Hobbycraft

By LButterfly | Thursday, November 11, 2010, 16:15

I have just returned from shopping at the Havant branch of Hobbycraft.

I wanted some material, which is upstairs. A notice above the racks of material told customers to ask a sales person for help if one wanted to buy. There was no sales person on the floor. There was another customer who also wanted help. So I called out, asking for a sales person to help.

A sales girl on the till on the floor below told us to Press the bell under the table.

We started looking for the table and bell. There were three tables set up for crafting so we both went into that area and started looking under the tables. No bell. I called out again, explaining there were three tables and no bell.

Along came two sales assistants, one to tell us off!

Next time, would we simply ring the bell please?

Where is it, I asked? We had, I reminded her, been told it was Under the Table. And where might that table be be?

By this time the other guy had stomped off saying he had given up.

We were told they were short staffed.

I asked how were we to know that with no notices to that effect? I pointed out they needed better signs directing customers to the table and the bell under it.

We were shown the serving desk, and the bell which was on theside. I pointed out that On the Side is not the same as Under.

Again, I suggested they needed signs to explain that they were short staffed and customers should press a bell if there was no serving person available.

We were told this was impossible as they had just moved the bell. And we were told too many signs meant kids would keep pressing the bell.

The attitude we received was absolutely unfriendly and not at all helpful. We had no idea where to go to press a bell, or that the shop was short staffed. At no time did a member of staff apologise or thank us for the idea of more and better signage.

I spent £46 at Hobbycraft; surely the shop depends on their customers? They lost one because the other guy stomped out.

Re-post Write a story

Ads by Google

Comments

Different experience for me. Shopped with wife there three times in the last two weeks now. She loves the place (or truth be known - what it has to offer) - they were brilliant including the manager.

I was actually surprised at how helpful the younger ones were too. Not something you see too often. Generally get the sense they enjoy what they do at HobbyCraft

By WILGENIX PHOTOGRAPHY at 06:18 on 19/11/10
Report
Obviously some things ARE good about the shop. I get a lot of my supplies there for art; I do custom work for clients and also sell my art online. I saw the crafting area and that has merit. The problem lies with getting hold of an assistant upstairs. It's not what you might call a family concern shop, (what the Americans call a Mom & Pop store) where customers are actively served and cared for, but more a shop where you collect your items and pay for them at the till till.

By LButterfly at 07:45 on 16/11/10
Report
Weird! I love HobbyCraft (or rather my wife does) and we have always experienced excellent service there. We tend to go there every few weeks with the kids for their projects etc and although they do seem busy sometimes, they are a shop and it does have a nice buzz!!

On a different note, we were in there this weekend and they have built this craft room area - we all had a go as they were raising money for Children in Need. The kids loved it! The girl we spoke to said that they do activities everyday in there - many are free. I fear I will be dragged there even more frequently now but at least they have the model section to keep us men amused!

By johnsmith5401 at 16:45 on 15/11/10
Report
@ LButterfly, I know what you mean, I have also failed to be served upstairs in Hobbycraft. Good on you for sending the a letter, I also couldnt find the bell so shouted down asking for help. We will have to see if they put up some new signs

By B_A_Baracus at 22:23 on 14/11/10
Report
I wrote to Hobbycraft and they agreed the situation had been poor. They have said they will provide extra signage to tell people to use the bell and direct them to the bell.

By LButterfly at 21:18 on 13/11/10
Report