This week I had the worst experience ever in a shoe store. Raymond Poulton/Geox, Burnside's lay-out is a bit of a shambles, but the most egregious part of the shopping experience is the shouted, uninvited advice from the two women who rule the shop with their huge personalities. Comments/ unsolicited advice are shouted at customers from several meters away - it's a long and narrow store - as though customers were kindergarten kids in a park needing control by carers who couldn't be bothered getting off the park bench.
Although this is a store which stocks quality European shoes, the service, in my opinion, really lets it down. One of these 'assistants' couldn't tolerate my wanting to browse unhassled by her interuptions, then brazenly argued with me about my correct shoe size which I have had measured by the best professionals, and have been wearing comfortably for decades. Later, while at last managing to browse on my own, I was verbally bullied in a grating, patronising voice over the top of the heads of other customers - from halfway down the store. At this, I made a hasty exit, and was able to find an ideal pair of shoes in just ten minutes in a nearby shop where the staff could not have been sweeter or more helpful.
A friend visiting the same store on a weekday last month was told by the two women just before 5pm that they were about to close. When she enquired about the exact closing time, the both tried to avoid answering; but when she persisted, the women told her - and any other customer within earshot - to hurry up as they both had appointments and were not staying a moment after 5.30pm. read more