Poundstretcher Reviews
Latest Reviews
★★★★☆
“change in warrington”
Written on: 16/04/2013
i went to the warrington store and couldnt believe the difference within the store it looks so much cleaner and there is no problem getting round with my pram the staff seem to be alot happier and so helpful couldnt fault them they really do go that extra mile unlike some of there shops i have been in even if they are busy they will stop and help you (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“faulty memory mattress!!!”
Written on: 07/04/2013 by carlspringett
To whom it may concern, This is the letter i sent to poundstretcher!!! On Friday 29th March myself and my partner visited one of your stores (Poundstretcher, Victoria Road, Stoke-On-Trent) where we purchased a few items spending a total of £168, one of these items included a double memory foam mattress double size which I brought specifically as I am heavily pregnant and thought it would be perfect for comfort and support. The main reason for buying this item is that there was a display... (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“Faulty goods policy”
Written on: 03/04/2013
Bought a pair of tab top curtains for my daughter, on opening I found that one was pencil pleat and one tab top. On returning them I was told that I needed a receipt in order to swap them for a non faulty pair. I explained to them that I didn't need a receipt when the item was faulty. The manager said it was a new policy with the company. She was very un pleasant and unhelpful. Undeterred I politely explained that having worked in retail I new my rights and demanded the exchange. They... (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“Poorest customer service ever!!”
Written on: 26/03/2013 by Div67 (2 reviews written)
My son asked me to buy a small table for him from Poundstrechers in Clydebank so off I went to get it, unfortunately I picked the wrong table as there was two different ones next to each other. I said no problem I will pop back down and change it, once in the store the assistant advised She could not change it as I did not have a receipt so I asked to see the manager but it was her day off so the assistant manager came out to me. I explained the situation to him and his words where "I cant... (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
““Every penny counts...””
Written on: 14/03/2013
£stretcher really do take “every penny counts...” literaLly. They treat their employess like animals. I received little and useless training. My hours have been cut down to 4 a week. They exploite every worker by not telling them they are intitled a holiday, or a break sometimes. The managers are only focused on the business. (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“Apalling quality and service at Houghton Regis store”
Written on: 04/12/2012 by sickandtired1967
One star is way to great a rating to offer this excuse of a store in Houghton Regis, Beds!!! If I could have given it zero i would have done. It is WORSE than terrible! After buying a 7 foot Christmas tree yesterday I got it home to find that it was such inferior quality, it was far worse than my old one that I had taken to the tidy tip!!! I had carefully opened the box, cutting the selotape that was holding it together and once open I knew at once that it was not fit for it's purpose. I... (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“Makes my blood boil...”
Written on: 19/11/2012
In recession filled times we see discount shops as essentials in day to day life. Poundland, Home bargains and 99p stores are 3 of the best around. Poundstretcher sadly sinks to not only the worst discount stores but also 1 of the worst stores on our high street. Speaking as both an ex employee and customer I can only tell people to avoid this chain and DO NOT try and get a job there. I have given the company over 10 years of loyal service as a sales assistant in a shop near the Scottish... (read more)
Lindseya36's Comment
Written on: 19/04/2013
Can't agree more, I am a soon to be ex-employee in an NI branch and your words exactly match my thoughts.
I had major knee surgery in Feb, and within three days i had my manager on the phone looking to know if I could do a shift (at this point I couldn;t walk the 6 feet from my bed to use the toilet) I had to use all of my holidays earned in order to get any time off as well.
Stock rooms are filthy and dangerous over filled, if customers saw the state of stock coming into stores they would walk away, yet we are expected to handle it for 4 hours a day.
Another point which annoys me is indeed hours. Although we are all supposed to be on 4 hour contracts, with extra hours spread out evenly, there are certain employees who are best buddies with the mangers who get all but full time hours, while others have no choice but take our measley 4 hours at minimum wage.
At Christmas I was forced to take on a second, temporary job at ASDA, who were more than willing to accomodate my Poundstretcher job, giving me the rotas for my whole contract in advance so as not to cause clashes. My what a riot this caused, when I called in to give them to my manger she started to shout and yell on the shop floor IN FRONT OF CUSTOMERS,.
