WHSmith

Self Service is out of service, there is only one member working, very long queues and long wait. It’s a shame, Royal Mail has lack of staff and not sorted this out. Senior elder people also in the long queues standing without help.

Horrible experience. Use to go to other post offices not just in UK but many countries, and as some companies in UK this is one that instead existing to help the customer it's just to turn the customer life a nightmare! How wrong can go a mail posting, really bad if you go to this one. Just one employee for a big line of customers, then you will loose your turn as they don't have envelopes or boxes, so you need to loose more time going downstairs! Then the manager, instead of being understanding because I as backpacker, just want to deliver a pack and move on to the Train station, lost her paying time going downstairs telling me she will not sent my pack, because guess what, as a customer with mouth made a complain! My voice was louder, by frustration but was never rude. So madam Ayla, you should be doing a better job then patronising and treat people like they don't have a point and even refusing a service that is really bad, the worst until now in all UK post offices. Just DON'T waste people time and deserve your monthly payment, I think isn't ask much. Ridiculous.

I went into W H Smith in Southend High Street on Saturday afternoon and there was not one member of staff in the shop one ot upstairs of the self service till needed staff assistance. Then went upstairs to the post office which also had no staff . How can you operate a shop with no staff. Also why is the upstairs empty but for few reduced books. Please put the magazines back at the front of the shop it's a joke having them at the back of the shop your sales must have dropped since doing this. The click and collect is not working so put the books back up stairs!! This shop is a joke!

Need to sort out the Post Office upstairs. Chronically short staffed leading to very long queues (so long that they have put out chairs) and the floor is filthy especially around the stairs.

The old man in the post office have 0 manners, he said "don't waste my time" even though he misplaced stamps and wasted our time; I had 2 items and as soon as I asked him to to post the second item he cursed at my mother for being slow. Overall other stuff are nice and helpful but this guy that works there needs parents to enhance his manners.

It's very hard to give this once great high street store any more than two stars. My main area of concern is the blatant bombarding of sweets and confectionery in the isles leading to the tills, around the tills and around the self service tills. I have no kids of my own but parents struggle with kids who are tempted by the array of sweets in their face, telling their parent they want it, moaning, sulking and kicking up a stink because they want the sweets.

This is irresponsible by the chain and not acceptable and they should not be doing this. All this 'we take the views of our customers very seriously' means nothing as I do not know of any parent who likes this arrangement.

I give a second star as they still do quality books and stationary but that is about it now. It's a shame as I used to love going into the store to get my stationary but will go elsewhere as I feel the confectionery issue warrants it.

Update 27/01/22

Used to go in here occasionally to get my stamps from the till. The last three times I have been told the downstairs tills are closed and they cannot get the stamps out. So each time I went upstairs to the Post Office to find a huge queue with only one staff member serving. They deserve to go bust as you cannot run your own establishment effectively anymore. I look forward to seeing you disappear from our high streets because let's face it you are not offering a service any longer and your shop is devoid of customers.

So long and thanks for the fish

Good luck getting any staff to pay attention to you or have any idea what services run at what times in their shop. The place was empty apart from two very young staff trying to do everything at once. Relies mostly on self service checkouts.

I have just visited here. Hoping to post parcel & buy stationary & DVD'S. I realise you probably have no control over the PO but I was no 20 in a queue of 30 when I decided to leave - having been there for 20mins. 2 assistants! Downstairs 2 assistants talking to each other - no one attending nr DVD's, stationary - mailing products upstairs & no staff. I won't visit again - sadly - have been a regular for a few yrs.