Inspired by another thread I've just perused, I have to say it comes as no surprise to read complaints about service standards [or, more accurately, the LACK of!] in many of Britain's large chain stores.
"Now, when I were a lad ... " (to revert to the use of an old [?Yorkshire] expression) MOST shops tended to be located in bustling town centres. There, within the space of 100 yards, you could buy all the commodities needed for the average household.
Take Gents Outfitters, for instance (sorry ladies ... YOUR turn will come but, for the moment, I'm looking at the situation as recalled from a male perspective) ... the 'High Street' in Perth - back in the 1950s and early 60s - boasted at least four of THOSE. All of us whose memories date that far back, will remember 'John Collier' (advertised on television at the time, as being "the Window to Watch") 'Claude Alexandre', 'Hepworth's' and, last ... but not least ... *'Burton Tailoring' (*which, I believe, exists in some obscure, revamped form to this day). Anyway, you could go into any one of these retail outlets to order a suit made-to-measure - regardless of your height or girth.
One thing common to all of the places I've metioned WAS ... you were guaranteed PERSONAL service by fully-trained staff who took pride in pleasing their clientele, and would frequently go to great lengths to ensure each individual customer was given complete satisfaction.[=an over-exaggerated caricature for politeness!].
Only the other week, my wife was experiencing some difficulty in trying on a pair of shoes. A couple of feet away (excuse the pun!) a salesgirl stood engrossed in examining her fingernails ... no offers of assistance ... and THIS, in an otherwise empty store. It's the same story all over ... IF indeed a sales assistant can be seen at all! You can bet your bottom dollar, though, that - if a customer were bold enough to walk into one of these megastores, lift an item and simply walk out again without paying for it, then all of a sudden staff would appear from "nowhere" to apprehend the culprit and whisk him or her off to the Manger's Office ...
Whose training these kids? When I were a lad 
I had a part-time till job in a small supermarket and it was drummed into me - smile, be polite. It's not science, so why can't they manage it 
How did she pass interview :(
Originally Posted by lestaxi1
I think part of the reason our customer service is so poor is becasue us brits usually dont like to complain, so the managers aren't always aware how rude their staff are.
Och away Arthur!
, Les ... that just about sums up sales assistants' attitudes generally, nowadays; thankfully, though, not all are like that!
... ME too!!
*Oops ... EVEN my OWN standards seem to be slipping ... 
and having to depend upon overhead signs - which seldom seem to be shifted in line with the movement of relocated merchandise. 
to be found behind Customer Service Desks in some Superstores. It's almost as if they're installed there deliberately to deter anyone who might be daring enough to make a complaint 
... and, frankly, I'm certain many of their [much] younger colleagues could teach them some decent manners! 
