Waterstones service – classic British bookshop service?

Just rushed into Waterstones in Hampstead today to buy a Secret Santa book present for one of the team. I checked their website for Waterstones store opening times and saw I could make the 8 o clock closing time at Hampstead

I knew what I wanted, a Malcolm Gladwell book in the upper part of the store. When I went in the saleswoman at the back of the store said I couldn’t go upstairs to get the book because they had a private booking that had booked out the top of the shop where they have the Gladwell books

She said bitchily “that is what you get for coming 4 minutes before we close”

I came to Waterstones in their stated opening hours, to buy a book. It is completely uncalled for to get grief from their saleswoman

Waterstones, a British Bookshop

The British book business will tell you they are in dire straights, due to the “harsh economic climate”, “piracy” or whatever reason they can scrape together today

The real reason British bookshops fail is because they are terrible at selling their products to their customers

 

Waterstone’s Hampstead

Map
68-69 Hampstead High Street
GB – London NW3 1QP
Tel: 0843 290 8361
E-mail: manager@hampstead.waterstones.com
Site: http://www.waterstones.com

Opening Times:- Sun 20th 11.15-17.30 Mon 21st 9.00-20.00 Tues 22nd 9.00-20.00 Weds 23rd 9.00-20.00 Thurs 24th 9.00-20.00 Fri 25th 9.00-20.00 Sat 26th 9.00-20.00