Blanchardstown Centre Staff! Your Opinions?

Carroller

Hi

I work in the Blanchardstown Centre as do probably many people so i do be in the majority of shops during the week. I do find some staff extrememly helpful and some others not so much.

What are your opinions of the Staff within the shops in the centre and your experiences?

IMO Tom Stanleys are the worst, They just cant wait to get rid of your without even a thank you!

Alaska1

Champions Sports are very rude at times I find.

No pride in the job at all.

Gaspode

Carroller wrote: »

Hi
I work in the Blanchardstown Centre as do probably many people

Not sure what you hope to gain from this thread OP. Is it just another chance for people to bemoan and bitch about shops or are you looking for compliments (since you work there yourself)?

Carroller

Gaspode wrote: »

Carroller wrote: »

Hi
I work in the Blanchardstown Centre as do probably many people

Not sure what you hope to gain from this thread OP. Is it just another chance for people to bemoan and bitch about shops or are you looking for compliments (since you work there yourself)?

Just merely looking for opinions! not compliments either which is the simple fact i didnt give where I work!

CrazyRabbit

Carroller wrote: »

Hi

I work in the Blanchardstown Centre as do probably many people so i do be in the majority of shops during the week. I do find some staff extrememly helpful and some others not so much.

What are your opinions of the Staff within the shops in the centre and your experiences?

IMO Tom Stanleys are the worst, They just cant wait to get rid of your without even a thank you!

I love the staff in the shop where you work. Really cool & generous people.

P.S, can I get a discount?

Rest of the staff seem ok. A few nice, and few rude. Nothing unexpected.

Carroller

CrazyRabbit wrote: »

I love the staff in the shop where you work. Really cool & generous people.

P.S, can I get a discount?

Rest of the staff seem ok. A few nice, and few rude. Nothing unexpected.

must be somewhere else your thinking of we're all pricks where I work :P

chucknorris

Generally, I have never had a problem with any staff in any shop.

Now I have been around this forum for quite some time and there are people here that will find an issue about anything as Gaspode has mentioned.

The Blanchardstown center and it's staff are generally fine. it's amongst the top three shopping centers in the country and the staff seem to reflect that!

Diddler1977

M&S staff are excellent!!!

Stinjy

yeah I work in the centre, but I find we are told you need to ask everyone who comes in are they okay for everything (not in those exact words but yeah basically we have to approach them) personally I know when I go into a shop especially a small one if I'm asked that I walk out because I feel uncomfortable like I'm being watched or something.... (unless i know what i need) anyone else feel like that?!

however I don't think I've ever had a problem with any staff

Diddler1977

Stinjy wrote: »

yeah I work in the centre, but I find we are told you need to ask everyone who comes in are they okay for everything (not in those exact words but yeah basically we have to approach them) personally I know when I go into a shop especially a small one if I'm asked that I walk out because I feel uncomfortable like I'm being watched or something.... (unless i know what i need) anyone else feel like that?!

however I don't think I've ever had a problem with any staff

I love being asked "Do I need any help?"
It's just good service!

The Waltzing Consumer

This will be a little off topic but I hope it is allowed.

When it comes to the shopping centre, I was thinking about the shops a bit because of what happened in Game during the week and how it is now closed down and it got me thinking about how shops looked like when they first opened the centre and how they are now.

I hate how shops that had personality were "marketed" into looking like every other shop in their group so when you stepped in, you would not know if you were in Blanchardstown or Swords or City Centre. These shops all became uniformed and in a sense, I think this is a factor, not a huge factor, of why these same shops are suffering and slowly going out of business.

1) Do you remember when HMV had a big wall of TVs, pretty much separating the audio from the visual departments? It looked unique. I thought it made the shop look great and gave it personality and as a teenager at the time, I enjoyed going into it, I wanted to shop there.

2) I remember Dixons when it was first there looking pretty cool and strange layout, but then again, they fecked it up, made it uniformed and there are usually more and more staff then customers in there.

