Shops must make right call on customer service

From: Brian H Sheridan, Redmires Road, Sheffield.

While I abhor rudeness in all its manifestations, especially the insensitive use of mobile phones, I agree wholeheartedly with Julian Hide that there are two sides to the issue (Yorkshire Post, July 10).

Check-out staff, bartenders, shop assistants etc have a duty to rise above the ignorance of those they serve. Sainsbury’s had no option but to reprimand the offending employee. How would those who blame them so readily feel if they themselves were in the business of employing people who alienated customers?

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I used to use a chippy lying in a close-knit community about three miles from my home. I eventually became exasperated by an assistant who regularly served me without speaking to me or looking at me while engaged in banter with others in the queue. I ended up asking her if I was invisible.

I now take my custom to a shop run by Albanian immigrants where every customer gets immediate eye contact, a welcoming smile and a sincere thankyou.

From: David Britton, Lytham St Anne’s, Lancashire.

jayne Dowle’s article (July 8) about people using mobile phones in supermarkets reminds me of a young lady in a Sainsbury’s car park a couple of months ago.

The lady had two children, a boy and a girl, on the back seat. The boy wouldn’t sit down and fasten his seat belt. Twice she had to get out of the car and try to make him sit down.

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In desperation she spoke to me, saying he would listen to a man. I couldn’t believe my luck. I said to the youngster: “Excuse me, do you know it’s against the law?” I got no further. The boy sat down, belted himself in and they were off.

We won’t change the world, Jayne, but they will know we’ve been here.