My letter of complaint - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Strange Famous · 05-02-2009, 10:19 AM

Speaks for itself. I'm a bit of a prick sometimes, but meh...

Quote:

Micah Douglas
*** **************
Ipswich
IP2 ***

Letter of complaint - Ipswich Morrisons

2 May 2009

Dear Sir/Madam

I must first of all tell you that in 31 years of life I have only once before taken the trouble to write a letter of complaint to a store, that being when a salesman in Carphone Warehouse told me lies that were so ridiculous that I complained to the head office because I was simply offended that he believed me stupid enough to find them credible.

I must also say that there are many positive things I would say about the Ipswich Morrisons store. I am not the kind of person who finds shopping an especially pleasurable activity, and I do not feel any sense of loyalty to brands, but I shop at Morrisons nearly all of the time because the store in Ipswich gives me better service than any of the other superstores I could easily shop at (being ASDA, Tesco, Sainsburys, LIDL & Aldi).

The fresh food sold at Morrisons is very good quality: including sandwiches which are actually made in store rather than prepared in some factory, I happily pay 30 pence extra for my lunch every day to eat something that tastes homemade. The fish counter and butcher are both very good (although I wish that you would sell real sushi, I cannot complain as no other store does so either). The prices seem to me to be as cheap as anywhere else. The bakery in store produces good quality bread.

More than anything, I would say that the staff in Ipswich Morrisons really are superb in the standard of customer service which they provide. I can not only say that I cannot recall any occasion when a member of your staff has been rude to me, but also that consistently staff are friendly, helpful, and provide a standard of service that exceeds any reasonable expectation I might have. It really must be to the credit of your organisation, your management in store, and your people that customers such as myself are treated so well. I recall a couple of years ago I had a mix up with my bank and my debit card was marked for the cashier to confiscate. Obviously this is an embarrassing situation for anyone, but it was handled absolutely fantastically by your staff from my point of view. They did their job in confiscating and destroying my card as they had to, but also treated me very well. So in general I would say that the quality of service, helpfulness, friendliness, etc which I have experienced is really commendable, and qualitatively better to all of your competitors at least in my experience.

I think also it is worthy to note that Morrisons provide plastic bags of sufficient strength that they do not disintegrate when put to the task of actually carrying something (which other stores I have shopped in seem to find impossible)

So, having written many things which are positive, I feel now I must come to the matter which has led me to write the second letter of complaint in my life. Twice this week, while shopping in Ipswich Morrisons, I was accosted by different individuals attempting to persuade me to change my electrical supply from the company I use now to N Power. I am not a very political person, and I can assure you my objection to this is not based on any moral position against nuclear power. My objection is that, on both occasions the salesperson in question spoke to me rudely, and on the second occasion quite mockingly. The individual in question when I said simply “no” to his initial and leading “sales pitch” question called after me loudly and insultingly to ask if I enjoyed to pay more for my electric and that obviously I was very rich (I am not by the way).

Now, I do not expect or seek an apology from your company because an N Power sales rep spoke to me rudely. I understand that you are not responsible for him, and I am sure you have some kind of SLA in place with N Power or other people who you let hawk their goods in your store to say they must treat your customers politely. I do not ask you to investigate the matter or anything like this. I am a human being, and I understand that selling electrical supply contracts on commission is probably a very miserable and not especially well paid job. I accept that if I did it myself I may well end up snapping at people who say “no” and walk past me like I don’t exist when I am not getting paid a basic rate and rely on commission to put food on the table.

However, I write to you to say that I should not have to slink past door to door salesman, who are allowed to set up stall in your store, trying not to catch their eye so they start their hard sell on me. I write to you to ask that you take into account that at least one person feels this way, and in fact I believe that many people feel this way. I understand that you have a profit to make, and that taking money from people like N Power can help you be even keener on price – but is the payment you get from allowing them to pester, annoy, bully and harass customers in your store really material to the bottom line? And it is all very well for people like me who just walk past and get annoyed, but we (me writing this letter and you reading it) are both adults and we understand that utility companies like this do use the hard sell, and they do end up having success with people who are more vulnerable than others.

