Derek Geldard wrote:
On Wed, 31 Dec 2008 16:46:06 +0000, Bruce wrote:

I think the 2007 annual bonus, paid in March 2008, averaged something
like 20% of annual salary, which is a pretty good incentive.

That is good, as long as the basic salary is competitive.


It is. There is a long (and growing) waiting list of people wanting
to work for the Partnership.

The Medway Handyman wrote:
John wrote:
SNIP
Expensive parking


Medway Council seem set upon driving business away from the town centre, car
parking charges are horrific. Bearing in mind Chatham town centre is
between Bluewater & Hempstead Valley shopping centers - both of whom offer
free parking.

Parking charges are enforced 6 days a week until 10pm, so local shops &
restaurants get stuffed as well. We even have a smart car
http://www.medwaymessenger.co.uk/kol...ticle_id=53053
with a bloody camera on it!


Lucky you - 7 days a week - and all night.

The only things that help are the Sainsbury carpark (refund of fee if
you spend enough) and Morrisons (free for up to 2 hours). Other than
that, it is to the out-of-towners (including, here, John Lewis, Asda and
Screwfix) we go.

About the only real local shop we care about is a pharmacy - which is
actually in a sort of village out the other side of town.

--
Rod

Hypothyroidism is a seriously debilitating condition with an insidious
onset.
Although common it frequently goes undiagnosed.
www.thyromind.info www.thyroiduk.org www.altsupportthyroid.org

On Wed, 31 Dec 2008 17:07:12 GMT, "The Medway Handyman"
wrote:


Medway Council seem set upon driving business away from the town centre, car
parking charges are horrific. Bearing in mind Chatham town centre is
between Bluewater & Hempstead Valley shopping centers - both of whom offer
free parking.

Parking charges are enforced 6 days a week until 10pm,

The message is :

"Come in a car ? **** off somewhere else we don't want you"

Local council officers have their heads so far up their own arses
their dentists have to do their training via a klein bottle.

http://www.maa.org/CVM/1998/01/sbtd/article/tour/klein/klein.html

Derek

On Sunday I was in a carpet shop ordering a carpet for the newly decorated
dining room. Whilst waiting for my order to be printed out I heard the
following conversation.

Customer (to Manager, or so it said on his badge!): "Do you keep customer
order records here?"

Manager: "How long ago are we talking?"

C: "Two maybe three years"

M: "Too long ago mate, why do you want to know?"

C: "I bought some carpet from here and need another room doing in the same,
30 odd sq metres?"

M: "We put all our records for the last eight months on computer and sent
all the really old stuff down to Head Office"

C: "Could you ask HO for me please?"

M: "Waste of time mate. They're not open until 5th Jan, and even if they
could be bothered to look it would take them ages to find it"

C: (trying to push him in that direction) "I seem to remeber it was £35 a sq
metre"

M: "Have you still got the receipt then?"

C: "If I had the receipt, I wouldn't need the records looking for would I?"

M: "You should have kept your receipt and it would have been a doddle"

C: "I give in, I'll go elswhere and pick a different carpet!"

Customer walks out and the manager turns to one of the floorwalkers and said
"Sheesh! Some people want us to do all the work for them".

I could not believe my ears, in this difficult time for retail he had a
customer who WANTED to buy carpet for at least a grand and he let him walk
out of the store without even saying he would try and find out and
explaining to the customer that he couldn't promise being able to supply as
the carpet may well be discontiued by now. If I hadn't already paid for my
carpet I would have done the same.

Happy New Year

John

"Tim S" wrote in message
...
Alan coughed up some electrons that declared:

I predict M&S,

OK for a few cloths and nice food, but I'm appalled by their kids'
clothing.
That's the one thing I would go there, but the T.Wells branch, which is
one
of the bigger stores has a pathetic selection.

WH Smiths

Their alright for books (though Amazon is kicking their arse these days)
and
it's the only place worth going for special interest magazines
(electronics, you PERVERTS!)

Go on then, as it is New Years Eve

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=THlgzQDCW30

Adam

On Wed, 31 Dec 2008 16:27:37 +0000, Derek Geldard
wrote:

On Wed, 31 Dec 2008 16:24:30 +0000, Tim S wrote:

The women's clothes shop that will do well will be the one that has a
bloke's lounge next to every set of changing rooms - leather sofas, TV,
coffee machine, free crisps and today's papers.


You forgot the trains set. ;-)

Don't know why such an obvious idea hasn't been done...