3) Virgin was also quite custom, they had headsets on every aisle, it had a different feel and look to HMV and it was good having it side by side, but then again, they uniformed it and the slow road till collapse began.

4) Game used to be twice as big as it was, they had lots of tvs playing different videos or game trailers. They had consoles set up so you could play them and there was a friendly atmosphere. Once the store changed in what it is now, I think that really marked the turning point into the slow death of what was once the market leader.

There are definitely other factors that are probably more important, but I do think it plays a part how a shop looks. When it comes to the Blanchardstown Shopping centre, it has done well considering the recession and reacted positively. I do think there is a certain British Management Retail model that all the above companies have followed, which destroyed any identity, personality or imagination in a shop and it should really be avoided.

spooky donkey

I found the staff in Game fantastic.
Pity I cant enjoy the quality of the service any more.
Wish em all the best.

Fulton Crown

Staff in Blanchardstown centre are,in general very helpful and friendly.

They have a difficult job to do in stressfull conditions and for fairly basic pay.

In particular i have great admiration for the dark haired waitress in Kays Kitchen...the one with the amazing arse...if you work there and have her phone number could you please pass it on ?

Stinjy

Diddler1977 wrote: »

Stinjy wrote: »

yeah I work in the centre, but I find we are told you need to ask everyone who comes in are they okay for everything (not in those exact words but yeah basically we have to approach them) personally I know when I go into a shop especially a small one if I'm asked that I walk out because I feel uncomfortable like I'm being watched or something.... (unless i know what i need) anyone else feel like that?!

however I don't think I've ever had a problem with any staff

I love being asked "Do I need any help?"
It's just good service!

Fair enough, I just feel like I'm chasing people out the door when I approach, yet I know how they feel, anyway good to know I'm helping some people,

chucknorris

Fulton Crown wrote: »

Staff in Blanchardstown centre are,in general very helpful and friendly.

They have a difficult job to do in stressfull conditions and for fairly basic pay.

In particular i have great admiration for the dark haired waitress in Kays Kitchen...the one with the amazing arse...if you work there and have her phone number could you please pass it on ?

I've no idea who you are talking about but I'll come back to you on that when i qualify that statement for myself

Bruthal

Carroller wrote: »

Just merely looking for opinions! not compliments either which is the simple fact i didnt give where I work!

You wouldnt have to give where you work there, to be given compliments.

A poster says the staff in shop X are great. If you work in shop X, compliment.

Alaska1

Diddler1977 wrote: »

M&S staff are excellent!!!

Have to agree there, a lady called Louise ? works on the checkouts, always in good form and service is excellent.

All round the staff in there are very good.

Hilly Bill

Carroller wrote: »

Hi

I work in the Blanchardstown Centre as do probably many people so i do be in the majority of shops during the week. I do find some staff extrememly helpful and some others not so much.

What are your opinions of the Staff within the shops in the centre and your experiences?

IMO Tom Stanleys are the worst, They just cant wait to get rid of your without even a thank you!

Ye have to agree, got the feeling today in the one near dunnes that i was an inconvenience to them.

Okocim

Tom Stanley's and Dunnes Stores in the Blanchardstown centre seem to employ a number of residents in the Ladyswell, Dromheath and Corduff hinterland. That would explain a lot in terms of the replies in this thread and in the ''Standard of customer service in supermarkets in Dublin 15'' thread. There's good and bad everywhere and I know there are decent people as well in the areas i've mentioned working there, but these employers seems like a bit of a magnet for some dubious characters based in that hinterland. That's just the reality and the decent people based there would say the same as well.

ongarite

Now that's a generalisation if ever I've seen one.
Absolutely ridiculous statement.

wildlifeboy

doesnt mean its not true and perhaps he has first hand experience.

ongarboy

I've shopped in the centre for years and never had any problems with staff. While I can't recall any examples of outstanding service, the fact that I cannot remember any negative experiences (which usually provokes people to post in forums like this) implies for me that they are just fine.

I also think associating poor service with the addresses of where the staff come from is also extreme generalisation. That's like implying everyone from Tallaght carries on like they do in Tallafornia!

