The grumpy thread

[Cavcraft]

Mouldsworth Motor Museum is to shut!

Jim (the owner) told me when I was up there recently it wasn't looking good, the waterboard wanted to change his lease and make responsible for repairs (or something like that) which is madness due to the costs involved. It's been going for years and was always worth a visit, now the freaking lot (contents) are being auctioned off, starting in March I think.

I got my 1935 BSA pushbike from there along with some old bits and bobs quite recently, Jim's an ace fella and it's a real pisser the place is shutting.

[retrogeezer]

bugger, not been there yet.

[dollywobbler]

Sounds like an impromptu Autoshite Remembrance Service (before it's actually dead) Gathering needs to happen. (though actually car museums generally depress me. I get bored after about half a minute and wish the things could go for a drive).

[Cavcraft]

This one wouldn't, Ian. If Autoshite did museums it'd be hard to fathom how they could make it better, it is (or rather was) an eclectic mix of allsorts really. I expect there's some serious mony in the exhibits (the bubble car in the garage for example) and some of the tin/enamel signs will be worth decent coin I would think.

I can't see it opening up again between now and doomsday as it only opened during summer months and the first auction is due in March I think it said on the telly.

[retrogeezer]

It was just on the news...the website says open Sundays 12-5 from February.

[Cavcraft]

Ooh, we might get one visit in then. I'll try and arrange a meet up if anyone fancies it?

[ruffgeezer]

Connected up the last of the lights in the garage yesterday, only to find after intensive testing, that one of the ballasts is fubar, and it being ancient, I cannot find a direct replacement... ARSECANDLES.

[warren t claim]

Ooh, we might get one visit in then. I'll try and arrange a meet up if anyone fancies it?

 

I'm IN. Spent many a happy hour there in my childhood.

[dollywobbler]

Can't do 16/17th Feb but otherwise I'm probably free.

[Tayne]

Mouldsworth Motor Museum is to shut!

Jim (the owner) told me when I was up there recently it wasn't looking good, the waterboard wanted to change his lease and make responsible for repairs (or something like that) which is madness due to the costs involved. It's been going for years and was always worth a visit, now the freaking lot (contents) are being auctioned off, starting in March I think..

 

Might be worth you telling Jim to get Drew Pritchard in there, he always seems to pay good money for stuff on telly.

And I image he's local-ish.

[Cavcraft]

Will do, cheers. I think he's probably sorted it now, the last time I was up there he'd had a specialist (of some sort) in who'd told him to take some pushbike stuff to an auction house in London where the allure of big money awaited.

To be fair to him though I'd doubt he was overly arsed about the money, the place shutting will doubtlessly really piss him off as you can imagine.

[retrogeezer]

yeh, I'd be up for it too. The 17th and 24th 'might' be out as it's half term though.

[warren t claim]

I've only just noticed than HMV have gone bust. More hungry mouths for the dole queue.

[Ben_L]

I've only just noticed than HMV have gone bust. More hungry mouths for the dole queue.

 

As have Play.com... Jessops... All this year too.

[cort16]

All these big retailers are being crushed by the internet. If you've got to maintain stores with leases negotiated 10years ago with big staffing levels versus big centralised warehouses high street retailers can't compete. I still think there's an appetite for high street retail but it'll need to be very different to what it is just now. It's still shit though.

[warren t claim]

I actually enjoy the retail buying experience and the fact that I can usually take my chosen product straight away. What puts me off shopping is the local councils frankly extortionate parking fees and their overzealous and sneaky parking enforcement policies, if I'm buying a bulky item then I prefer to pay for it and then nip back to the car and drive it around to the front of the shop to put in the boot. No way would I chance that in Wirral anymore.

[Tayne]

I've only just noticed than HMV have gone bust. More hungry mouths for the dole queue.

 

As have Play.com... Jessops... All this year too.

 

Play stopped direct sales because the government closed a tax loophole that concerned a lack of vat on sub-£15 parcels from outside the EU. The exchequer reckoned that it was costing them £130million in lost revenue.

