Confused

[bluemoon]

Went Christmas shopping with no 2 daughter today (the grandkids are at that age where their presents are lightweight plastic tack, but come in HUGE boxes and she needed the help) This is something I tend to avoid at all costs normally and I can't really remember when I last went on a serious shopping trip. So, when did Boots cease to be a chemist, I'm told there was a pharmacy in there somewhere, but I certainly couldn't find it? When did a sandwich become a 'sub'? And is a banana and coconut frappuccino with whipped cream supposed to be a drink or a dessert?

[kirsty b]

I try as much as possible to avoid the shops this time of year. As the decs are out with the back to school stuff in Sept, I'm all Christmassed out by the middle of Nov.
As for Boots, I just dunno I'm afraid

[Nicos]

Yep- there's a Boots in Stockport with no dispensing chemist...what's all that about then?????

[zazen999]

I think they lost the licence, years ago.

Now, you go and see 'now dispensing' and think - great, I'll go there. But invariably, the pharmacist is on lunch. I ask them, why - as most of their customers also have a lunch and that's the time they are going to need their prescriptions filling and they look at me as if I am a nutter and shrug shoulders. If they aren't on lunch, then they just aren't on duty, and sorry, but I work in the photo dept and can't help.

muppets, the lot of them.

*rant over - as you were.

[piskieinboots]

Slightly off topicish - my medicine is dished out to me by a field medic and if they are on manoeuvres (or playing sport) on Wednesdays - tough

As for shopping, I don't go unless it is to a garden centre/nursery

[Two_Sheds]

invariably, the pharmacist is on lunch. I ask them, why - as most of their customers also have a lunch and that's the time they are going to need their prescriptions filling

Mr Sheds went to get his prescription filled last week and came home empty handed.
Every chemist in town (Boots, Superdrug, Co-op, Lloyds) had their lunch break at the same time. Muppets indeed.

[Two_Sheds]

I try as much as possible to avoid the shops this time of year.

Me too, I can't stand it.
You'll hate me, and I don't care ... but I do my Xmas shopping in the Jan Sales. It all goes in a big box in the shed with the old tree and ornaments.

Mr Sheds does his all on Xmas Eve though ... he thinks it's more proper

[Comfreyfan]

Our new small town health centre has a mini Boots branch 'built in' with a dispensary, open whenever the health centre is open - till 7.00pm

And our new Tesco has a dispensary (so the sign says!).

[SlugLobber]

What really cheeses me off at this time of year are those people who 'pop into town for some 'bits'' after every bleedin' work day! This means that Dorking is even more snared up than usual. Come January, it's instantly better, but for some reason, from mid-November people round here seem to fail to buy more than one item in any one trip!

You did make me laugh, though, BM. I was wondering the same thing. Boots to me is a toiletries gift shop or somewhere to buy baby preventers.

[Bephlam]

I hate shoppping full stop, no matter what time of year it is. Although, I agree it's madness on the lead up to Christmas. Asda was soooo busy yesterday, and people behave like animals - pushing you, slamming their trolleys in to you and blocking passage ways all to get a tub of butter - of which there are THOUSANDS or tubs, in THOUSANDS of varieties.

I'll never understand the hoard shopper - it's not like the shops even shut now!!!

Madness - the whole lot of them!

[shirlthegirl43]

Our local Boots stores both have dispensing chemist bits but as mentioned, there is no pharmacist at lunch time

[Glutton4...]

I nearly didn't click on this thread - I'm supposed to be doing something constructive, like housework or gardening, so DH doesn't think I've spent all day on the pooter!

Anyway, it's really refreshing to hear so many people echoing my feelings - why people think anyone would like shopping is beyond me - I hate it. I don't make a special trip out, if I haven't got it I go without and get it next time. I don't go Christmas shopping at all, I shop on the internet and have it delivered by post. My husband does the grocery shopping most of the time because he actually enjoys it

As for dispensaries one of our three local Tesco stores has one that's open until about 8pm most nights, but Boots never seems to have anyone available.

It's the same with the Bank, it's full at lunch time, but the staff are at lunch - bl**dy useless!

(Please take my soap-box away and I'll shut up - promise! )

[Nicos]

Strange what we get used to- and expect isn't it??

Here in France most of the shops are shut for 1 1/2 hrs at lunchtime and Mondays in all but the larger towns.
In UK we tend to nip out from work, quick trip to the nearby shops in our lunch hour ..or just go for a browse.Oh- and of course - late night , or 24hr shopping...
NO chance of that here..you just have to be more organized and shop like mad on a Saturday..that is- if you're not one of the peeps who work on a Saturday...if you are, then almost every shop will be closed on your 2 days off. Nice, laid back approach eh???
So..if you forget something on a Saturday, then you'll often have to wait until Tuesday before you can buy it ( that is of course unless you're working- and then the shops will be closed Tuesday lunch time!!)

Customer rights in UK are vastly better than here...
You have to return faulty goods back to the same branch that you bought it from and they have the right to send it off for repair whilst you go without until it's ready....oh...and they often insist on the original wrapping along with receipt (can you imagine having to keep all the original boxes???)

[bobleponge]

Nicos, I was waiting for a Frogophone to pipe up. I used to hate shopping in the UK, really despised it. 3 years of living here however, and I still really enjoy shopping a la France.
The lunch break is something that took a fair bit of getting used to, but I thought then and still think now its a great idea.
All in all I find shopping a much more pleasurable experience here, there just isnt the hussle and bustle, or crowds that I was used to in the UK. (Even the new Ikea thats just opened in Rennes isnt crowded!!)

HOWEVER ............ Customer rights and customer service ..........ggggrrrrrrr. I shall stop now for fear of one of my neighbours reading me slandering their nation.

*Stomps off into loft to kick around the several hundred boxes looking for original washing machine packaging, as its broke*

[jackie j]

We are hitting the shops next tuesday, probably Plymouth but I told OH last night that no way was I going to go and just look around the shops cos we dont have much money so whats the point, we agrreed to cut down this year like everyone else and my boys would rather have the money anyway. Last year we just ambled around and its no fun unless you have the money I turned out most miserable by the end. We are however going to Tesco's as we save the vouchers and save money on top. We dont use the vouchers for day trips cos they do not cover anywhere near us and we havent been away. Last year we spent about £500 in tesco's and with staff discount and extra staff vouchers and normal vouchers we actually paid about £50 for our shopping.