SEE WE ARE COMING UP FOR A FULL MOON, SO THOUGHT TO POST THIS.
Popped into Salisbury, this morning to see how the place had been getting on since my last visit. It was much the same but even more so, possibly the Tourists have returned to whence they came which makes one wonder how good trade is for some of the smaller shops. At the height of the lunch hour there were absolutely no customers in an eating establishment on Blue Boar Row, and by the time I had worked my way around behind the library a not dissimilar establishment had but one lady seated, whether she was a client or owner in despair one knows not.
What of prospects for the New Sausage Shop close by, or the new Estate Agents in Castle St.? In a city where so many Charity Shops co-exist one may wonder how many established shops will survive the Recession. In general the passing of many will be regretted.
Had cause to visit Wickes, know it was their establishment for it had their name on it. Having located only one piece of the three plumbing items I sought, one had other business with them. Both the gentleman who served me and subsequently the Manager of the Store were very helpful, and there came a time for me to pay for items to be delivered within the next fourteen days as they didn't actually stock what was advertised. Unusually for me, mine was an order financially worth having . That being so one was disappointed by Wickes' Fiscal Backroom Management.
This seemingly known as its CREDIT CONTROL DEPARTMENT.
Who in the name of the Almighty was asking any one for CREDIT.
Someone en route said that since I proposed paying for the goods by cheque I could only do so if I had a Cheque Guarantee Card. What world do such people live in, Banks no longer issue Cheque Guarantee Cards, I took the trouble to check that at three different Banks in the City Centre after being assured by Wickes that I was wrong on that point. One does understand that some attempt to defraud businesses, but surely it must be obvious to any one with the meanest of intelligence that if the goods ordered which will not be delivered in the immediate future have been paid for by a cheque accompanied by its appropriate Banker’s Card the store is in a win win situation. Quite frankly one can only hope that the goods I paid for will be delivered as promised, not that I doubt they will arrive.
I recall a very similar happening twenty or so years ago when Middle Eastern Arabs bought the Salisbury Timber Company. Though one had bought quite a bit from Salisbury Timber, I never again visited the business under its new ownership, I don’t suppose it was the loss of my custom that did it, but the business was very soon under a new ownership.
John Lewis
want to place my forty five year old Account Card in their Museum, possibly because it always causes a computer furore every time I use it. How is it that Partnership seems to go from strength to strength when other business fails? Its possibly because it does not alienate its clientele whilst others oft treat customers with contempt.
