On Sun, 11 Dec 2005 11:08:54 +0000, Ian Jelf
wrote:

In message , Paul Corfield
writes

[lt museum shop]

I have not noticed any change in the museum shop staff - they are all
the same people as before and can be as sullen and unhelpful as ever.

That's interesting. It was me that first mentioned here on utl how
unenthusiastic people were in the shop, I think. But since the move it
has seemed very different to me. One man (probably the manager) had a
long talk to me one day about their subscription service for models (it
was a weekday, though and correspondingly quiet).

Mike Walton is the manager - always very chatty. I have used the
subscription service in the vain hope of being able to ensure I get
models that I think will be in very high demand. However with about one
exception none have sold out quickly. Thus I can see models on the shelf
and yet be told that I won't get one sent to me for months. That's
stupid in my view - how complicated is it to record a sale, update a
database, stuff the model in a jiffy bag and get it franked and
collected by the Royal Mail? I'm obviously missing something because in
my experience is takes a few minutes if you've got a half competent
person doing the task. I got the latest blast of "ice cold service" for
asking to take the models now and pay for them as they weren't prepared
to send them to me until the New Year. I was told not to use the
service if I was going to ask to pick them up in the shop. Well what I
am supposed to do? Trying to reserve anything in the shop is virtually
impossible because the staff are so disinterested in lifting a finger to
be helpful. To support my case I note there was a printed sign advising
those who had mail ordered the Citaro models that they would not be sent
until January and that if people wished they could collect them now!
The very thing I was told not to do is now officially sanctioned.

Then during the melee on Thursday the girl serving downstairs was very
pleasant, laughing and joking with my wife. Maybe I've just been lucky
but it seems to me that there's been something of a "sea change" since
the move. I hope so anyway.

Keep hoping but I fear you will be disappointed.

Once in a while I would like to be treated as a customer rather than a
hindrance to their social life.
Yes had that in the old place.......

Not at all surprised.

I also don't appreciate being "told off"
for the inadequacies of their mail order system that takes months to
send out models [1] or being required to seek out other members of staff
because they can't be bothered to talk to each other.
And that!

Not at all surprised.

[1] I can order models from Hong Kong that take 1 week to arrive despite
travelling thousands of miles.
Yes, having obtained the relevant forms for the Mail Order service, I
have to say it does seen *very* cumbersome and complex. Ordering from
online services is *much* easier. But then I like to support the shop,
I'm often free for a while in Covent Garden and I get the discount as a
Friend.

Yes I like to support it too but not at any price. I get a discount as a
member of staff but there are limits to my organisational or financial
loyalty. I spend a small fortune in there and expect decent service.

Having seen the queues for the models on Saturday afternoon, I did
wonder though how many were actually produced and were we all "duped" a
bit?! :-)) Alistair Stewart, offering a model as a prize on London
Tonight on Friday said that 6,000 had been produced. The girl in the
shop told my wife that they had 300 to sell per day. Even allowing for
300 of each model and assuming that 6,000 meant 3,000 of each, that
still gives a total of only 900 sold in the shop and 2,100 "spare". Or
maybe the figures are wrong.

I understood that there were 1,000 of each thus roundly limiting the
allocation to about 700 models in total per day. This would match the
comment made to your wife. I would be amazed if there were spares other
than the third model which is delayed until next year.
--
Paul C


Admits to working for London Underground!