to expect shop assistants to at least acknowledge that I am there

Years ago a friend and I had dropped the kids off at nursery and then did a spot of window shopping as my very rich friend was going to the White House for a do.[I lived in NY at the time]. OK we were wearing jeans but neither of us looked like slobs, even in jeans I make an effort to look presentable. One of the assistants looked us up and down and said 'I don't think we'll have anything for you our clothes are probably beyond your financial range '. 'Probably not' retorted friend ' I usually shop in Manhattan at Chanel or somewhere similar'. She had seen something that she really liked but refused to buy it. I saw the shop assistant in a checkout queue that afternoon and told her what a huge mistake she had made as my friend was loaded. They lost a good customer.

dorsetpennt - that sounds just like Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman

My pet dislike at checkouts is when the cashier giving you change plonks the small change and a note on top of the receipt so you have to juggle the coins, the note and the receipt all at once. It's a pleasure when the cashier hands you your change and allows you to put it in your purse before giving you the receipt. Doesn't often happen though.

Just had an idea - next time an assistant carries on chatting to a colleague while ignoring us, then puts out a hand to take the cash without eye (contact (while still chatting), We should hold tight to the money, turn to the next person in the queue and say "I'm in no rush. Do tell me all about your day ......."

I like that idea, Elegran!

I did once point out that the poor service I had received (being ignored all the time the purchase was made, whilst the assistant carried on a conversation with another one) made it very unlikely I should be shopping there again. The assistant seemed to be rather surprised that I had commented at all (sort of "get her!" look. But the shop did shut down soon afterwards.

Occasionally one does meet with a "can't be bothered" response from shop assistants, when one ventures a friendly comment, which is a bit off putting. I understand that they have no reason to be interested in me or in my purchase, but politeness consists of responding to others as individuals, and whilst one customer might want to pay and get away as quickly as possible, another may wish to have a couple of sentences of friendly exchange. The art of good service is to be able to distinguish between the different types.

However, whilst I think it is very important to be polite whichever side of the counter you are on, in the end one should, in one's own interests, perhaps, remember which side is paying and which side is being paid.

I was ignored in a big department store and lost it a bit. Stepped in front of the female assistant who wanted to serve a man first, despite the fact that I had been waiting longer (which the man acknowledged). Told her I might be over 50 but I am not (expletive deletive invisible). Takes a lot to make me swear but I was just so mad. It had not been a good day.

Also makes me mad when acting as a chauffeur to my Mother (who is 85) she explains what she wants and the assistant speaks to me! I always reply - ask the customer she is the one with the money I am just the driver.

One good thing that comes of out of being invisible is not getting stopped by people doing polls and trying to persuade you to have a catalogue.

I think dorsetpennt and I work for the same store. As she says they are red hot on customer satisfaction! I will say that if someone indicates they would rather not been taken to the item etc just wants to know where it is, or whether they have walked past it I do not take them. There is no point in alienating someone.

My favourite here in France was when we wanted to buy a 2000€ ride-on mower and the man in the shop said, "I can't sell you that now - it's almost lunchtime"!

Mamie Same in Spain we asked a Company for a price for tiling around the side of the pool,and where told we would have to wait as the whole Company is closed down in August,about 4.000euro's worth of work had to wait until Sept.

I had two examples last week. One in Sainsbury's at the fish counter when there was only one person serving a big order and four others wandering about behind. They looked blank when I suggested one might come and serve so I walked away and eventually found someone who looked like a manager to give them my free consultancy which I suspect went nowhere - they didn't offer to serve me either. Then in M&S I was waiting ages as 2 assistants were fully engaged with peoole buying out the shop! My Grandaughter said she was desperate for the toilet so I called another assistant who after a small hesitation decided to serve us and prevent a puddle on the floor.

The worst is our local newsagents/PO. The owners always seem to be on the phone and carry on their conversations while serving without even looking at you. Now I just plonk my newspaper token on the counter and go - even when they are nowhere to be seen. They are always grumbling about how hard they work for little reward. The postal clerks are the most miserable people ever.

Going back to the start of this topic I had excellent service from pets at home today. A smile, asked if I had found everything I wanted and my heavy shopping was carried out to the car. Thank you

I find that more often than not I get good service where I live - perhaps it is living in the north west. Occassionaly bad service but I just ask if they are having a bad day - sometimes wish I had'nt.

Another topic we can all identify with. I like it when a well-known store where we all buy our knickers "Thank" me "for waiting to pay" (is there an alternative?) But they also ask if I found everything I had been looking for and it eases life to have people talk to you. For some customers, it may be the only human contact in a morning. Another well-known and never knowingly undersold department store and its supermarket equivalent are excellent - except ONCE!!! when the middle aged lady on the till was clearly ready to finish her shift (it was about 5.04) and never once made eye contact with me. I wish I had written to the manager as it really put me out for the rest of the evening.
Best story of all was about 25 years ago when I had writtten off my car and went looking for a new one with DH. The flash salesman said "Would Sir like to look under the bonnet while Madam checks out the upholstery" !!! "Sir" having a company car in those days had never looked under a bonnet in his life. Who was the dipstick there,eh?

I love taking my basset hound in Pets At Home elderflower1. They are so welcoming and always come round the counter to stroke my dog and give her a treat.

Lakeland ladies always ask if I found what I was looking for. However, i usually come out with far more than I was looking for!
Waitrose is great for service but this week the gentleman manning the 'baskets only' checkout went a bit too far, asking me three times if there was anything more he could do for me. Goodness knows what he thought he could do!

Annobel - were you tempted?????

gracesmum , . I assure you that this checkout operator held out no temptation whatsoever!