Lordship lane shops - service

[Louisa]

There is an Iceland on Westow Hill in CP is there not? Anyway, if the local organic brioche hungry bourgeoise get their way ours won't be around much longer quids :)

Louisa.

[Pickle]

I agree that sometimes staff in the shops can be rude, but time and time again I am amazed by just how rude customers are. When I'm out shopping locally I see people who don't have the common decency to stop talking on their phone, say simple please and thank you, etc etc. As a staff member it must be really horrible to have to deal with that sort of treatment day in day out, and I guess there comes a point where it grinds you down.

Not saying they shouldn't do their best to provide service with a smile, but often the way you approach a staff member as a customer is reflected back in the treatment you receive.

[a fish]

Pickle Wrote:

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> I agree that sometimes staff in the shops can be

> rude, but time and time again I am amazed by just

> how rude customers are. When I'm out shopping

> locally I see people who don't have the common

> decency to stop talking on their phone, say simple

> please and thank you, etc etc. As a staff member

> it must be really horrible to have to deal with

> that sort of treatment day in day out, and I guess

> there comes a point where it grinds you down.

>

> Not saying they shouldn't do their best to provide

> service with a smile, but often the way you

> approach a staff member as a customer is reflected

> back in the treatment you receive.

Yes, I agree, and I think it's part of the reason why Northcote Rd went from being quite a pleasant shopping experience back in the 90s to a pain in the 4rse now. I had to pop by there a few weeks ago, and I saw two examples of jaw-droppingly rude behaviour by customers, both times with staff who grinned and bore it, and gave a 'what can you do' shrug after said customers had left.

[spider69]

Louisa Wrote:

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> There is an Iceland on Westow Hill in CP is there

> not? Anyway, if the local organic brioche hungry

> bourgeoise get their way ours won't be around much

> longer quids :)

>

> Louisa.

As DavidH discribed it as SLUMLIKE on another thread surprised H &S have not closed it before. Maybe busy with other trendy LL shops? Perhaps the happy staff have helped to keep it open.

[Flagellator]

Staff are usually doing as they are told to by their idiot bosses. Some staff are under ridiculous pressure to follow customers around the shop and talk them into purchases. Personally I find this most irritating. It's nice to be able to browse unaided and unhindered by a member of staff rather too eager to please their boss for fear of getting fired if they didn't. Why on earth would I want to converse about the weather with someone when all I wish to do is buy a scented candle.

[Vik]

DulwichFox Wrote:

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>

> But with a general sense of Over-importance and

> Pretentiousness prevailing it does not

> surprise me that shop owners adopt a certain air

> of superiority over their customers.

I had to chuckle when I read this, coming from someone who posted the other day that users should state their occupation when requesting things in the 'Wanted' section.

[DulwichFox]

Vik Wrote:

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> DulwichFox Wrote:

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

> -----

> >

> > But with a general sense of Over-importance

> and

> > Pretentiousness prevailing it does not

> > surprise me that shop owners adopt a certain

> air

> > of superiority over their customers.

>

>

> I had to chuckle when I read this, coming from

> someone who posted the other day that users should

> state their occupation when requesting things in

> the 'Wanted' section.

I did not say that..

I said

Don't have any problems with people doing a bit of Buying and Selling.

Not sure that's how the forum is supposed to work.

People doing so should indicate that is what they do for a living.

IE Buying and selling.

Please take a little more time to catch the drift of what others are saying.

I also do not see the connection between your comparison.

Anyway that is historic and has been dealt with in the thread to which you are referring to.

DulwichFox

[DaveR]

There are definitely some shops in ED where you get the feeling that the proprietor thinks he/she is doing you a favour by letting you in, or that customers are an unwelcome distraction, which is kind of odd when the USP of an independent business should be their knowledge, enthusiasm etc. Having said that, there are plenty that are consistently excellent IMHO. In no particular order I would put in the excellent category:

Rye Books, Mootown, Blackbird bakery, Callows, Fresh Flower Co, the card shop near the Dulwich Tandoori, the shoe guy near the station, and the cafe next door to the shoe shop with the new name I can't remember.

[DulwichFox]

I think Dulwich DIY deserves a mention for excellent service..

DulwichFox

[????]