ThisRegard

ongarboy wrote: »

That's like implying everyone from Tallaght carries
on like they do in Tallafornia!

The irony being that none of the muppets from Tallafornia are from Tallaght.

Gaspode

Okocim wrote: »

Tom Stanley's and Dunnes Stores in the Blanchardstown centre seem to employ a number of residents in the Ladyswell, Dromheath and Corduff etc........

wildlifeboy wrote: »

doesnt mean its not true and perhaps he has first hand experience.

You are correct wildlifeboy, it doesn't mean it's not true, but by the same token it doesn't mean it's not a sweeping generalisation with no basis in reality either!

Okocim, unless you went around and got home addresses from all the staff, or you know them all personally, then how do you know they're from the areas mentioned?
I'm letting the comment pass for the moment, mostly because it makes you look bad rather than the staff of those shops. Think carefully before your next post!

hunglikeaflee

Diddler1977 wrote: »

M&S staff are excellent!!!

It is funny how different people see things.

I love M&S but I drive past the Blanchardstown Centre to go to M&S in Liffey Valley because I find the staff in Blanchardstown rude and sometimes outright obnoxious.

One day after standing in front of staff for 3 minuets to ask a question, I had to say sorry but I have a quick question could you help and she said don’t be so rude cant you see we are talking. What they were talking about was a new boss and how they wouldn’t stand for her telling them what to do and they would teach her.

kelle

I love the staff in Dunnes Stores food department. Everybody is nice and helpful, and all the checkout girls are great for a chat. It feels like one big family there.

And I love the guys and girls in Starbucks! They are so friendly, and the guy with the beard is so funny (is that you OP )!

Overall, I have no complaints about Blanchardstown Centre staff (though I agree with what posters say about Tom Stanley's), it's why I keep going back there again and again!

choobles

I work in the Blanch retail park myself and have major issues with the center "security" or whatever they want to call themselves.

Major power trips they seem to be on.

Not a fan of the Dunnes staff as they seem more interested in talking to each other than serving customers.

Okocim

For those who seem to be jumping up and down about my last post I'd suggest reading it again..carefully this time particularly the following.

''There's good and bad everywhere and I know there are decent people as well in the areas i've mentioned working there,''

On a positive note, received great customer service recently in Argos at the centre. Dealt with 3 staff there and each were excellent, this after a bad experience at Argos in The Ilac Centre, so good staff make a big difference. It's a tough job working in retail dealing with ''the public'', but those with a bit of customer awareness, social skills, a positive attitude and some basic cop on do fine for themselves and those they serve, it's not rocket science and customers and workers alike just want to get on with it. It's the minority of staff who have turned being obnoxious into an art form that cause the problems....and i'm sure it works both ways as there are some ''tulips'' as customers as well that staff have to deal with.

chucknorris

Okocim wrote: »

For those who seem to be jumping up and down about my last post I'd suggest reading it again..carefully this time particularly the following.

''There's good and bad everywhere and I know there are decent people as well in the areas i've mentioned working there,''

On a positive note, received great customer service recently in Argos at the centre. Dealt with 3 staff there and each were excellent, this after a bad experience at Argos in The Ilac Centre, so good staff make a big difference. It's a tough job working in retail dealing with ''the public'', but those with a bit of customer awareness, social skills, a positive attitude and some basic cop on do fine for themselves and those they serve, it's not rocket science and customers and workers alike just want to get on with it. It's the minority of staff who have turned being obnoxious into an art form that cause the problems....and i'm sure it works both ways as there are some ''tulips'' as customers as well that staff have to deal with.

There are more staff in Argos from Mulhuddart and Corduff than in Tom Stanleys and that is from someone who's brother over see's all of the Argos stores in the city.

Your comment previously is nothing short of bonkers.

Diddler1977

kelle wrote: »

I love the staff in Dunnes Stores food department. Everybody is nice and helpful, and all the checkout girls are great for a chat. It feels like one big family there.

And I love the guys and girls in Starbucks! They are so friendly, and the guy with the beard is so funny (is that you OP )!