It has been done BTW.


Sadly I've forgot. It was some place we didn't usually go to, maybe
London or Withernsea, somewhere like that.

However this place proffers to be a "Husband Creche"

http://www.information-britain.co.uk/reviews.php?place=32798

Derek

On Wed, 31 Dec 2008 17:38:14 -0000, "John" wrote:


I could not believe my ears, in this difficult time for retail he had a
customer who WANTED to buy carpet for at least a grand and he let him walk
out of the store without even saying he would try and find out and
explaining to the customer that he couldn't promise being able to supply as
the carpet may well be discontiued by now. If I hadn't already paid for my
carpet I would have done the same.

Happy New Year

John


It a growing British phenomenon, brought about by pandering to children, rather
than educating them to be resourceful and self-reliant. Moray Council are
advertising for a 'Street football co-ordinator', to help kids arrange games.
Says it all really. We are DOOMED unless we change our attitude towards children
and become demanding once again.

Andy

On Wed, 31 Dec 2008 17:38:14 -0000, "John"
wrote:

M: "You should have kept your receipt and it would have been a doddle"

BTW The way some stores expect you to keep *the packaging* for however
many years amazes me. Do they all live in disused WW2 aircraft
hangers or what ?


C: "I give in, I'll go elswhere and pick a different carpet!"

Customer walks out and the manager turns to one of the floorwalkers and said
"Sheesh! Some people want us to do all the work for them".

I could not believe my ears, in this difficult time for retail he had a
customer who WANTED to buy carpet for at least a grand and he let him walk
out of the store without even saying he would try and find out and
explaining to the customer that he couldn't promise being able to supply as
the carpet may well be discontiued by now. If I hadn't already paid for my
carpet I would have done the same.


*GOD-ALL-MIGHTY*

The country is going to hell in a handbasket and we are already going
down the black hole.

Happy New Year

Ditto sharp intake of breath

Derek

In message , Rod
wrote

About the only real local shop we care about is a pharmacy - which is
actually in a sort of village out the other side of town.


Around my way the GP partnerships are attaching pharmacies to the
surgeries. With repeat prescriptions it is possible to get the form
collected, given to the doctor, prescription made up and delivered
without leaving ones armchair. Why would anyone want to walk into Boots
for pharmacy services?

--
Alan
news2006 {at} amac {dot} f2s {dot} com

"The Medway Handyman" wrote in message
m...
OG wrote:
"Alan" wrote in message
...
In message , John
wrote

Having ventured into the shops just before Xmas (to avoid the Dog
House!), I
came away feeling they deserve their plight.


Coupled with a trip to the pub:
Wanting a pint and finding yourself behind someone ordering 6 meals
with combinations which are not set up on the till.
Getting behind someone and the debit card machine is playing up.
Standing in the "invisible" spot waiting to order.
Not wanting to interrupt the serving-kids who are chatting amongst
themselves and avoiding giving you eye-contact.
Unpolished brassware - shabby toilets - sticky tables.

That'll teach you to go into a JD Wetherspoon pub, or maybe not as
the 'staff'' are usually too busy polishing that brassware to serve
anyone. Why do these pub chains still employ McDonald's rejects
as managers and staff?


We've never had less than really good service from Wetherspoon's
staff, but we generally only go there for breakfast, so it's less
busy, and always clean and tidy.

The breakfast is OK, its the old gits sitting round drinking pints at 10
in the morning that puts we off. How can you drink beer at that time of
day?


What I like about JDW is the way that it gives people a free choice of what
to drink at any time of day. We've had our church Christmas lunch there -
not cordon bleu standard of course, but a decent Christmas menu for £7
including a drink is good value for many of the pensioners in our
congregation.

What gets me is the people sinking pints at the airport bar while waiting
for their flights - at 8am

John wrote:

I came away feeling they deserve their plight.
I was met with:

Assistants (M&S) talking loudly amongst themselves (complaining about their
manager) when they could have been helping me to spend more money.

Assistant in M&S unable to deal with an item as it didn't have a bar-code.
She went off to find an alternative - but failed, so I had to go.

Depressingly familiar. M&S seem to be staffed by people who used to work
for British Rail/DWP/Local Authority before being sacked for
incompentence and lack of response to customer service.