I ask you to consider not allowing these people into store to push their Cable Television contracts, their utility supply deals, their photography studio pictures of the children I do not have, and so on your premises: and I say to you that you would be even better for it if you did take this decision. On occasions local charities have also been stationed in the store asking for donations, and I find this acceptable. Also, I must say that these people behave with far more decency than the spivs and wide boys who try to flog their contracts on vulnerable people.

I do not know if companies ever take these kinds of letters seriously, and I do not expect you to change your policy because one person does not like it. But It annoyed me enough that I wrote this letter, and so I have done so. When I stand at the checkout I see many people awkwardly trying to get away from the N Power man. As I walked past him hearing his snide and insulting comments on Thursday, as on other days I try to time walking past the stall they set in step with someone who looks more gullible then me (an old lady perhaps?) so that at least he leaves me alone… I think – and I say it again – that I should be allowed to shop without having to put up with this nuisance.

Perhaps a few people find that they have never thought before about choosing the electricity supplier who suits the best and in fact it is N power and they are very grateful for you for introducing them. I cannot say, I have never met such people, and I do not believe in them, but I accept in this life of ours which is full of confusion I may be wrong about it.

I thank you for taking the time to read this letter, which is rather long. I hope that it will be passed to someone who has authority on such matters, and I hope at least you will consider my point of view

Yours truly,

Micah Douglas

Skitto · 05-02-2009, 03:27 PM

There was one option omitted:

Why not confront this - uh, Jerk - yourself? Tell him off and bring in the store manager, you seem to have covered all other possible modes of approach to this problem?

inBOIL · 05-02-2009, 10:26 PM

This steady march of marketing into every aspect of our lives is getting tiresome. I'm glad I don't have to deal with this in my supermarket, but who knows, it may happen soon. I think it's good you're writing this letter. It at least lets them know that they risk losing some customers if these hard sell assholes are allowed to remain.

If you're open to constructive criticism, I'd say the first five paragraphs are probably best condensed into 2-3 sentences, and the remainder of the letter could be condensed a bit as well.

Redjake · 05-03-2009, 06:37 AM

The malls here are the worst for this. It's downright awkward having someone walk up to you in the middle of a busy mall and ask if you are interested in perfume, and they are trained to NEVER take "no" for an answer. They will follow you for 5 or 6 steps and ask again and beg you. It's really embarrassing and annoying.

One pretty entertaining incident that occurred similar to this was with me and my wife. She is easily annoyed at certain things and these types of marketing are one of them.

We were walking along chatting in the mall going to a store and a "toy helicopter" salesmen was flying his helicopters dangerously close to shoppers. It was really stupid because he was getting them within like 1' of people, even near their faces - and shouting at people to come buy his helicopter.

Well, the first pass we just kept going and didn't bother or make eye contact, but the second time we passed by to return to the entrance the toy helicopter he was controlling came about 1' from my wife's face and she swatted it to the ground and it burst into 100 plastic pieces of shit all over the ground. I couldn't help but let out a quick laugh and then an "oh shit" and we walked out. Maybe he won't fly them so close to people anymore.

dlish · 05-03-2009, 07:38 AM

you should have given him a 'chris brown'.

on a serious note..well written. i'd have done much worse things

Strange Famous · 05-03-2009, 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skitto

There was one option omitted:

Why not confront this - uh, Jerk - yourself? Tell him off and bring in the store manager, you seem to have covered all other possible modes of approach to this problem?

I guess I just feel like I shouldnt have to.

Skitto · 05-03-2009, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Redjake

The malls here are the worst for this. It's downright awkward having someone walk up to you in the middle of a busy mall and ask if you are interested in perfume, and they are trained to NEVER take "no" for an answer. They will follow you for 5 or 6 steps and ask again and beg you. ........ ...

People are too polite.

I say change course when you're walking and either suddenly turn and walk towards the man with a

, maybe get a few friends to do it at different times or kick up a fuss about it. Or! Get a kid to beg to play with the thing until he gives in! He'll let the little dude bash it into someone, just once, that'll get him to think about what he's doing! Either the kid's mistake'll give him second-hand experience of what kind of people he's been messing with, or having a couple customers stare walk straight toward him out of nowhere (like they're in love, or want to give him a verbal ear-boxing) will keep the face flying to a minimum.