Overall, I have no complaints about Blanchardstown Centre staff (though I agree with what posters say about Tom Stanley's), it's why I keep going back there again and again!

I love that guy too!!!

Hilly Bill

kelle wrote: »

I love the staff in Dunnes Stores food department. Everybody is nice and helpful, and all the checkout girls are great for a chat. It feels like one big family there.

And I love the guys and girls in Starbucks! They are so friendly, and the guy with the beard is so funny (is that you OP )!

Overall, I have no complaints about Blanchardstown Centre staff (though I agree with what posters say about Tom Stanley's), it's why I keep going back there again and again!

Thats the problem, they are not there for a chat.

athtrasna

M&S staff are amazingly helpful - but that seems to be a corporate policy as I've found it across all Marks stores.

A lot of the staff in Next seem to try not to have to serve customers, rather than leaving long queues and the store is frequently a mess. As a next fan I'd rather go to Liffey Valley.

Worst staff around the centre are those idiots controlling traffic :mad:

amdublin

I think the m&s staff who are on the tills are exveptional. They apologise for keeping you waiting and alsways make some small talk/personal connection with you.

Stinjy, i like being asked "can i help you" when i walk into a shop too. Even better when it is prefixed with a big friendly hello!

Stinjy

amdublin wrote: »

I think the m&s staff who are on the tills are exveptional. They apologise for keeping you waiting and alsways make some small talk/personal connection with you.

Stinjy, i like being asked "can i help you" when i walk into a shop too. Even better when it is prefixed with a big friendly hello!

Yeah that's fair enough, I do it because its what the job requires but if I had my way I'd let people have a look and approach when they've had a bit of a look and maybe actually have a question rather than the minute they walk in, unless they come towards me, but good to know, I'll feel a little more confident in it now ,

Diddler1977

Stinjy wrote: »

Yeah that's fair enough, I do it because its what the job requires but if I had my way I'd let people have a look and approach when they've had a bit of a look and maybe actually have a question rather than the minute they walk in, unless they come towards me, but good to know, I'll feel a little more confident in it now ,

Stinjy, I'd feel very confident when you ask someone how they are getting on that you are doing the right thing.

If they say they don't need any help I'd just respond with something like "Well I'm just here if you have any questions, just give me a call if you need any assistance"

Your managers are right to tell you to do this.

Customer service can be severely lacking in some shops and it is not right to expect the customer to have to come to you for assistance - you are there to serve them and you need to let them know that you are glad to have them in the shop and are ready to help them.

Even a simple "Good morning, let me know if you need assistance!" is a nice helpful greeting to give a customer as they come in the door.

kelle

kelle wrote: »

I love the staff in Dunnes Stores food department. Everybody is nice and helpful, and all the checkout girls are great for a chat. It feels like one big family there.

Hilly Bill wrote: »

Thats the problem, they are not there for a chat.

I didn't mean it like that, I meant they chat to the customers as they put the groceries through!

Zaph

kelle wrote: »

kelle wrote: »

I love the staff in Dunnes Stores food department. Everybody is nice and helpful, and all the checkout girls are great for a chat. It feels like one big family there.

Hilly Bill wrote: »

Thats the problem, they are not there for a chat.

I didn't mean it like that, I meant they chat to the customers as they put the groceries through!

This must be some alternate reality Dunnes Stores then because all I ever get from the staff on the tills there is a scowl or if I'm really lucky a grunt. They always make me feel that I'm inconveniencing them somehow. Damn me and my groceries for keeping them in a job.

kelle

Zaph wrote: »

This must be some alternate reality Dunnes Stores then because all I ever get from the staff on the tills there is a scowl or if I'm really lucky a grunt. They always make me feel that I'm inconveniencing them somehow. Damn me and my groceries for keeping them in a job.

Maybe I just have the kind of look that entices friendliness from the most scornful of people

Hilly Bill

kelle wrote: »

I didn't mean it like that, I meant they chat to the customers as they put the groceries through!