I had a similar experience at Tesco. I filled up at a "Pay at Pump"
position and it failed to give a receipt. I wandered into the shop to
ask for a written receipt and was faced with an arrogant baggage
refusing to issue one. It took 20 minutes to get a receipt as she argued
variously that (a) she didn't have to give one and (b) there was a
"repeat receipt" button on the machine and (c) any machine would give a
copy receipt if I entered my card and pressed a button for "repeat
receipt".

I pointed out that I had done all of the above before entering the shop.
Eventually someone with clue emerged from the back of the shop to tell
here that the pumps were broken and that she had to hand write a
receipt. Something she could have done when I walked in to the shop.

If they go bankrupt I won't lose any sleep.

On 31 Dec, 17:08, "The Medway Handyman"
wrote:
OG wrote:
"Alan" wrote in message
...
In message , John
wrote

Having ventured into the shops just before Xmas (to avoid the Dog
House!), I
came away feeling they deserve their plight.

Coupled with a trip to the pub:
Wanting a pint and finding yourself behind someone ordering 6 meals
with combinations which are not set up on the till.
Getting behind someone and the debit card machine is playing up.
Standing in the "invisible" spot waiting to order.
Not wanting to interrupt the serving-kids who are chatting amongst
themselves and avoiding giving you eye-contact.
Unpolished brassware - shabby toilets - sticky tables.

That'll teach you to go into a JD Wetherspoon pub, or maybe not as
the 'staff'' are usually too busy polishing that brassware to serve
anyone. Why do these pub chains still employ McDonald's rejects
as managers and staff?

We've never had less than really good service from Wetherspoon's
staff, but we generally only go there for breakfast, so it's less
busy, and always clean and tidy.

The breakfast is OK, its the old gits sitting round drinking pints at 10 in
the morning that puts we off. How can you drink beer at that time of day?


Nothing worthwhile comes easy. You have to work at it.

On Wed, 31 Dec 2008 18:17:49 UTC, Alan wrote:

In message , Rod
wrote

About the only real local shop we care about is a pharmacy - which is
actually in a sort of village out the other side of town.


Around my way the GP partnerships are attaching pharmacies to the
surgeries. With repeat prescriptions it is possible to get the form
collected, given to the doctor, prescription made up and delivered
without leaving ones armchair. Why would anyone want to walk into Boots
for pharmacy services?

Nothing new. I was doing such deliveries in 1969!

--
The information contained in this post is copyright the
poster, and specifically may not be published in, or used by
http://www.diybanter.com

On Wed, 31 Dec 2008 18:01:50 +0000, Derek Geldard wrote:

BTW The way some stores expect you to keep *the packaging* for however
many years amazes me. Do they all live in disused WW2 aircraft
hangers or what ?

You know why they want that and instruction books etc etc don't you? It's
so they can take your return, bung it through the shrink wrap machine in
the back of the store, and sell it "as new" again.

So if taking something back to a store like that write in the instructions
that the goods have been returned on such and such a date and why. Or
scrawl on the box, in thick black marker, "Return to XXX, splinge wurdle
broken" OWTTE.

--
Cheers
Dave.

Bruce wrote:

What do you expect, when they are paid the minimum wage or just a
little above, and are bullied and variously shat on by incompetent
middle management who are obsessed with meeting often arbitrary and
unrealistic targets imposed by very highly paid senior management and
are constantly in fear of losing their jobs?

My experience is different in the USA, where I assume the working
conditions are largely the same.

You mentioned John Lewis - I snipped that bit. The reason John Lewis
staff are more motivated to help customers is that every one of them
has a share in the business. John Lewis is a Partnership and all the
"staff" are Partners. They stand to gain if the company does well.

I think it's a great idea.

On Wed, 31 Dec 2008 17:08:44 GMT, The Medway Handyman wrote:

The breakfast is OK, its the old gits sitting round drinking pints at 10
in the morning that puts we off. How can you drink beer at that time of
day?

Maybe they have just done a night or early shift and are winding down
after a "days" work?

I do like the looks you get when in a so called posh hotel and the suits
are just coming down for breakfast at 0700 and we are proping up the bar
knocking the pints back surrounded by wet/dirty outdoor gear after coming
through the door 30 mins before. Can never be sure if they are looks of
"what are THOSE scrufy people doing here" or "Have they been there all
night?".

--
Cheers
Dave.

The message
from "John" contains these words:



If Primark can sell items at a certain price - then how much more should a
better quality item really cost? (given that they are probably made in the
same far eastern country on the same machines)? Using M&S as an example the
answer seems to be about 10 times more. The shipping and distribution
element would be the same.