Language from employees is appalling, in my store there is a local special needs group that shop every weekend and will only come into the store if I or one other particular employee are on the till, as other employees have previously reduced members of the group to tears with their behaviour, while complaints from either staff or customer are convieniently lost, and never reach any higher than managers.
I would not shop in a store unless my only other option was to starve as there is little to no stock rotation, I have on several occasions taken stock off the shelf which has been 12 and 14 months out of date.
This company needs a serious shake up or it will not survive
Reply to this comment
★☆☆☆☆
“rude ”
Written on: 07/11/2012 by paulinemcmillan (1 review written)
i bought a duvet set unaware i cudnt return the set if i didnt like it.i took it back to the store in ravensthorpe dewsbury as it was thin (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“Gosport Store”
Written on: 04/11/2012
Cant even give any stars for this branch. The products are all excellent but the customer service is appaling. The staff need a course in good manners. (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“Memory foam mattress”
Written on: 31/10/2012 by wizkid (1 review written)
This is the WORST COMPANY EVER!!! The quality of the items is rubbish I bought a memory foam mattress from this company and the quality was rubbish I took it back to the store and they would refuse to return it 6 years ago I bought a memory foam mattress off ebay and I got a 10 year warranty with it and I am having no problems with it what so ever but this one I had bought was cheap material I only used it twice and it was horrible!! The customer service i rubbish as well i e-mailed them and... (read more)
See next 10 reviews
Showing 1 - 10 of 80 Reviews
★☆☆☆☆
“terrible manager”
Written on: 30/10/2012
the manager and some of his staff at the holyhead store was arrogant, cockey, and had a bad attitude when it came to customers and i wish the head office would have serious words with this particular store. and the manager he should be sacked for has treatment of customers!!! overall the stock they sell is pretty much good value for money. (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“items”
Written on: 23/10/2012
The quality of the items i bought from poundstrecher which were appalling i bought several note books which had creases in marks on damaged extremely bad and when i got home and looked at them i was shocked at the very state of them i will not be buying anything more from this store unless the quality of the items changed (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“A horrible Company who exploit their workforce”
Written on: 31/08/2012
This Company knows there are people desperate for work, and that is why they treat their staff the way they do. Contracts are Minimum of 4 hours a week, many staff excluding management work no more then 8 hours. New starters are not given an induction nor is health and safety mentioned. The Management are clueless, no leadership qualies at all. They treat their staff terribly. To keep cost down, minimum staff on duty hence large queues. Products sold are of very poor quality and many are... (read more)
★★★★★
“staff at livingston store”
Written on: 13/07/2012 by graham2003
all staff at this store are great, helpful nd good lugh, thanks. Its gret shopping there for that fact. Sadly recently one of your staff left to become a dinner lady, she was the best, different hir colour every week, she ws the nicest and most politess person I hve ever met at ny shop, she ws always at the till and have hd a great laugh and most helpful, you will be missed (read more)
★★★★★
“new poundstretchers in pontefract is fantastic”
Written on: 28/06/2012 by ponte (1 review written)
went in the new pontefract store today ,it looks fantastic and the staff were really helpful. (read more)
Tigerlillykisses's Response to ponte's Review
Written on: 28/09/2012
i have been a regular customer for years so my first experience that upset has caused quite an effect. i have mobility issues illness what ever to call it :) when i am well enough to leave my bed i go there to £shop to get bits its an enormous effort for me that during i hide the agonizing pain I'm in so i can be normal an shop like normal people do but my cupcake stand (I've always wanted one but could never afford till that day ) i was so happy that i found one and i got the last one! i no its silly and 4.99 may not be much for most but i saved up for a nice treat as baking makes me happy so if i get a rare chance to add to my happiness i will try to. but i was so upset when i got home and discovered (after unpacking my treat) i saw it had no long pin the thing that keeps the two plates separated and at diff level height. i cant lie i cried. it took me over 3 months to be well enough to travel it took that long to afford to go get my treat :) i went back after near toward a week to request a swap. to my dismay i had no receipt. i was informed that a receipt can get a refund and exchange where as an item with no receipt will only allow a swap of the goods providing the reason was valid etc. i was refused a swap and then was told