Poundland in ED

[Cancerian]

Was meeting a friend for lunch today in ED and thought I’d make a quick visit to the Poundland beforehand as my usual store I visited closed down in Camberwell last year.

As soon as I entered was confronted by very loud beat music blaring away (couldn’t wait to get out) and no staff around to serve on the till. The 3 self service tills were all closed so had to wait over 5 minutes to pay. Just hope they can up their game as they have a prime position in ED. 

 

[malumbu]

I bought three pairs of cheap reading glasses there  Bargain.  If you have an issue complain.  I did for some bird food a few years ago.  Got a voucher.

[Bubbles]

Popped in there earlier today and picked up Doritos advertised as 2 packs for £3.20 At the checkout the cashier insisted it was £2 each. Spoke to the Manager who insisted all the crisps and snacks pricing were wrong and the offers were finished!!! 
Just paid for my fabric softener and left the shop. 
They shouldn’t be allowed to do that! 

[lilolil]

  On 05/02/2025 at 16:25, Bubbles said:

Popped in there earlier today and picked up Doritos advertised as 2 packs for £3.20 At the checkout the cashier insisted it was £2 each. Spoke to the Manager who insisted all the crisps and snacks pricing were wrong and the offers were finished!!! 
Just paid for my fabric softener and left the shop. 
They shouldn’t be allowed to do that! 

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I had this in B&M the other day. The price ticket said £1 and £1.25 was crossed out. They refused to give me the items at £1 and when I complained to head office, they said it was at the shop’s discretion! Apparently the offer had expired and so the items were scanning at the full price!

[malumbu]

Shops cancelled refuse by law to sell you items at the ticket price.  Obviously not good for reputation.  I always like to give a good news story as social media tends to go the other way.  Ignoring that one of my first posts on this forum was about poor service from a local trader! 

[Dulwichway]

Maybe the few staff only end up with a pound an hour with the rising Starmer bills and the rotten council tax deductions? they probably don't really care? who can blame them.

[Gardens101]

The sooner it closes down the better…

[ydrmdy]

Ooooh!

I love a pound store.

[Cancerian]

So do I (love a pound land) and wouldn’t want it to close but as it’s such a new store it does need to be an enjoyable experience. 

 

[Dulwich dweller]

It serves its purpose and saves you a few quid here and there. Never had a bad experience or poor service when shopping there.

  On 05/02/2025 at 20:08, Gardens101 said:

The sooner it closes down the better…

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Why?

[Sue]

  On 05/02/2025 at 20:14, ydrmdy said:

Ooooh!

I love a pound store.

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I love pound stores too, though I don't buy food there,  but despite going into this one several times since it opened, I have found nothing that I either wanted or couldn't get cheaper somewhere else, even at Christmas.

All I have bought there was a pack of mealworms for the birds (dried, obviously 😀).

I've been very disappointed, as I've had some great bargains from pound shops over the years - some of which have even survived my decluttering.

As for the pricing, that's very poor management and customer service - both for having the wrong prices in the first place, and then refusing to honour them.

As is having nobody on the shop floor to take the money. How on earth could that happen?

I understand that the staff may be poorly paid, but that doesn't mean you don't have to do your job properly.

This place is in a prime position, and personally I hope it closes down and we get something better. 😀 (sorry, removed a sentence and can't delete the smiley).

I'd be happy with another pound shop or discount shop if it actually had real bargains and was properly run.

Edited February 6 by Sue

[malumbu]

  On 05/02/2025 at 18:48, Dulwichway said:

Maybe the few staff only end up with a pound an hour with the rising Starmer bills and the rotten council tax deductions? they probably don't really care? who can blame them.

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Gosh, do you look for an opportunity to make a political comment on every occasion?  Do you limit yourself to shops paying higher wages with better working conditions for staff and accordingly higher prices?

[Earl Aelfheah]

I popped in there the other day. It was fairly chaotic and the staff were rude. Never used to be like that. I appreciate it's a difficult job, but still..

[Sue]

  On 06/02/2025 at 12:53, Earl Aelfheah said:

I popped in there the other day. It was fairly chaotic and the staff were rude. Never used to be like that. I appreciate it's a difficult job, but still..

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Oh dear.

It's certainly not going to last long at this rate.

Maybe the writing is already on the wall and the staff know it? 

Not that that's any excuse for rudeness to customers.

Edited February 6 by Sue

[alice]

It’s not as good as the Peckham branch of course, but it’s okay. The staff are as pleasant to me as any of the chains on the street.  

[jazzer]

Oh so harsh, remember those words from lockdown times "be kind"

[ianr]

> Shops cancelled refuse by law to sell you items at the ticket price.

I truly can't understand this sentence, even with the help of the rest of your para and some real world knowledge.  What was it the shops actually did?

 

[Insuflo]

According to recent news reports, the whole Poundland chain is in financial distress and probably will be up for sale. It seems sales are well down and costs (usually that means staff) need to be cut. This is bound to affect the working environment and staff morale.

[Sue]

  On 06/02/2025 at 18:48, Insuflo said:

According to recent news reports, the whole Poundland chain is in financial distress and probably will be up for sale. It seems sales are well down and costs (usually that means staff) need to be cut. This is bound to affect the working environment and staff morale.

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I don't want to be unkind, but if sales are well down it could well be  because their buyers aren't buying things that people want to buy, or else are buying them at too high a price, with knock on effects on the retail prices.

How are other pound shop chains  doing?

My reply to Ianr has disappeared, and the screenshot attached to it has become attached to my reply to insuflo.

Admin ????

Shome mishtake shurely ??? Hopefully not mine 🙄

Edited February 6 by Sue

[alice]

there's always long queues at the Peckham branch.  

[Sue]

  On 06/02/2025 at 20:09, alice said:

there's always long queues at the Peckham branch.  

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In that case, maybe Poundland made a mistake opening in Lordship Lane.

Or else they are selling the wrong kind of products in this branch for the potential customers.

But surely they must have done some research first? If not, then they deserve to do badly.

[alice]

Over the last couple of years the cost of stock has increased so you don’t get that great range of stationary for example. The glorious era of Pound shops may well be coming to an end.
I did love it though when every single thing was £1

[jazzer]

Coming to a high street near you soon, the £2 tat shop.

Since Pound World closed in Peckham as did the chain, nothing compares to them. 

[Jenijenjen]

I've only been in the store once as I found the layout of the shelving units that go from side to side rather than front to back unfriendly and off-putting and does not draw the customer in.

[Sue]

  On 06/02/2025 at 22:15, alice said:

Over the last couple of years the cost of stock has increased so you don’t get that great range of stationary for example. The glorious era of Pound shops may well be coming to an end.
I did love it though when every single thing was £1

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The Lordship Lane branch didn't have any decent stationery even when it opened, if memory serves.

Once upon a time, you used to be able to get pretty good  notebooks in pound shops, and cheap drawing pads for kids.

  On 07/02/2025 at 04:53, Jenijenjen said:

I've only been in the store once as I found the layout of the shelving units that go from side to side rather than front to back unfriendly and off-putting and does not draw the customer in.

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I imagine they are laid out like that to make the best use of space - more shelving for products and fewer aisles?