About the only thing that can be said is that M and S have a wider range
of sizes and fittings. Ordered on the internet through Quidco or
whatever and a small but meaningful discount means you can avoid dealing
with idiots face to face.

Wetherspoon's does some good beers at a good price.


Pity the staff don't have a clue how to keep or serve those fine beers !!!!

Real ale lover.

"Alan" wrote in message
...
In message , Frank
wrote


I also hate Tesco,


Me too, I won't go into any Tesco until Sylvia Porter (Tesco Heiress) pays
every single penny of the £millions she still owes Westminster Council, when
she was caught and surcharged for jerry-mandering in Tower Hamlets.
Wavet Dave

Xenu The Enturbulator wrote:

Bruce wrote:

What do you expect, when they are paid the minimum wage or just a
little above, and are bullied and variously shat on by incompetent
middle management who are obsessed with meeting often arbitrary and
unrealistic targets imposed by very highly paid senior management and
are constantly in fear of losing their jobs?

My experience is different in the USA, where I assume the working
conditions are largely the same.


The retail culture in the USA is very different. Standards are much
higher, with polite and helpful staff the norm. We Brits sometimes
doubt the sincerity of phrases such as "Have a Nice Day" but, overall,
the US retail experience is better.

Prices are much lower too. :-)


You mentioned John Lewis - I snipped that bit. The reason John Lewis
staff are more motivated to help customers is that every one of them
has a share in the business. John Lewis is a Partnership and all the
"staff" are Partners. They stand to gain if the company does well.

I think it's a great idea.


I wonder if it would work in the USA? Perhaps it is a little too
close to socialism for US tastes, although personally I would prefer
to call it "shared capitalism".

"Dave" wrote:

Me too, I won't go into any Tesco until Sylvia Porter (Tesco Heiress) pays
every single penny of the £millions she still owes Westminster Council, when
she was caught and surcharged for jerry-mandering in Tower Hamlets.


I think you will find it was Westminster City Council.

In article ,
The Medway Handyman wrote:

Yup. M&S clothing is ridiculously expensive and places like Matalan have
equal quality at much lower prices, longer opening hours & free parking.

We use M&S for kids uniforms for school. Matalan and the supermarkets
are crap quality (and not all that much cheaper) in comparison.

Smiths don't sell any stationery I can't get cheaper (and with wider choice)
than at Staples (with free parking). Books are now limited to the top ten
celebrity best seller ****e, so I either go to Waterstones for a good browse
or Amazon online.

Top ten books I'd have thought is mainly the supermarkets area now - they
certainly seem to always be pushing them.

Boots don't offer me anything I can't buy in Tesco or Morrisons while doing
other shopping. If pushed to visit a chemists type shop I'd go to
Superdrug.

We have an excellent chemists type shop just around the corner - a proper
local chemists shop that also has a postoffice inside. It's really handy
(so will no doubt be shut down real soon :-( ).

I have a joint membership with Amazon Prime - 25 quid gets me unlimited
next day delivery on anything from amazon with no minimum order. It's paid
for itself many times over just on savings on parking and petrol ignoring
the fact that they are usually cheaper as well!

Darren

Appin wrote:
The message
from "John" contains these words:



If Primark can sell items at a certain price - then how much more should a
better quality item really cost? (given that they are probably made in the
same far eastern country on the same machines)? Using M&S as an example the
answer seems to be about 10 times more. The shipping and distribution
element would be the same.

About the only thing that can be said is that M and S have a wider range
of sizes and fittings. Ordered on the internet through Quidco or
whatever and a small but meaningful discount means you can avoid dealing
with idiots face to face.

Until you have to take them back because their sizing is so wayward. (I
know you can send them back but that is even more effort.)

--
Rod

Hypothyroidism is a seriously debilitating condition with an insidious
onset.
Although common it frequently goes undiagnosed.
www.thyromind.info www.thyroiduk.org www.altsupportthyroid.org

Alan wrote:
In message , The Natural
Philosopher wrote
John wrote:
I think I will shop on the internet and drink at home.
Join the club...;-)


Which well known high street shops do you think will go next?

I predict M&S, WH Smiths and Boots who are so out of touch with what
other retailers are doing.

Don't WHS distribute virtually all the newspapers and magazines in
England and Wales? (Shades of Entertainment UK.) Or am I thoroughly out
of date? But that would be one hell of a mess to sort out if they went bust.

