“Having written three negative reviews today I am happy to be able to write a positive one for this little ray of sunshine. I stopped in at this shop while my car was being repaired at a local garage and after all the hassle I had with the mechanics I was not in a good mood. Not until I visited Barnardo's. My wife had been into this shop before, but not for a few years. On her last visit the store was very cramped and disorganised, but I was pleased to see that any such problems have since been rectified. They have managed to display a great deal of stock without creating a claustrophobic atmosphere and the prices - I wouldn't exactly call them cheap but they're certainly better than fair. There are bargains to be had, but more importantly the shopping experience is a pleasurable one. The young woman behind the counter should really be commended. She was bright, cheerful and had a talent many shop staff lack these days - she was talkative without being chatty. There are two things I hate when I go into a shop. The first is a staff member who won't talk, who answers in one or two words if you force them and makes you feel as though they'd rather you hadn't come in. The second is a staff member who won't shut up. I'm sorry, shop staff all around the country, but I don't care where you went on holiday last year or where you're going this year. I don't care what you think of the weather, the football, or any other local issue that's preying on your mind. I certainly don't want to hear your opinions on my purchase. Yes, it is a lovely vase - if it wasn't I wouldn't be buying the damn thing. No, I don't think the ornament I'm buying is a little gaudy - I'm not in the habit of wasting my money on things I think are ugly. This young lady, however, was a delight. She offered no opinions on my purchases, didn't talk about the weather, didn't try to tell me about her holidays or the latest crisis with her boyfriend/mother/cat. Instead she was polite, funny and when the transaction was complete didn't try to hold me back. She made me feel as though she was happy I'd come into the shop and that I would be welcome back at any time. I've marked down one star purely because it was difficult to see the items in the counter. A word to the manager - if you're going to have items displayed at the till, make sure the counter top is clear so customers can actually see them. I hurt my back crouching when I should have been able to stand upright and look down. Other than that, a perfect shop with brilliant staff. Highly recommended.”
Charity Shops
Charity Shops
“Having written three negative reviews today I am happy to be able to write a positive one for this little ray of sunshine. I stopped in at this shop while my car was being repaired at a local garage and after all the hassle I had with the mechanics I was not in a good mood. Not until I visited Barnardo's. My wife had been into this shop before, but not for a few years. On her last visit the store was very cramped and disorganised, but I was pleased to see that any such problems have since been rectified. They have managed to display a great deal of stock without creating a claustrophobic atmosphere and the prices - I wouldn't exactly call them cheap but they're certainly better than fair. There are bargains to be had, but more importantly the shopping experience is a pleasurable one. The young woman behind the counter should really be commended. She was bright, cheerful and had a talent many shop staff lack these days - she was talkative without being chatty. There are two things I hate when I go into a shop. The first is a staff member who won't talk, who answers in one or two words if you force them and makes you feel as though they'd rather you hadn't come in. The second is a staff member who won't shut up. I'm sorry, shop staff all around the country, but I don't care where you went on holiday last year or where you're going this year. I don't care what you think of the weather, the football, or any other local issue that's preying on your mind. I certainly don't want to hear your opinions on my purchase. Yes, it is a lovely vase - if it wasn't I wouldn't be buying the damn thing. No, I don't think the ornament I'm buying is a little gaudy - I'm not in the habit of wasting my money on things I think are ugly. This young lady, however, was a delight. She offered no opinions on my purchases, didn't talk about the weather, didn't try to tell me about her holidays or the latest crisis with her boyfriend/mother/cat. Instead she was polite, funny and when the transaction was complete didn't try to hold me back. She made me feel as though she was happy I'd come into the shop and that I would be welcome back at any time. I've marked down one star purely because it was difficult to see the items in the counter. A word to the manager - if you're going to have items displayed at the till, make sure the counter top is clear so customers can actually see them. I hurt my back crouching when I should have been able to stand upright and look down. Other than that, a perfect shop with brilliant staff. Highly recommended.”