October 2023 by Kate Roberts
Hardly any staff about and whenever you do find one to ask a question they look at you as an inconvenience! I had a nice response from a member of staff today, but I think that was the first time in about 5 years. Most of them seem to have no interest in customer service whatsoever. Good range of products but going there is not an enjoyable experience, unfortunately.
September 2023 by victoria gash
I was in my local Smiths branch yesterday which, as usual, only had minimal staff working, 2 teenagers. I actually heard them complaining about a customer who didn't want to use the self service tills and had asked one of them to serve him. The staff member was quite proud of the fact that he had refused to open a till and said, "These people don't realise how difficult it is for us to open a till". The. Customer apparently had then handed him the goods back and said he would by them elsewhere. The staff member then said to his colleague "Good. We don't need his custom".I was shocked and so I also walked out without buying anything. But the strange thing is, I often buy a lottery ticket at this branch, paying cash, and the staff never have a problem opening up the till for my purchase.The staff at my Smith's need to be retrained. Or dismissed.
April 2023 by David Bosquette
Went in to WH Smiths today to buy a book for my friend. Was looking at the chart books when a woman called Jackie (I assumed she was a Karen) marched towards me to say don't open the books as "paying customers like to buy their books pristine" she is a blond larger lady, red face, looks like the world is against her. I reminded her to be kind before taking my business to Sainsbury's where the book purchased was actually?£7 cheaper. What absolute gutter customer service from WH Smith. Avoid while this rude bully still works there.
April 2023 by Jaki Green
Bit of a mish mash shop these days they have a lot of competition now usually just go for papers and magazines. Post office is on the top floor.
January 2023 by Stewart Ford
Obviously being wound down to be closed
December 2022 by peter ellis
Need to sort out the Post Office upstairs. Chronically short staffed leading to very long queues (so long that they have put out chairs) and the floor is filthy especially around the stairs.
October 2022 by Hazel Wakeling
I went into W H Smith in Southend High Street on Saturday afternoon and there was not one member of staff in the shop one ot upstairs of the self service till needed staff assistance. Then went upstairs to the post office which also had no staff . How can you operate a shop with no staff. Also why is the upstairs empty but for few reduced books. Please put the magazines back at the front of the shop it's a joke having them at the back of the shop your sales must have dropped since doing this. The click and collect is not working so put the books back up stairs!! This shop is a joke!
October 2022 by Beatriz Moreira
Horrible experience. Use to go to other post offices not just in UK but many countries, and as some companies in UK this is one that instead existing to help the customer it's just to turn the customer life a nightmare! How wrong can go a mail posting, really bad if you go to this one. Just one employee for a big line of customers, then you will loose your turn as they don't have envelopes or boxes, so you need to loose more time going downstairs! Then the manager, instead of being understanding because I as backpacker, just want to deliver a pack and move on to the Train station, lost her paying time going downstairs telling me she will not sent my pack, because guess what, as a customer with mouth made a complain! My voice was louder, by frustration but was never rude. So madam Ayla, you should be doing a better job then patronising and treat people like they don't have a point and even refusing a service that is really bad, the worst until now in all UK post offices. Just DON'T waste people time and deserve your monthly payment, I think isn't ask much. Ridiculous.
August 2022 by Sarah N
Self Service is out of service, there is only one member working, very long queues and long wait. It?s a shame, Royal Mail has lack of staff and not sorted this out. Senior elder people also in the long queues standing without help.
May 2022 by Dino mama Roblox
I have seen loads of bad reviews, but me and my grandparents come here all the time and most of the people are lovely!
April 2022 by Zaiton Salehy
The old lady at the customer service was very unhelpful and her body language was so annoying. I am not happy with WHSmith because for the first time I ordered online to collect in the High Street store next day after 4 days I am still waiting.So I cancelled the order and try not to do my shopping there.
February 2022 by Lucas Liu
The old man in the post office have 0 manners, he said "don't waste my time" even though he misplaced stamps and wasted our time; I had 2 items and as soon as I asked him to to post the second item he cursed at my mother for being slow. Overall other stuff are nice and helpful but this guy that works there needs parents to enhance his manners.
February 2022 by Andi Cheese
It's very hard to give this once great high street store any more than two stars. My main area of concern is the blatant bombarding of sweets and confectionery in the isles leading to the tills, around the tills and around the self service tills. I have no kids of my own but parents struggle with kids who are tempted by the array of sweets in their face, telling their parent they want it, moaning, sulking and kicking up a stink because they want the sweets.This is irresponsible by the chain and not acceptable and they should not be doing this. All this 'we take the views of our customers very seriously' means nothing as I do not know of any parent who likes this arrangement.I give a second star as they still do quality books and stationary but that is about it now. It's a shame as I used to love going into the store to get my stationary but will go elsewhere as I feel the confectionery issue warrants it.Update 27/01/22Used to go in here occasionally to get my stamps from the till. The last three times I have been told the downstairs tills are closed and they cannot get the stamps out. So each time I went upstairs to the Post Office to find a huge queue with only one staff member serving. They deserve to go bust as you cannot run your own establishment effectively anymore. I look forward to seeing you disappear from our high streets because let's face it you are not offering a service any longer and your shop is devoid of customers.So long and thanks for the fish
November 2021 by Nigel Halsey
DO NOT WASTE ANY OF YOUR LIFE, QUEUING FOR THE POST OFFICE. I was in a queue of 13 people, and waited for 20 minutes, AS ONLY ONE WINDOW WAS OPEN! I have been told, that whsmiths head office will only let the post office, have 2 windows open. I've complained to the head office, and am waiting for the reply.Just don't bother with this post office. It's a bloody joke.
October 2021 by Kay Bee
Good luck getting any staff to pay attention to you or have any idea what services run at what times in their shop. The place was empty apart from two very young staff trying to do everything at once. Relies mostly on self service checkouts.