Questionable Customer Service

Everyone did this at the water park

Let me start with my least favourite of high street stores. This is something I never imagined I would be saying. Marks and Sparks have given me a kick in the teeth once more. I looked online to find out the best place to recycle Danielle's and my old clothes. M&S say they give a $5 token towards a future purchase. All good. I get my underwear from Marks so spending that money would not be a frivolous purchase. 

So with bursting bags in hand, I went to M&S at MK Dons. I asked at the till where I should put my parcels of old clothes. The assistant didn't know. She called another assistant who said they don't recycle. I told her they did. I did it once before and it says so online. Unfazed, she said they didn't recycle. No apology, no politeness. Nothing! 

I went next door to H&M. I have never bought anything from that store but the very friendly assistant set up an app, added two vouchers to the app and willingly accepted my packages. So now I have £10 off future purchases that I am happy to offer to anyone who wants to use them. What a difference in the way I was treated. I left the store empty-handed but smiling. 

Also in the vicinity is a JD Sports shop. I thought while I was there, I'd pop in and look at the tennis shoes. The lump I had cut off of my heel had rubbed the inside cushioning and now I have tennis shoes that need replacing as they are wearing out. I walked to an automatic door. It didn't open. At first I thought the shop was closed even though the opening times displayed told me otherwise. A man inside pointed me to another door further away. That automatic door opened. I asked him why his other "automatic" door didn't open automatically. He shrugged. Walked off and disappeared. I found tennis shoes but no one to help me get the right size. They were cheap too.... very questionable customer service. 

Then I could go on at length about the bin men who emptied the food waste bins this week. I looked out of my kitchen window to see them scattered with some separated from their bases. It wasn't long ago my bin was left in bits with noticeable cracks in it. I was made to feel guilty when I requested a replacement. Now I can imagine how it got into such a state. This last week, the bin men only managed partially empty my bin. Tsch.

The NHS have come doubly good. They sent me two letters exactly the same on the same day. They were so good, they sent the same letter twice to make doubly sure I got the message. What a waste!

All this is very frustrating. Don't get me started on my hire car! The windscreen wipers were so dirty they farted when I used them. They dragged across the screen in an excruciating manner which was really distracting. I cleaned them. Noise sorted. However, the car I was given to replace my damaged car is a tank. It has seven gears, guzzles fuel and I really don't enjoy driving in it. I asked for any small car as I don't do much driving. That is what I was given . Good listening, Enterprise! My car won't be repaired until September 5th. The damage done to my stationary vehicle is costing over £6000 to repair. 

At least the car is big enough to fit two child seats and three adults. I had a wonderful time at Box End, which actually feels a bit like a resort in the summer sunshine. Danielle, Sophie, two children and a dog sat around while I did an open water swim in balmy warm water - probably the upside of global warming - a very questionable benefit of using a gas guzzling hire car.

After the swim

Entertaining!