I mean, I wouldn't even have the guts to improvise a good enough complaint to get these guys to think about what they're doing. But if I did, a major point would be "do you know how many sales you're LOSING that way!?" suggesting a change of technique. Then maybe a sentence or two to any mall/store workers that're around, tell them to talk to the manager. To eliminate things getting skewed in transit maybe emphasize with a yell.

Point is we get annoyed by taking crap from salesmen, but for some reason YOU/I don't want to do anything about it. To me it's all social mumbo jumbo, an excuse to lay the unpleasant work on someone else.

---------- Post added at 12:20 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:14 PM ----------

Addendum: Oh, well then I guess if you just can't bear the unpleasantness of it, I can see the justice in that.

Just send your letter in triplicate!

runtuff · 05-03-2009, 02:04 PM

My tactics are be polite, but firm and say no thank you, but quickly follow it with; "you are wasting my time and you are ALSO wasting your own time, find someone else before I get annoyed."

05-02-2009, 03:27 PM	#2 (permalink)
Skitto Crazy Location: Westernmost Continental U.S.	There was one option omitted: Why not confront this - uh, Jerk - yourself? Tell him off and bring in the store manager, you seem to have covered all other possible modes of approach to this problem? __________________ Yeah, well, you're just that awesome, I guess. It's not like I guessed so anyways.

05-02-2009, 10:26 PM	#3 (permalink)
inBOIL I have eaten the slaw	This steady march of marketing into every aspect of our lives is getting tiresome. I'm glad I don't have to deal with this in my supermarket, but who knows, it may happen soon. I think it's good you're writing this letter. It at least lets them know that they risk losing some customers if these hard sell assholes are allowed to remain. If you're open to constructive criticism, I'd say the first five paragraphs are probably best condensed into 2-3 sentences, and the remainder of the letter could be condensed a bit as well. __________________ And you believe Bush and the liberals and divorced parents and gays and blacks and the Christian right and fossil fuels and Xbox are all to blame, meanwhile you yourselves create an ad where your kid hits you in the head with a baseball and you don't understand the message that the problem is you.

05-03-2009, 06:37 AM	#4 (permalink)
Redjake I'm a family man - I run a family business. Location: Wilson, NC	The malls here are the worst for this. It's downright awkward having someone walk up to you in the middle of a busy mall and ask if you are interested in perfume, and they are trained to NEVER take "no" for an answer. They will follow you for 5 or 6 steps and ask again and beg you. It's really embarrassing and annoying. One pretty entertaining incident that occurred similar to this was with me and my wife. She is easily annoyed at certain things and these types of marketing are one of them. We were walking along chatting in the mall going to a store and a "toy helicopter" salesmen was flying his helicopters dangerously close to shoppers. It was really stupid because he was getting them within like 1' of people, even near their faces - and shouting at people to come buy his helicopter. Well, the first pass we just kept going and didn't bother or make eye contact, but the second time we passed by to return to the entrance the toy helicopter he was controlling came about 1' from my wife's face and she swatted it to the ground and it burst into 100 plastic pieces of shit all over the ground. I couldn't help but let out a quick laugh and then an "oh shit" and we walked out. Maybe he won't fly them so close to people anymore. __________________ Off the record, on the q.t., and very hush-hush.

05-03-2009, 07:38 AM	#5 (permalink)
dlish Currently sour but formerly Dlishs Super Moderator Location: Australia/UAE	you should have given him a 'chris brown'. on a serious note..well written. i'd have done much worse things __________________ An injustice anywhere, is an injustice everywhere I always sign my facebook comments with ()()===========(}. Does that make me gay? - Filthy

05-03-2009, 02:04 PM	#8 (permalink)
runtuff Crazy	My tactics are be polite, but firm and say no thank you, but quickly follow it with; "you are wasting my time and you are ALSO wasting your own time, find someone else before I get annoyed."