4 Retailers With The Worst Customer Service

From the unknowledgeable staff to long checkout lines, we’ve compiled our list of the top retailers with the worst customer service.
4 Retailers With The Worst Customer Service

Retailers be warned: poor customer service does not go unnoticed by shoppers! Today’s consumers are more informed, have more choices and are more vocal when it comes to experiencing service dissatisfaction with a retailer. As more big-box and department stores focus on developing other areas of their business (from rebranding to expanding), customer service becomes an afterthought and suffers.

From the unknowledgeable staff to long checkout lines, we’ve compiled our list of the top retailers with the worst customer service.

Hudson’s Bay

Instagram/ @jfleming77

We love Hudson’s Bay for their eye-catching window displays and iconic HBC blankets. However, when it comes to in-store service, Hudson’s Bay is far less than impressive. Hudson’s Bay is synonymous with unclear in-store pricing (think items that indicate ‘on sale’ but are really excluded,) and sales associates that aren’t empowered to make a pricing correction on the spot.

Outside of the beauty department, you’ll be hard pressed to find a sales associate on the floor available to assist you with a size or direct you to a product. We’ve also encountered issues with attempting to pay for an item at another department’s checkout and being turned away because the POS systems won’t process the sale – aren’t we in the same store?

Canadian Tire

Instagram/ @canadiantire

Canadian Tire’s greatest flaw when it comes to customer service is that not all stores operate equally. Canadian Tire locations are each independently owned and operated; this means that inventory, pricing, policies and service levels can greatly vary by store.

We noticed a significant difference in the pricing structures and return policies at several Canadian Tire locations (with Toronto stores being more flexible than GTA stores). Furthermore, Canadian Tire fails when it comes to overall store layout and flow– being packed to the brim with too much merchandise and providing sales associates that can’t locate an item on the spot.

Zara

Zara's success
Instagram/@ashleighhjoness_

We absolutely love Zara for their fast fashion and affordable knockoffs of luxury accessories. However, shopping in-store at a Zara location isn’t nearly as desirable as the merchandise. In the past, we’ve experienced unfriendly sales associates, messy stores and damaged clothing on the sales floor.

Customer service in this European retailer is nearly non-existent: you don’t receive a greeting upon entering, sales associates look frustrated sorting piles of clothing on tables and fitting room lines are larger than life. Our recommendation is to utilize Zara’s online shopping service – they appear to have all of the kinks worked out for an enjoyable customer service experience.

Walmart

top retailers Canada
Instagram/@neileshdaji

This list would not be complete without a mention of Walmart. This big box leader delivers on pricing but falls more than short on quality customer service. From rude and unknowledgeable sales associates to limited checkout lines, be prepared to have your customer service expectations unsatisfied.

The worst part about Walmart is that this retailer does not seem to care about disappointing shoppers. Since Target’s Canadian exit, Walmart has monopolized the discount department store category and has provided the worst customer services levels in retail.

Featured image: Instagram/ @zara_globalf

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