celestial

[lostcat]

I have lived in East Dulwich for 17 years. I have developed happy relationships with many of the businesses on Lordship Lane over this time. The same cannot be said of Celestial.

One year ago I paid in the region of ?40 for a silver necklace which broke on the first wearing. I returned it to the shop and it was sent off to the manufacturer in Israel for repair. Some months later it was returned to me but broke again on first wearing. I again returned it to the shop, this time in November. The owner was not apologetic in the least but agreed to return it once again to the manufacturer. Three months later I queried the situtation and was informed that it was still in Israel. Eventually, after repeated calls from myself I was offered a replacement chain.This was quite different from the original one and I requested a refund instead.The owners grudgingly agreed to refund me in the sum of ?32, not ?40, claiming this was the amount I originally paid.

Throughout all this I was treated as if I, not they, were at fault. I can say that, despite my frustration, I remained polite in all my dealings with the owners They, however, were surly and shockingly rude towards me. I was left feeling like some sort of criminal, even being told not to shop there again. Of course there is no chance of that. Very nice!

[zeynab]

Am so glad its not just me! A couple of years ago I bought a handbag at about 5 o'clock on a winter Friday night -the light was poor and i thought the bag was black. Next morning when i unwrapped it I saw it was navy blue. At around 10.30 am I returned to the shop and asked to return it. An enormous hoo-ha then ensued with the owner refusing to take the bag back, then refusing to refund my card and insisting i had to have something else for the same amount.

When I quietly kept requesting a refund and refused to leave the shop as he demanded.

He then called the police and demanded they come and throw me out. They declined and asked to speak to me. He then ushered me into his office and closed the door. I told the police that he had shut himself in the office with me and they told him to leave the door open.

I then explained that I am a 5ft tall older woman who only waned a refund for an itm 'd had for less tha 24 hoursand had been simply waiting for some resolution to the matter. They seemed well aware of the owner and advised me just to chose something else.

I then spent the nxt hour rying to chose antoher useless unwanted object to get my money's worth. The whole time the owner follwed me. Also he shouted at me in fromnt of lots of other customers.

The whole experience was completely absurd, funny, unpleasant and at at times a bit scary.

[Asset]

Unfortunately, there is no obligation on the retailer to refund you unless the item is faulty, they are quite within their rights only to offer a credit note.

It is, however, poor customer relations and if they want to keep their customers coming back they could be a little more accommodating.

[zeynab]

I understand that -what concerned me was the agression, hostility and nastiness that greeted me and how I was treated as a criminal when making a simple request. A polite response was all I required. I have lived in the area since the mid 70's and never bee ordered out of a shop before - it's not the usual reaction when returning goods. Especially when i was calm and peaceful all the time.

[Sue]

I have had completely the opposite experience at Celestial.

I lost a brooch I had bought there and wanted to replace it, however they no longer had any in stock.

They went out of their way to find me another similar one even though the manufacturer was no longer making them.

They want well beyond the call of duty even though I am not a frequent customer.

I've never found them anything but friendly and helpful.

[Jeremy]

The thing is that Celestial (along with so many shops in ED) mainly sells the kind of stuff that I'd only buy as gfts (i.e. with no actual useful function). And if a shop won't refund gifts, then that's a bit of a problem.

[DaveR]

I'm happy to say that I've managed to live in ED for ten years without ever going in to Celestial.

[SpookyMagoo]

Dreadful shop. Synthetic clothes & throw away accessories.

[Sue]

SpookyMagoo Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Dreadful shop. Synthetic clothes & throw away

> accessories.

xxxxxx

And you base that assessment on what, exactly?

Their stuff seems quite good quality to me.

I think they are overpriced, but no more so than all the other similar shops in the area.

And what accessories would not be "throw away"? They're presumably fashion items.

[DulwichFox]

Another shop I have failed to notice..

Well they do seem Pop-up and Dissapear all the time these days..

Must become more observant.

Someone might open a Useful Shop one day.

Would not want to miss that. :)

Fox.

[Sue]

Fox, Celestial has been on Lordship Lane for years :))

You certainly must become more observant :))

[Mrs TP]

I often buy their handcream and candles as presents but feel the shop lacks a happy atmosphere and don't feel comfortable just browsing - it could perhaps do with a Mary Portas make-over to make it more customer friendly.

[edcam]

It is full of tat.

[Ted Max]

The guy that runs it is mostly bleating on here about traffic, evil dictator James Barber, his love of M&S and similar grand themes.

Surprised at his reticence to come on this thread so far.

[Sue]

edcam Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> It is full of tat.

xxxxxx

They usually have quite a good selection of cards which are different to those sold elsewhere in East Dulwich.

It's no fuller of tat than ED or Mrs Robinson, to name but two.

Depends what you call tat, I suppose. Personally I prefer Celestial's tat. Not that I can usually afford it.

[DulwichFox]

Having checked it out it would appear it is next to Dulwich DIY.

I was probably pre-occupied with the DIY shop to notice a card shop.

Foxy

[Sue]

DulwichFox Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Having checked it out it would appear it is next

> to Dulwich DIY.

>

> I was probably pre-occupied with the DIY shop to

> notice a card shop.

>

xxxxxxx

It isn't "a card shop".

It sells some cards. They aren't in the window.

[DulwichFox]

Sue Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> DulwichFox Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > Having checked it out it would appear it is

> next

> > to Dulwich DIY.

> >

> > I was probably pre-occupied with the DIY shop

> to

> > notice a card shop.

> >

>

> xxxxxxx

>

> It isn't "a card shop".

>

> It sells some cards. They aren't in the window.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Fair Play i should of said:----

Having checked it out it would appear it is next to Dulwich DIY.

I was probably pre-occupied with the DIY shop to notice a

cosmetics,

soaps,

boho style clothes,

pretty underwear,

notebooks,

bags,

mugs and card Shop.

Appologies..

Foxy

[luddite]

the owner of the shop celestial is called SUE .......just saying

[Sue]

luddite Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> the owner of the shop celestial is called SUE

> .......just saying

xxxxx

So what? Sue is a very common name among women of a certain age.

I can assure you I don't have anything to do with Celestial, if that is what you are implying.

As the many people who know me off the forum , including DulwichFox, can testify!