And another nasty thought is that of insurers going belly up. It has
been pretty bad for motorists in particular when that has happened in
the past.

--
Rod

Hypothyroidism is a seriously debilitating condition with an insidious
onset.
Although common it frequently goes undiagnosed.
www.thyromind.info www.thyroiduk.org www.altsupportthyroid.org

In article ,
Bruce wrote:

I would imagine that John Lewis is a good company to work for. The
staff always seem genuinely pleasant and know what they are selling.

The thing I like most about John Lewis is not so much that their
staff know what they are selling - more that their staff are
willing to say "I don't know" when asked something that they
don't know instead of trying to bull**** their way out of the
question (something I think Comet staff must be specially
trained to do!).

I much prefer a "I'm sorry, i don't know. Let me try to find out
for you" honest answer over some idiot trying to read the
shelf edge label over my shoulder and making it up.

Quite the opposite of Tesco.


Tesco seems to be very variable depending on what store it
is (presumably, how much the manager gives a toss I guess).

The large Sainsburys here in Folkestone is amazingly poor.
We've given up completely (likewise the new Asda).

Darren

Alan wrote:
In message , Rod
wrote

About the only real local shop we care about is a pharmacy - which is
actually in a sort of village out the other side of town.


Around my way the GP partnerships are attaching pharmacies to the
surgeries. With repeat prescriptions it is possible to get the form
collected, given to the doctor, prescription made up and delivered
without leaving ones armchair. Why would anyone want to walk into Boots
for pharmacy services?

Reason for wanting a helpful, non-GP related pharmacy? Partner is
prescribed a non-approved medicine. Getting hold of it through a helpful
independent pharmacy who also handle it for at least one other patient
was hard enough work. Doing so through a GP-controlled pharmacy (where
she would be the only person taking it) would likely not be the easiest
thing in the world.

Partner is also prescribed levothyroxine - which is normally prescribed
simply by that generic name. But many patients find that the changes
from one manufacturer's 'brand' to another upsets them (and there are
good pharmacological reasons that this might occur). So it is important
to develop a relationship with a pharmacy who will pull their finger out
to get hold of the same 'brand' each time. Some won't. At least as it
is, we can choose any pharmacy and even go to an alternate one for a
single prescription.

No - we wouldn't walk into Boots. Long queues. Slow service. Ignorant
pharmacy staff (who seemed always to be locums when I did use them a few
times).

--
Rod

Hypothyroidism is a seriously debilitating condition with an insidious
onset.
Although common it frequently goes undiagnosed.
www.thyromind.info www.thyroiduk.org www.altsupportthyroid.org

The Medway Handyman coughed up some electrons that declared:

John wrote:
SNIP

Expensive parking


Medway Council seem set upon driving business away from the town centre,
car
parking charges are horrific. Bearing in mind Chatham town centre is
between Bluewater & Hempstead Valley shopping centers - both of whom offer
free parking.

Parking charges are enforced 6 days a week until 10pm, so local shops &
restaurants get stuffed as well. We even have a smart car

http://www.medwaymessenger.co.uk/kol...ticle_id=53053
with a bloody camera on it!



Ditto: the dildos in T.Wells council whacked up the car parking charging and
added Sunday as a payable day.

On Wed, 31 Dec 08 21:55:37 GMT Dmc wrote :
I have a joint membership with Amazon Prime - 25 quid gets me
unlimited next day delivery on anything from amazon with no
minimum order. It's paid for itself many times over just on
savings on parking and petrol ignoring the fact that they are
usually cheaper as well!

For all the Dail Mail's belief in how much better life was in the
olden days it is quite remarkable how expectations - and, in most
cases, actuality - have changed since I was a child. Then they
brought in a law that mail order firms had to deliver within 28
days because many didn't. Now next day delivery is the norm. And
while we still used them, you could get films processed and
printed within the hour, instead of waiting 1-2 weeks.

A touching reminder of the UK in the 1960s is still here in
Australia - lay bys. If you see something in a shop that you want
but can't afford it, you pay a deposit for them to hold it for
you. So quaint.

--
Tony Bryer, 'Software to build on' from Greentram
www.superbeam.co.uk www.superbeam.com www.greentram.com

On Wed, 31 Dec 2008 22:01:59 +0000 Rod wrote :
And another nasty thought is that of insurers going belly up.
It has been pretty bad for motorists in particular when that
has happened in the past.

