insincere "have a nice day" or "enjoy" (food) I usually adopt a Reggie Perrin reply: "I won't".
On 14 Sep 2015 at 7:40pm The Esso sign wrote:
means happy motoring.
On 14 Sep 2015 at 8:01pm The Fairy Glide wrote:
SJ Have you anymore mind-numbingly thoughtless and dam right rude remarks that you issue the hard working counter staff of M&S lingerie department... when you glide your presence away from the said store that you've just 'privileged & honoured' with your good self.. Do you feel complete & whole again?
On 14 Sep 2015 at 8:02pm Earl of Lewes wrote:
@JustMe - Maybe it's my age, but "Have a nice day" feels very cheesy and American to me. Also, I feel silly saying it to someone who will be probably spending the next six hours standing behind a checkout. If they day it to me, I usually just mumble an awkward "And I hope you have a good evening."
On 15 Sep 2015 at 7:02am The Electra Glide wrote:
Well said Earl, it's strange and sad to old ears that the English language is macerated so much. Would not a simple "Good Day" from them suffice? At least we have the robotic checkouts which I use, more for the checkout operators benefit than mine.
On 15 Sep 2015 at 7:25pm Petrol ****head wrote:
BP petrol does get you a LOT further. And it smells less.
On 16 Sep 2015 at 9:14am stevet wrote:
If this means there's somewhere to buy dinner when I run out of food on a Sunday evening, then it's excellent news