Owing to Jersey's oddball status, Play and a few others were based there.

There's been over 600 job losses on the island from this one piece of legislation.

 

Government greed killed Play, not the economy.

 

Plus I reckon the increased cost of CDs/DVDs/BluRays is going to increase levels of piracy.

[Albert Ross]

What's been missing from the HIgh Street for too many years, is service. I cannot count the amount of time you either get followed by an overzealous sales person, or ignored by some spotty youth who seems more intent on blabbing on about last night's "conquest" than doing his job. There's no "in between". However. I had reason to use a few shops over the Christmas period. Two notable ones come to mind.

House of Fraser in Victoria Centre, Nottingham. I knew what I was after, waited to be seen by a delightful young lady in the relevant Department, who reached under the counter, asked if this was the correct size, did Sir want it gift wrapping, (No thank you) and then whilst taking my money, explained that the product I had chosen was in the 10% off deal for that portion of the day, and came with a free gift, from the same range, and then apologised for the limited selection due to the demand. I chose my gift, paid my money, and ran like the wind! (In case she was wrong!)

The other surprisingly, was Iceland. We were greeted at the door, by a lovely, smiling young lady with jumper bumps to be proud of. We selected our necessary delights, proceeded towards the tills, to be ushered into a queue, had our things packed, and all the while, by young, fresh, smiling staff.

Someone, somewhere, has been listening to my grumps!

I used to work for DIxons in Reading many moons ago (Thirty years!!) and originally as stand-in Christmas Staff, I was invited to stay on afterwards to work permanently. I ended up as a staff training "mule" for the area. I helped to interview prospective Staff by role playing in groups, acting the awkward customer from time to time. I basically used to remember that the Customer was right. Whatever they wanted, they got. At whatever cost to them! I used to set up Lombard Credit sales for the manager too. THe best bit was assisting them buying a TV. Most models had an option of remote control, but it was quite pricey. It used to tip the balance. Over to the Credit Desk with you Sir, the Manager will be across shortly. I used to get £25 for each one signed up on the day, and this was 1983! We treated customers correctly. I kept those skills to bacome the miserable judgmental bastard that I am today. I know how I should be treated, and tell assistants that. Especially in Currys/PC World establishments. The local staff wince when they see me entre the store.

[Cavcraft]

Maybe the high street will become like petrol stations where only the big boys stay in business by forcing others out through pricing? Warren's right about parking of course, too. It's a joke round here, a right rip off though some car parks are free after 3.00pm trade still seems rubbish compared to even ten years ago.

I don't think staff attitude is a big part in though, look at the hours a lot of them have to work and the shit money they're on then couple that with some arsehole customers who only ever seem to want to moan about something and if some shop workers seem pissed off, who can blame them?

 

The internet must take a huge chunk of the blame but then so must the consumer: it's all very well going off your tits because your local shop closed but if you rarely/never spent money in there then you're just as much to blame. Use it or lose it.

[Danblez]

If the stupid bint opposite me on the train doesn't turn her music player down so I can no longer hear the modern day Whitney blaring out I will be on the morning news. I fuggin hate public transport!

[Albert Ross]

Cav, 30 years ago, WE had awkward customers, long hours, REALLY poor pay (£22 per week anyone?) yet still remained professional and keen to help. After all, it was our job to do that. These days there's a "can't be arsed" attitude to anything that involves getting out of bed and grafting. It's going to kill the World.

[cort16]

The lack of service comes partially from the lack of money. They pay minimum wage so can't good retain good staff. The staff also get put under incredible pressure to upsell credit card, cuddly toys etc, which pissed off both them and the customers.

[whitevanman]

Albert's point remains the same...it's their Job...we had to do shit things for proportionately less money, with just as much pressure to sign folk up to credit agreements and extended warranties, or the lines that made the most for the shop.