Thats nice and all that when its quiet but annoying as heck when its busy..

amdublin

Hilly Bill wrote: »

kelle wrote: »

I didn't mean it like that, I meant they chat to the customers as they put the groceries through!

Thats nice and all that when its quiet but annoying as heck when its busy..

Ah i dont think it slows them down. And its nice!

Diddler1977

I never find staff in Laura Ashley to be in any way helpful. They are constantly chatting to each other and looking at the customers in a very snooty way. They tend to talk down to you when you ask for assistance.

wildlifeboy

yeah that guy with the beard in starbucks beside waggamama is sound. first experience of him over the weekend and he was very friendly to me and my daughter and then i saw this thread again and remembered him. i only go to starbucks cause the wife likes her mochachino latte bull**** but it has nice cookies and its comfy

LouiseR

hi.
I work in blanchardstown m&s and am sorry to read your remarks. I have been there for eight years and it doesn't sound like the store I work in. Not excusing it but hopefully it was an isolated incident. Why not give us another chance!
..itll.save petrol for you in the long run, so we'll be saving you even more money in the long run... (bad attempt of humour! Soz!!)

Zaph

I think to be fair, the general opinion of M&S staff is that they're excellent. There are a couple of staff in particular on the grocery checkouts who are probably the most friendly and helpful retail staff I've ever met.

LouiseR

Hi zapf...thanks for your comments...I'll pass them on to everyone there today!
happy Monday

eviltwin

M&S are great esp in grocery, so are Boots. I find the staff in Easons and Game aren't overly friendly but if you have a question they do know their stuff or take the trouble to find out. The staff at Mannings are very good too as busy as they are.

The newsagents aren't great, staff never smile and look miserable a lot of the time.

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

Not sure why this has been resurrected but I'll give my ten cents worth

I worked in the centre for the guts of 10 years. We had a lot of "customer service" training drilled into us for years, and we only ever put about half of it into practice. That said, after leaving that job and just being a customer in the other shops I have noticed how terrible a lot of them are. Like I said, where I worked was okay, but I never thought we were anything special, but seeing the way staff are in other shops it's amazing.

Staff having a chat while you're standing waiting at the till to be served. Continuing their chat when they do eventually serve you and barely acknowledging you're there. Anything more than 5 or 6 people in a queue with only one server on till while other staff members are walking around doing nothing. Staff that can't even make eye contact with you when you do ask them something.

There are plenty of shops that have lovely, well trained staff, but it's interesting when you come from a background of customer service what you do notice. Obviously if you've never worked in a shop you might view your shopping experience differently, but I do see lots of shops where I think we never would have gotten away with that when I started work! (just to point out I'm not some auld one giving it all "in my day.....!!")

daymobrew

Zaph wrote: »

There are a couple of staff in particular on the grocery checkouts who are probably the most friendly and helpful retail staff I've ever met.

Today (Tues 9th, 4pm) I had a very positive experience at M&S Grocery. Bought 1 item for 1.49. My 5 year old had the 1 euro coin and my 2 year old had a 50 cent coin. They separately gave them to the cashier and she made a big deal of including them in the transaction. They liked that and it made me smile.

Morag

I have found the staff in easons to be dire, 3 time I gave my contact details in realation to exam papers and was never contacted, I also called in when they said they were due in to be told they arrived the day before and were all gone. The staff don't know the book or publishing business off all, they are just there to operate the tills. Went down to pick up a book on the day it was due to be released to be told that at noon the books were still in boxes in the back and chances are they would not be on the floor until after 2pm.

Needless to say I now take my business to chapters in the city and the book shop in Roselawn shopping center.

Richard Hillman

The manager in McDonalds once gave me a free Double Sausage McMuffin because the debit card machine was out of action. I'll never forget the day

Some serious hotties in Burger King too and always very nice.

Polar101

M&S staff are always friendly.
Tom Stanleys - the staff don't seem to like customers at all, they have a way of making you feel unwelcome. I've taken my business to Bon Expresso instead, as they are more friendly.
Dunnes groceries - they only interrupt their chatting to say CLUB CARD.
Easons - have had both good and bad experiences there.