One did in 1971 when I was working for the AA. We had queues
round the block, stayed open to midnight, with overtime for
everyone who wanted it.

--
Tony Bryer, 'Software to build on' from Greentram
www.superbeam.co.uk www.superbeam.com www.greentram.com

Rod wrote:

Don't WHS distribute virtually all the newspapers and magazines in
England and Wales?


I'm not 100% sure of the details, but I think WHSmith and John Menzies
both did wholesale distribution until a few years ago.

Then there was some kind of a deal whereby Menzies sold or transferred
most of their retail outlets in England, some (but not all) to
WHSmith, in return for WHSmith taking over the whole of the retain
distribution business.

On 31 Dec 2008 23:31:05 GMT, Huge wrote:

On 2008-12-31, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
Alan wrote:
In message , The Natural
Philosopher wrote
John wrote:
I think I will shop on the internet and drink at home.
Join the club...;-)


Which well known high street shops do you think will go next?

I predict M&S, WH Smiths and Boots who are so out of touch with what
other retailers are doing.

Smiths certainly.

Oh, I do hope so.

Actually WHS is considerably cheaper for A5 printer paper than Rymans.
I haven't checked out places like Staples (which I've never found
particularly cheap).

I've just bought a new fountain pen from WHS too!

--
Frank Erskine

With repeat prescriptions it is possible to get the form
collected, given to the doctor, prescription made up and delivered
without leaving ones armchair.

Form? I can renew repeat prescriptions by email.

You are damned lucky, I don't think ours have even heard of email.
We used to be able to ring them for repeat prescriptions, but they stopped
us doing that.
Now, I have to walk 1/2 mile to pop note through their letterbox if I want a
repeat.
Also, I used to be able to wait in the surgery for a prescription but since
they put records on computer we now have to give 48 hours notice.
If you want to actually see the doctor, you have to wait a minimum of 14
days as they are always booked up.
I've tried getting another doctor nearby but every one of them say that
their books are full.
I can't wait for the doctor grading system to start.

Dave

On Thu, 1 Jan 2009 00:46:57 -0000, "Dave"
wrote:


With repeat prescriptions it is possible to get the form
collected, given to the doctor, prescription made up and delivered
without leaving ones armchair.

Form? I can renew repeat prescriptions by email.

You are damned lucky, I don't think ours have even heard of email.
We used to be able to ring them for repeat prescriptions, but they stopped
us doing that.
Now, I have to walk 1/2 mile to pop note through their letterbox if I want a
repeat.
Also, I used to be able to wait in the surgery for a prescription but since
they put records on computer we now have to give 48 hours notice.

At my last doctor's surgery there was a notice insisting on "48
working hours notice" for repeat prescriptions.

In true receptionist style, they didn't understand when I tried to
explain to them that that would be over a week, so I changed my
doctor.

At least the receptionists here _do_ have a life.

And smile occasionally :-)

--
Frank Erskine

On Wed, 31 Dec 2008 23:36:42 UTC, Huge
wrote:

With repeat prescriptions it is possible to get the form
collected, given to the doctor, prescription made up and delivered
without leaving ones armchair.

Form? I can renew repeat prescriptions by email.

Indeed. And book an appointment several days in advance, online.

--
The information contained in this post is copyright the
poster, and specifically may not be published in, or used by
http://www.diybanter.com

On 31/12/2008 18:28 OG wrote:

What gets me is the people sinking pints at the airport bar while
waiting for their flights - at 8am

Or some p*llock who wants a Bloody Mary at 05:30 while the rest of us
are waiting for bacon butties before boarding a flight at 06:00. And the
staff made sure he got it made according to the recipe sheet which they
had to go and find.

Luton Airport: avoid!

--
F

F wrote:
On 31/12/2008 18:28 OG wrote:

What gets me is the people sinking pints at the airport bar while
waiting for their flights - at 8am

Or some p*llock who wants a Bloody Mary at 05:30 while the rest of us
are waiting for bacon butties before boarding a flight at 06:00. And
the staff made sure he got it made according to the recipe sheet
which they had to go and find.

Luton Airport: avoid!

Got that Tee Shirt, sadly.

Bruce wrote:
Xenu The Enturbulator wrote:
Bruce wrote:

What do you expect, when they are paid the minimum wage or just a
little above, and are bullied and variously shat on by incompetent
middle management who are obsessed with meeting often arbitrary and
unrealistic targets imposed by very highly paid senior management and
are constantly in fear of losing their jobs?