[Spiny Norman]

Cav, 30 years ago, WE had awkward customers, long hours, REALLY poor pay (£22 per week anyone?) yet still remained professional and keen to help. After all, it was our job to do that. These days there's a "can't be arsed" attitude to anything that involves getting out of bed and grafting. It's going to kill the World.

 

THIS.

I've spent 20 years in retail on and off and nine times out of 10 the problem is the sales staff not the customer. Most younger folk (who are the traditional low pay fodder now just as they were 20,40,60 years ago) just aren't interested and have a dreadful attitude to work.

The older salespeople are the ones who scoop up all the commission and often take home more than the store manager, while the teenage mongs who can't be arsed go home with minimum wage and nothing more.

 

Bottom line, if you can't exercise a basic level of civility to people, don't get a customer-facing job.

[dollywobbler]

There is a whole new world of management nimbyism that didn't exist in the old days. Look at the stresses that supermarket delivery drivers are put under. Their vans are data logged so management can give them a bollocking for using too many revs, even if the fuel computer shows that they've actually acheived better MPG than other drivers by doing so. People working on tills have a minimum speed at which they can work - again, all data logged so some underpaid manager type with no actual relevant experience (but quite probably a degree in something completely irrelevant) can give them a bollocking. Customer service often isn't actually allowed as it isn't 'time efficient.'

 

I find I'm buying more and more on the internet because the high street can so rarely delivery what I actually want, let alone at a price I'm willing to pay. I want to buy locally to help these businesses but when they just won't stock what I actually need, what am I meant to do?

[cort16]

I totally agree with dollywobbler it's changed days from when we worked shit jobs. Everyone from the cleaner to management are under pressure to deliver and that creates stress and an everyone's out for themselves mentality.

To have good service you need to give your staff training, time and the promise of something better at the end. I do believe younger people are a little more self centred than they used to be but not much. I worked in a supermarket 20 years ago part time for min wage and it was run by tin pot hitlers who couldn't see how it was possible I didn't give a shit about yoghurts going out of date their corner of the shop. The only time I've ever told some to actually stick their job up their arse.

[Lord Sterling]

There is a whole new world of management nimbyism that didn't exist in the old days. Look at the stresses that supermarket delivery drivers are put under. Their vans are data logged so management can give them a bollocking for using too many revs, even if the fuel computer shows that they've actually acheived better MPG than other drivers by doing so. People working on tills have a minimum speed at which they can work - again, all data logged so some underpaid manager type with no actual relevant experience (but quite probably a degree in something completely irrelevant) can give them a bollocking. Customer service often isn't actually allowed as it isn't 'time efficient.'

 

This ^^^

 

This is what saps the energy out of customer service people, more pressure from management, almost impossible targets to meet for paltry 'bonuses' and what have you. I myself worked at a few places were time and impossible targets were the order of the day, I hated it, you were seen and treated as nothing more than a parasite, some of the jobs I stuck out, others, I just told them to stick thier job.

 

It is a shame that a lot of well-known retailers are going to the wall, I guess there are many reasons these places are going.

[Luxobarges_Are_Us]

Ian is 100% spot on. The nimbyism doesn't confine itself to the repetitive jobs, though. It extends to the development of sales staff, who are provided with virtually no product-related training. Try walking into a Carphone Whorehouse and asking for something simple but slightly unusual, such as their smallest Windows Mobile device, or the mobile phone with the highest MAh rating on the battery- after looking at you like you've just descended from Mars, they'll spend three minutes wondering how to compare them and end up getting them out side by side and physically measuring them/reading the battery ratings.

[Albert Ross]

I was taught to satisfy the customer. Yes, really. If it took three hours to sell a Cosina camera to a virtually penniless Vicar on a stipend, then so be it, take the time. Also, if Mr "I'm in a bloody hurry get a move on you spotty urchin, I'm going to be late for my train" wanted his developed film, then I BLOODY RAN to get them. No matter that I went for a piss and chatted up one of the stockroom girls on the way back, to be seen running made HIM feel in charge, and that's why we kept the business.