The barbers next to Bossman, Food & Wine up by Lucas and Barrys(?) on Barry Road would all get a mention on the good service side for me, and agree on Dulwich DIY consistently and long term great service, there's others too...the Card Shop on North Cross Road always nice to me

[a fish]

Agreed with all the good ones above, but the bad ones? The aforementioned Mrs Robinson, East Dulwich Deli (he too finished a personal conversation on the phone before attending to me, this after deliberately turning his back when I said "Excuse me, can I pay for this?" ), The Bishop (being told to 'hurry up' when perusing the snack choices available, then abandoned when we took too long), and the shoe shop (I got tutted at when I answered, politely, with a smile, the question "Can I help you with anything?" with "Not yet thanks, just browsing"). These are all establishments I haven't used since.

[NewWave]

I work in retail on a senior level in central London, and because of my job I must admit I am very critical of service that I receive in shops. I would agree that there is nothing worse than being followed round a shop by either a commission hungry or suspicious sales associate, however in a smaller boutique this is often due to pressure from owners or managers.

Likewise I firmly believe that as a customer you get back what you give out,it costs nothing to nod a greeting to the person working in the shop.

I too have witnessed real arrogance by some of the customers on LL who let their toddlers fiddle with products and block the shop with their oversized buggys completely oblivious to other customers in the shop.

I agree with earlier comments about great service in Franklins and Moxons, and I would like to add Roullier White-where the staff are really knowledgable about their products, and also passionate-they get the perfect balance between letting you browse and offering advice. They are so good in fact that we rarely go in there and leave empty handed, usually walking out having spent quite a bit on a new fragrance we never went in intending to purchase!Also Cherner Books is superb-we rarely leave there without a great new read, inspired and advised by the great guy who owns the place.

I would also like to remind people that most shop assistants are on low or minimum wage. the hours can be long, and sometimes boring and in smaller shops working conditions are not always the best.

There, I've said my piece!

[a fish]

Yes, I forgot to mention Roullier White, they were incredibly helpful in sourcing and ordering a superb pair of earrings for my half-step-niece-in-law's birthday, and they've got some lovely glassware.

[NewWave]

Oh! Also added to my list for superb service is Plough DIY/Hardware shop, the Picture framers in the same parade,

The large shoe shop (John Barnett???) People love Colour paint shop.

Callows locksmiths are wonderful, and Lordship lane carpets are helpful,honest and with knowlegable staff.

All of the above have given us great advice and secured our customer loyalty.

We live in Forest Hill and not in ED btw

[edcam]

I second the barber mentioned above (Jazz Barbers), Callow, Rullier White, also House of Tippler, ToastED, the DIY shop , Franklins.

Big no to Luca's (they've used up several chances at proving me wrong) and the establishment that can not be named.

[dbboy]

I'd add Shaun's DIY on Grove Vale, always is helpful

[Jessie]

The woman in the coffee van at the station - she's lovely

[????]

House of tippler agreed always friendly and helpful

[NewWave]

I do agree about the service at east Dulwich Deli being atrocious-I once waited so long to be served with an overpriced loaf of bread and a sausage roll or something that I lost the will to live (there was one other person being served and two staff behind counter-one of them just gaffing around ignoring me) I haven't been back since

[a fish]

edcam Wrote:

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> the establishment that

> can not be named.

*intrigued* Can someone at least give me a clue, or PM me as to who it is?

[uncleglen]

Nothing whatsoever wrong with LL Carpets. However- not having been into a Nero's for months I was very disappointed to find that instead of the classical or otherwise non-invasive background music, they are now playing sickly sweet female Joni Mitchell wannabe music- horrible horrible horrible (including an absolute destruction of Sweet Jane ffs). Wetherspoon's is the only place to go now!

[Flagellator]

My guess is it's already been mentioned. the owner has forbidden anything bad to be said about it on the EDF.

[NewWave]

I think I know the place we may not name-We went there twice and such such bad service on both occasions that it was almost funny-like being in Fawlty Towers and served by Manuel.

[simonethebeaver]

I once had very rude service at Roullier White. Completely unecessary rudeness. Happened to a friend of mine too. But in general the shops I visit on Lordship Lane tend to be very friendly. I don't spend a lot of time in 'saw you coming' type places though.

[Flagellator]

That's the one. Experienced a rather too keen to sell chap at Roller White I left promptly without a purchase.