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WHSmith’s mocked for bizarre ‘reduced’ blunders and grubby carpets as iconic shop is voted WORST on high street
WHSMITH’S has been mocked by shoppers for bizarre “reduced” blunders and grubby carpets after the chain has been voted worst high street retailer of the year – yet again. People were quick to criticise it’s “messy” shop floors, “unhelpful staff”, as well as poor value for money in a survey. From an unusual buy two […]
WHSMITH’S has been mocked by shoppers for bizarre “reduced” blunders and grubby carpets after the chain has been voted worst high street retailer of the year – yet again.
People were quick to criticise it’s “messy” shop floors, “unhelpful staff”, as well as poor value for money in a survey.
From an unusual buy two for £1.50 or one for 50p “offer”, to selling crisps that expired six months ago, this round-up of Smith’s mishaps suggest that maybe the chain really is the least popular.
Shoppers have pictured their sub-par experiences, that show disorganised shelves, muddy floors, unpacked products and empty food shelves.
The chain has been ranked in the bottom two for the eighth consecutive year, with critics slamming its poor customer service, bad value for money and generally dire state of its stores.
The annual survey by consumer champion Which? comes after the retailer was slammed for selling £1 toothpaste for £8 in its hospital outlets.
Bottom rated shops
WH Smith – 58%
Clintons- 60%
Evans – 63%
= Sport Direct – 63%
Homebase/Bunnings – 64%
JD Sports – 65%
= Toys R Us/Babies R Us – 65%
Dorothy Perkins/Burton – 66%
= Halfords (inc Cycle Republic) – 66%
= Miss Selfridge – 66%
= Ryman- 66%
One customer told Which?: “I find WHSmith very expensive and its stores need updating.”
Another said: “I always use the self-service tills because the staff are rude.”
Another shopper summed up the retailer’s troubles, branding it “hugely inferior to what it was in the past”.
Describing their bugbears of shopping in store, shoppers said they are put off by crowds (49 percent), queueing (49 percent) as well as the behaviour of other shoppers (38 percent).
Which? asked more than 10,000 shoppers about their shopping experience at 100 major retailers.
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The customer scores given are based on customers’ experiences of purchasing non-grocery items, their satisfaction levels and the likelihood of recommending each shop.
Lush, Savers and Smyths Toys have been named the highest ranking shops; a huge leap for three retailers that didn’t even manage last year’s top 10.
Customers praised the smells of Lush stores, the prices at discount cosmetics store Savers, and the “friendly and cheerful” staff at Smyths Toys.