One had to employ brains. Scruffy couple wander in, pushing buttons on the car stereo? You know they're browsers, but call him Sir, and her Madam. They LOVED it... spent their cash in the end mind... You could tell the Retired Army Officers too. Didn't want "Foreign Rubbish" Televisions... Oh of course, Sir, may I recommend the Philips, Ferguson or Bush then? They are available in a special VERY limited edition Wooden cabinet on this model.... (Bollocks, they all came like that, but we only kept one on display, but on a 6" plinth....)

Watches too. We had the Watch Tower, as it was known. One of the thins I implemented was to move the stock around every morning (It made cleaning easier) People then thought we had new models in stock daily, and we sold more, because people thought they had the latest item! Window displays were also very good. I found that by labelling two items incorrectly (swapping labels) we got the pedants through the door to tell us... It got them in! I used to GIVE TDK cassettes away to customers.... (Look around for the Manager, slip them in their bag as they were leaving) We were authorised to do it by our BM, and he said sometimes, that if a customer thinks you are risking your job to help them, they will buy more from you...

As long as people left our shop with less money in their pockets and smiling, that was the job done. We had a small shop on Broad Street in Reading, and just down the road, an Orbit opened up. Within 6 months we took the shop over, keeping the small shop as a specialist brand base... I worked in the new shop training new staff for them. Money was dreadful ,but the lessons learnt in how to communicate to the General Public were awesome. We were never rude, not even behind their backs, and we got repeat custom, week after week. I don't remember a slack quarter.

I work as a Mechanic/MOT Tester at a Main Dealer these days, and do less customer facing than ever. I am also on site QC for MOTs. My colleagues are amazed how I sound when talking to Customers. My image belies my ability to gain information and put people at ease. One has to be careful with Testing, as to discuss the possible condition of a vehicle prior to an inspection might prejudice the outcome. I alway suggest that we'll see how it goes, before taking their money, and winking at them! Quote often these kind of cars pass. These days, there is pressure to make money by fixing cars, like always, but these days we are told to try for preventative maintenance rather than repairs. It makes us look greedy. This is why I like testing, as it's a fair report on the condition on that day. Nothing to scare someone with, let the receptionist do that.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

^^^^^That rant is much more enjoyable if you read it in the voice of ‘Uncle Albert’ off only fools & horses and start off with ‘During the war….’

 

There is a whole new world of management nimbyism that didn't exist in the old days. Look at the stresses that supermarket delivery drivers are put under. Their vans are data logged so management can give them a bollocking for using too many revs, even if the fuel computer shows that they've actually acheived better MPG than other drivers by doing so. People working on tills have a minimum speed at which they can work - again, all data logged so some underpaid manager type with no actual relevant experience (but quite probably a degree in something completely irrelevant) can give them a bollocking. Customer service often isn't actually allowed as it isn't 'time efficient.'

 

I find I'm buying more and more on the internet because the high street can so rarely delivery what I actually want, let alone at a price I'm willing to pay. I want to buy locally to help these businesses but when they just won't stock what I actually need, what am I meant to do?

 

Its just how you look at it innit. The fact that you can buy a packet of chillies in the supermarket for 49p that were harvested in Kenya a few days ago is a pretty amazing service I reckon, that’s something that was not available 25 years ago. That strikes me as being an astonishing customer service. Or even the very idea that the supermarket will get all your shopping together exactly as per your request and bring it round to your house, that’s amazing as well. That means they’ve had to buy or lease a shitload of little fridge vans and recruit a load of drivers to deliver all the stuff. Yeah the vans have dataloggers on but so what?? If they didn’t we all know that you’d have drivers glued to your ass on the dual carriageway at 80+ and making ‘extra long stops’ at that woman who lives at no. 49. Any manager worth his salt would put a tracker on his delivery vans, especially if he had more drivers than could be managed face-to-face by one person. That’s normal and sensible, and I reckon its part of a good customer service.