Whatever happened to standards?

Jul 14 2008 by Our Correspondent, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

LAST week I set out to have a meal and do some shopping. Why am I concerned about falling standards?

I called at a local cafe for a meal at 3.30pm having noted that the advertised closing time was listed as 4.30p.m. I was told that this would not be possible as the cooker etc. had been cleaned and no further meals would be available that day.

On to a well known branch of a national stationery chain to purchase ink cartridges for my fountain pen. They were not to be seen near the fountain pens; therefore I sought assistance from an assistant (the manager?).

As we walked down one of the aisles I commented that I would have thought they would have been situated near the pens, which elicited the response, “They are and they aren’t.” They weren’t.

Also a particular type of cartridge was not available although the fountain pens containing them were.

Across the Retail Park to an equally well known branch of a national DIY chain where I considered buying a drink from the drinks machine. On the machine was the notice as follows: “Use correct change when indicated or overpayment can be made. However incorrect or no change will be given” . Eh!?

At the same store I purchased three bolts (sold loose) and desired to buy the wing nuts to go with them, only to have problems finding them as they were not near the bolts but in the next bay. Annoyingly, although the bolts were sold separately, the nuts had to be bought in a pack of ten. Six wasted then.

On Friday my car broke down. I had to spend 35 minutes on the telephone trying to convince my insurance company that I had paid for breakdown cover, which I had and which they denied for all that time before giving me the policy number. Just think if I had been abroad!

Sadly these experiences are not unusual. Does no-one care about the customer anymore?

T Howard Firth

Salendine Nook