Jeremy Vine Show Tuesday 10th April

[YorkshireLass]

Hi All
Hope everyone that had time off, had a good break and are all refreshed until the next Bank Holiday :D

On today’s show:-

PAEDOPHILES
Parents will find out if paedophiles live near them, as part of a pilot project.

EDWINA CURRIE
Former minister Edwina Currie accuses shop assistants of terrible standards of customer service.

DES BROWNE
The Defence Secretary has been accused of doing too little too late after banning service personnel from selling their stories.

PARKINSON'S DISEASE
Speaking to the 26 year old man who gets thrown out of nightclubs for having Parkinson's disease.

Over to you

YL :twisted:

[Mike Reynolds]

Hi YL

On the shops issue, I agree (probably for the first time) with Edwina, the service is absolutely diabolical in some shops (and not just shops). I went to the local JobCentre with my mate the other week as he was working over the Xmas period for Sainsbury's - it turned out to be a temporary Christmas position, something he was not told at the interview, and due to the DWPs gross incompetence, he has had no money since the middle of January, all the DWP departments are blaming each other, some saying his money is in the post, others saying he has to fill out more forms, he doesn't know which way to turn.

All that happened when we went there was he was asked to speak to various people on the phone - he didn't get a chance to chat to anyone face to face. I went up to one of the assistante and told them that I thought the service was diabolical, and all she said to me was 'well, thanks for that' in an extrememly sarcastic tone.

Mike

[Helen May]

I agree with Edwina on this one. In the branch of John Lewis near to me the attitude of the staff is awful. You are made to feel that you are doing them a favour by actually coming in to the store. There are loads of 'supervisors' walking around with clip boards but try to pay for something and there is no one. They are well known for their frosty attitude round here.

H

[Lovewood]

Retail workers are some of the lowest paid. I read somewhere that USDAW figures suggest that each year something like 25% of shop workers are assaulted at work. In my experience, they tend to be more sinned against than sinning. It's a thankless job.

[Helen May]

I've worked in a shop in the past and it is not a thankless job. They are just not interested in their jobs or the customer in many cases.

H

PS you are right about the pay though!

[politik]

A couple of years ago I went for a managemet job interview at a Restauant chain. Part of the interview was to work in the restaurant "unpaid" for a day.

During the day I earned more tips than the people "showing me the ropes" and some of the customers commented on the good service they received. Now I didn't do anything "special" in order to get the job. All I did was recognise that the patrons were potentially paying my salary and I wanted it to be the best experience they had by simply allowing them to eat in peace but being available when asked.

The company policy is to take the order then within a certain time limit return to the table and say"is everything ok?" then come back 10 mins later and say the same thing. Hardly personal.

At the interview the interviewer was keen to know how my tables were happier than the others and I explained what I understood customer care was. She was writing down everything saying "This is the stuff we need in this company" It was if it was an alien concept. I was offered the job at a high than normal starting rate but I declined.

[baytum]

Got to agree with you, I hate it when waiters/waitress hover around my table asking me if things are okay every five minutes, if it was not fine, they would know about it soon enough, and if everything was fine they would get a good enough tip.

We were all out out the local chinese restuarant about three four weeks ago, and we have been there quite a few times (its VERY good) and there were a couple of waiters I had not seen before, they were a bit hovery and bit fussing with napkins and the right sort of glasses etc, but we accepted it because it was obvious they were new and trying to do what they thought was best. One of the waiters asked my ten year old if he would like another drink, answer yes, new drink arrived. Was not too happy about that, but as I was nipping to the loo, I heard the manager telling the waiter off for asking a child for another drink, and when the bill came his drink was nt included, hubby queried it, it was expalined why, and we actually paid for anyway, because had the waiter asked one of us, son would have had another drink anyway. course the older kids thought we were idiots, passing up anything with FREE attached to it. But fairs fairs. And we do get super duper service, in the restuaruant or if we order a takeway.

[Feverfew]

Have to agree that most the standard of customer service in the UK is on the whole appalling - though like Baytum, I find you get very good service in Chinese restaurants (for one thing, they always have enough staff).

I recently went to New York and I can tell you it was so refreshing to have people who actually looked you in the eye and greeted you as you come in the shop, and who were helpful, alert and polite. Of course, all my Brit friends tell me cynically that they are just being hypocritical with all that 'Have a nice day' stuff, but frankly I don't care - I prefer hypocrisy over indifference every time.

I've lost count of the number of times in England Ive ordered a drink and been told it's 'no problem'. Why on earth should it be a problem, for crying out loud? And as for being told what the soup and specials are without having to ask, forget it.

But hang on, I will be told I am a friend of Brian Sewell again so I'll stop there.

[Mike Reynolds]

I went out to eat in a pub nearby the other day, been in there a few times and it's OK but....

I asked what the 'Chef's special Curry of the Day' was and for the third time in a row they said 'Chicken' - I said 'it's always chicken isn't it? they said yes, so my reply was 'well if it's always chicken, never beef, or lamb rogan josh, why don't you just write 'chicken curry' on the menu and have done with it?' They just told me I was being awkward.

Ho hum

Mike

[Feverfew]

Probably too complicated for thenm Mike.

[Mike Reynolds]

I reckon you're right, FF!

[suzysu]

Feverfew

I have been told that waiters/waitresses in USA are taxed as if they have received 15-20 per cent tips (whether they did or not) if this is true it will explain why they are more friendly.