Longo

Did you complain to the management? 

Unfortunately no we didn’t. Our Spanish isn’t good enough, and I’d also just suffered a fall in their warehouse so was very shaken. The men who worked in the warehouse, especially the Asian chap was lovely. So concerned and helpful

I can see where Jack is coming from in his post regarding reporting the matter to the management of Longo and perhaps it first appears this is the right thing to do? If other people complain along with yourself management will have to act to protect the business. But, if Maggie is in a minority she'll be (wrongfully) branded as a Whinger. The Customer is King and pays the wages of everybody in every employment.

However, I'm the kind of person who keeps his mouth shut a quiet life (I'm letting you in on the kind of gentle person I am). The advantage of this is knowing that the terrible two will probably keep up their unfriendly attitude towards many people and one day one of their victims won't be as placid as us and will react in a way that the two staff members won't like. The Customer always wins. 

Maggie's story reminds me of my early days working in a pub where John, the owner was occasionally a bit free with his temper and words especially when he had a "few in him" and one day his best customers (large group of professionals) were there having their usual Friday evening drinks (big spenders from 5.00pm onwards when normally pubs would be relatively quiet). Stupidly, John challenged the wife of one of the professionals and suddenly, there was a walk-out and they never returned. John being John informed other customers that he had said "nothing." He called me as a witness and all I could say was "John, I know you said nothing, the customers today know you said nothing, but why did you say it?" The Customer is the most important person on any premises. Unfortunately, many businessmen don't know this. 

Thank you Matthew. I feel so frustrated that I cannot master enough Spanish to be able to let them have both barrels. However, these two women have been ruling the roost there for at least 15 years, so don’t think any changes are in the pipeline. But as I said to my husband, there are a lot of brits in Albox and surrounding areas, now due to the present rule change a lot of those people will be unable to enjoy their homes, and the knock on effect will be Longos profits will go down as the brits spent lots of cash there and won’t be there to do it.

I shall watch with interest from my comfy armchair where I’m resting my bruised poor old body after my accident in their warehouse yesterday.

Don't worry, Maggie. You'll get your chance to enjoy their eventual downfall. You'll probably discover that they take on the Spaniards the same as the do the Brits. Keep your powder dry and pick battles that you can win. (You heard a worn down Paddy whispering that!).

You always manage to cheer me up x

Yes Maggiep, they are a surly pair, but I find a little bit of Spanish manages to cheer them up, a bit,  also, there is a complaints book, so you could do a translation write it down on a piece of paper, take either sellotape or a stapler in to the shop and put it into the complaints book. Hand it to the office not the girls at the check out. Good luck

Thank you Jenni. That’s a good idea. Will do that when I’m next over that way x

Oh God! There's a complaints book. You complain and they say that there are two sides to every story and better again they now have your name, address and telephone number. You've just set yourself up for a nasty retaliation.

Those two ladies. Do they just have something against English speaking women? There's a kid of disease around i.e women who hate other women. Even my favourite lady hates other women drivers. She won't concede an inch of space on the road or at a junction to them, even refuses to allow another female driver from a side road, some girl takes her time taking off at traffic lights, Mrs Matt blows them to kingdom come etc. 

Use your charm Maggie. The two ladies in Longo, just thank them for all their help even though they wish you dead. Keep smiling and they'll eventually get confused and start fighting amongst themselves. It always works. Take this advice from a veteran of Customer Service of over 50 years experience. The customer always wins.

I'll have to have another word on the quiet with Jenni though!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!