Shop 3, Westminster Underground Station: an extremely disappointing experience
As my family and I passed Cards Galore at Westminster Underground Station, the store looked well presented and inviting. On the latter point, how wrong was I?
As I browsed the store, I noted that the items of interest to me did not have pricing information, and, common courtesy as it would have been, I was neither acknowledged, nor offered any help.
Towards the front of the store, I spotted an item I had in mind for a friend who’d recently had a family bereavement.
Then, a female member of staff with long, black hair, glasses and who looked of Asian heritage (just a description so that she can be identified) emerged from the rear of the store to stand beside and watch me.
My son came into the store moments later and we headed to the rear to browse gifts. The same female member of staff, likewise, moved to the rear, again, to stand beside and watch me.
I told my son we were leaving as I wasn’t prepared to make a purchase in a store where I was being blatantly watched as though I was about to shoplift. She didn’t say anything; not even an apology for how she made me feel.
Needless to say, we left empty-handed, meaning we didn’t make a purchase. After what we’d spent during our time in London, and for our contribution to the economy, to be treated in this manner felt nothing short of insulting.
I note that we were the only customers, despite the time of our visit (4:20 pm) being peak time at Westminster Station. Perhaps others have found it off putting to be treated with suspicion; I was under the impression that the intention of retail is to sell what’s in the store.