My experience is different in the USA, where I assume the working
conditions are largely the same.


The retail culture in the USA is very different. Standards are much
higher, with polite and helpful staff the norm. We Brits sometimes
doubt the sincerity of phrases such as "Have a Nice Day" but, overall,
the US retail experience is better.

Prices are much lower too. :-)


You mentioned John Lewis - I snipped that bit. The reason John Lewis
staff are more motivated to help customers is that every one of them
has a share in the business. John Lewis is a Partnership and all the
"staff" are Partners. They stand to gain if the company does well.

I think it's a great idea.


I wonder if it would work in the USA? Perhaps it is a little too
close to socialism for US tastes, although personally I would prefer
to call it "shared capitalism".


Why are british retail staff so bad? Because you cant fire them for
being bad. Simple as that. I'm glad to see a few retail companies at
least have figured out how to get staff motivated and clueful.


NT

wrote:
Bruce wrote:
Xenu The Enturbulator wrote:
Bruce wrote:

What do you expect, when they are paid the minimum wage or just a
little above, and are bullied and variously shat on by incompetent
middle management who are obsessed with meeting often arbitrary and
unrealistic targets imposed by very highly paid senior management and
are constantly in fear of losing their jobs?
My experience is different in the USA, where I assume the working
conditions are largely the same.

The retail culture in the USA is very different. Standards are much
higher, with polite and helpful staff the norm. We Brits sometimes
doubt the sincerity of phrases such as "Have a Nice Day" but, overall,
the US retail experience is better.

Prices are much lower too. :-)


You mentioned John Lewis - I snipped that bit. The reason John Lewis
staff are more motivated to help customers is that every one of them
has a share in the business. John Lewis is a Partnership and all the
"staff" are Partners. They stand to gain if the company does well.
I think it's a great idea.

I wonder if it would work in the USA? Perhaps it is a little too
close to socialism for US tastes, although personally I would prefer
to call it "shared capitalism".


Why are british retail staff so bad? Because you cant fire them for
being bad. Simple as that. I'm glad to see a few retail companies at
least have figured out how to get staff motivated and clueful.


NT

Being an old-fashioned git, however good they might be is largely
nullified when they stand there chewing gum with open mouths. (And if
they were bad it merely confirms the opinion.)

(Possibly because in my gum chewing childhood days, doing so was an act
of insolence on my behalf. So I tend to attribute that attitude to
anyone doing it. Unfair prejudice - almost certainly. :-) )

--
Rod

Hypothyroidism is a seriously debilitating condition with an insidious
onset.
Although common it frequently goes undiagnosed.
www.thyromind.info www.thyroiduk.org www.altsupportthyroid.org

Dave wrote:
With repeat prescriptions it is possible to get the form
collected, given to the doctor, prescription made up and delivered
without leaving ones armchair.
Form? I can renew repeat prescriptions by email.

You are damned lucky, I don't think ours have even heard of email.
We used to be able to ring them for repeat prescriptions, but they stopped
us doing that.
Now, I have to walk 1/2 mile to pop note through their letterbox if I want a
repeat.
Also, I used to be able to wait in the surgery for a prescription but since
they put records on computer we now have to give 48 hours notice.
If you want to actually see the doctor, you have to wait a minimum of 14
days as they are always booked up.
I've tried getting another doctor nearby but every one of them say that
their books are full.
I can't wait for the doctor grading system to start.

Dave


I believe some major changes are being trialled - e.g. paperless
prescriptions (them being sent directly to a pharmacy by email (or other
electronic means). So it certainly depends on where you live at the
moment. (Speaking for England only here.) There is quite a bit some
where within *.nhs.uk!

But there are problems - such as what happens when a pharmacy is out of
stock, especially on a multi-item prescription. Because you cannot then
simply take it to the next pharmacy for fulfilment. And special
instructions (e.g. as mentioned in another post, being willing to accept
only one 'brand' of a generic) - which cannot be specified on an
electronic prescription.

--
Rod

Hypothyroidism is a seriously debilitating condition with an insidious
onset.
Although common it frequently goes undiagnosed.
www.thyromind.info www.thyroiduk.org www.altsupportthyroid.org

wrote:

Why are british retail staff so bad? Because you cant fire them for
being bad. Simple as that.


On the contrary, their employers *can* fire them.

But they don't get fired, because no-one who is available to replace
them would be any better.