Barnardo's

I Called in on the 18th of May at 3pm to have a look round. Iasked if you had any airfix model kits instore and avery helpful member of staff check in the stockroom and found one for me. Thank you to a dedicated member of your team. I'll be calling in again.
Jan 12th, 2022

Frequent charity shop buyer across the Midlands. However I must admit I always find issues when in this store. The apparent manager has a negative attitude when not eating chip shop food at the counter he can be heard discussing customers in a negative manner. Sorry to say its my last trip here. Despite purchasing items from Quinton and Tividale stores on a weekly basis I have found myself leaving this store one too many times.
Nov 2nd, 2021

Oct 27th, 2021

Putting aside the smelly and cramped nature of the shop....I asked if I could buy a piece of art there and then but collect it tomorrow (as I had walked 2 miles into town). I was told that I couldn't do this as it was against company policy. I had literally done the same thing across the road at Marie Curie Charity shop 5 minutes earlier and had done the same thing at YMCA just around the corner in Dudley previously. Absolutely no problems there. I was informed that they don't do this (through a nasty sneery smile which basically said *** off, we don't want your custom) as they would run out of storage and things can get broken. Hey guys! The art was screwed to the wall (neither of the 2 assistants could even reach it, let alone break it). And anywhere else would put a time limit on collections so that it goes back on sale (or moved to another store) should you be silly enough not to collect something that you have paid for!. Come on Barnado's - is that the best you can do? So the sales assistants... Immaculately manicured moustache dude trying to impress young female co-worker? I presume are volunteers. Well I doubt that they could get a paid job anywhere. So the next day (Saturday), Barnardos only redeeming feature - two totally different and helpful young men sales assistants (give them any promotions!!) And yes ..... Collecting the two items from Barnardos and Marie Curie that day, with 6 bags of my recently bereaved mothers top quality clothes to donate ... guess which of the (two) stores I parked outside, then ignored, crossed the road and donated those items to ....? (Sneery smile - right here).
Oct 16th, 2022

This review is based on this visit only, and is not a reflection on all staff that work at the store, or other interactions. I have visited this store several times and generally enjoy shopping at charity stores. They remind me of a poor mans' TK Maxx, because you never know what you may find and the prices are good; unfortunately, on this occasion that was not the case. I took two items to the checkout and both items were labelled as 2.00 each, the manager said this is not the right price for one of the items and I asked how much it is and she plucked a price out of her head after mentioning changing of labels '5.00' and I did agree to this. I merely mentioned sale by price tag, she thought I was haggling and seemed as though she was use to customers haggling and took a very hard line, she was desensitised, rude, abrupt and very unprofessional on this occasion. She kept saying I am not selling at that price, although i never asked her to. I agreed to the price change and acknowledged invitation to treat, but she never understood what I was saying and said look on your phone and google it, at this point I thought she was being very rude, so I told her to google it. She did not like being spoken to the way she spoke to me. Although, my tone was more polite and measured. Her volume was inappropriate and she caused a scene. In addition, this seems like a grey area because it allows for store staff to look at people and charge more based on their characteristics, or unfairly on perceived socio-economic status; Stereotyping and discrimination. Previously, something similar happened before at this store but it was dealt with differently and a more positive shopping experience. Coincidentally, the time before the other member of staff who was also working alongside her manager served but her approach was more appropriate. I did feel like this member of staff commented when she never needed to, but understand that she was just trying to support her manager. The way the manager mentioned customers swapping labels, made me feel like a thief in front of other customers and this was not needed - be more aware of cultural sensitivities and experiences. She tried to get a reaction out of me, her tone and behaviour was somewhat aggressive and manipulative; volume, body language, and confrontational tone. Customer service training would be beneficial because front facing staff should know how to listen and respond to a more confident personality esp. being a manager. It is not appropriate to question a customer's work experience, knowledge and make personal comments about their character. In terms of being inciteful, encouraging a customer to make a complaint to head office is not a good look. I purchased my items and asked for a bag. I informed the manager that she was being rude and I had never spoken to a customer the way she spoke to me. I was told I was being rude and banned from the store afterwards. I did contact the store afterwards to resolve the matter informally, and I also asked the reason why I was banned and was told I came in looking for an argument and said that once someone is banned it would not be changed. Barnadoes, as a charitable organisation who aim to 'protect, support, nurture' and help many people I feel as though this is not being applied consistently. A more concious approach should be taken to dealing with customers and not just saying whatever comes to mind, we are not all the same. I would be more than happy to retrain the manager in customer service. I acknowledge that I did contribute to this situation initially, but feel that customer service skills were seriously lacking and escalated the situation. A manager should set an example, know how to interact with customers, answer basic questions properly; without becoming aggressive or confrontational.
Jul 4th, 2021