Berlin

They were like barrow boys compared with John Lewis staff.
the MD of one firm that DH worked for started off as a 'barrow boy'.

What's so special about John Lewis staff anyway? I don't understand that - shop floor staff or management?

Not that I've ever lived within a 50 mile radius of one of their emporiums (ia?)

They can be very helpful - is that special?

I don't know either - the staff in our local Woolworth's were wonderful too, then it was shut down.
And the man who served us in Curry's last week was very helpful too.

My friend's DH worked for John Lewis after he was made redundant from his job - they were awful to work for.

I have nothing but praise for John Lewis staff but don't use their services very often. However, I do use their Waitrose counterparts almost daily and find their staff unfailingly cheerful and friendly, willing to help me to reach high shelves or find items not immediately visible. I know that they are very well trained.

Someone I know designs kitchens for John Lewis. Thinks it's a brilliant company to work for, and is very well trained, like you said, anno.

So, John Lewis employees wonderful, barrow boys....???

Same sort of snobbery.

I've only ever been to Waitrose a couple of times - like you, Ana, we live miles away. But I had a John Lewis parcel delivered to one recently and was surprised at the sourfaced lack of service I got from an obviously senior member of staff when I collected it. She must have been off ill on training day The staff at my local Poundland are lovely.

Retailers look to 'best practice'. The way John Lewis staff are trained is considered to produce the best levels of customer service. It also prides itself as being an ethical store.

If being good and ethical is considered snobbish, so be it.

As far as John Lewis is concerned, it's a marketing tactic.

What I am trying to say is that's how bankers and stockbrokers regarded commodities traders and, if you'd ever been on the metals exchange floor, you'd know why. This isn't my opinion.

What I am trying to say is that's how bankers and stockbrokers regarded commodities traders and, if you'd ever been on the metals exchange floor, you'd know why. This isn't my opinion.

But you quoted it in criticism of Farage which certainly implied it was a snobbish view you shared.

The way John Lewis staff are trained is considered to produce the best levels of customer service.
Perhaps some of them don't listen during training - although the majority are helpful and pleasant - as they are in many other stores too, not all JL staff are helpful or pleasant.

daphnedill Fri 06-Jan-17 13:06:15
If bankers consider commodities traders to be beneath them that must mean they consider that they are down in the drains because many people consider that bankers are in the gutter after the way they have behaved.

Gosh, I never knew that there were Nazi drinking songs - the things you learn on GN!