go to the other one of our pound stores (by Morrison in Westcroft MK) how can u refuse a swap wen its the shops fault i didn't have wot i purchased (not in full anyway) AND the staff inc manager can clearly see i am using crutches and struggling to walk stand rest etc u saw me come to the store more than once in search of what i had purchased so i can have a swap. what on earth is going on here i should have been given the swap if u don't have it in stock than ask the other store to send it to u so i may collect it another time or arrange for them to keep one for me to swap. there is no way in my condition i would go somewhere if i didn't need to. i saved i treated i lost :( it may seem stupid but to me its not. i don't get to be free much so when i am i try to do wot i can and the pain endured to get my treat is one thing but to return more than once was a joke. i cost me more to go more than once than the actual item had cost in the first place inc trip to my destination. i don't know what to do now :( i felt so bad i hate not bein listened to. even if i said nothing, u can see im not well enough for all this hassle but at the same time i want to be treated fair im a nice person i am not a rude or mean customer even if i am insulted and told by an able body person go to another shop (with no indication that wot was my set back was clearly apparent, which it was!) i should of asked the manager if he had glue, coz my last journey rendered me flightless! now i am again bed bound sooner than wat i should have been. wuld have been avoided if i was treated correctly and kindly. any advice welcome i really want the item i no it seems silly but i am trapped in my home in my own prison (my own body) so this day (as they are far an few between) meant a lot to me.
Reply to this comment
Retailtherapy's reply to Tigerlillykisses's Comment
Written on: 14/12/2012
Why write a comment of this nature in a column relating to Pontefract when your obviously talking about the Milton Keynes store. I am a regular customer in Pontefract and the manager and her team always treat me very well. The Area Manager is really nice as well, he delivered stock to my home as im disabled and couldnt get my purchases home.
Reply to this comment
Majoretteegp's reply to Tigerlillykisses's Comment
Written on: 12/04/2013
This review page is about poundstretchers not £shops think you should start your own thread not jump on other people. I am sorry if you are disabled but I too am disabled but your story reads like you are looking for sympathy not writing a review about a store sorry no offence like!!!!!!
Reply to this comment
Ponte's Response to ponte's Review
Written on: 07/10/2012
hi Tigerliiiykisses reply to your response i shop in the pontefract store regular and never heard of the staff/ management treating customers as you are saying.i have seen them go to the customers cars with shopping ,and helping them around the store on a regular basis.was you in the pontefract store?.or another poundstretcher
Reply to this comment
★☆☆☆☆
“worse company to work for EVER! ”
Written on: 12/06/2012 by lukeybabey
while working at the sheffield drakehouse retail park store. i was constantly used and treat like something they had stood in. the management was horrible to work for they constantly treat you like idiots and spoke to you like you was thick. they tend to make all staff do the jobs that is their responsibility to do only because they couldn't be bothered to do it themselves!! i find it rude and arrogant that they get paid for doing these job roles and just passing it onto other staff members.... (read more)
Anonystaff's Response to lukeybabey's Review
Written on: 15/06/2012
Another thing I can relate to (Been replying to most reviews on here as to how accurate they are).
In the stores I worked for (quite a few as I was store transferred a few times) exactly the same happened.
Managers would always moan to staff about how many hours they have to do, how they didnt get time and a half for bank holidays, nor did they get a break. However, in truth, they are on a guaranteed salary, so whilst staff are getting next to no hours to live on but an extra few pounds for bank holidays, managers are taking home £1000's per month. Managers also spent half the day talking to friends that came in, using phone for calls to family, smoking outside or sitting in the office watching the CCTV and commenting on staff who are not working hard enough. Guaranteed they could be in for 10 hours a day. But for more than 5 hours each day they are doing nothing.
The stores I worked in had managers that work on a favortism basis. They gave their friends (mostly people needing to work 16 hours or more to claim tax credits) most of the allocated hours even though they were poor workers, but then gave everyone else the leftover low hours. If you were to mention it (or anything else) to them they would get defensive, and either make your life a misery so you leave or cut your hours to the lowest possible.
In 2 of the stores I worked in the managers would favour female staff members over the age of 40. When they were doing just a 4 hour shift like other people that day, they were let out for cigarettes all the time with the managers. Whereas if other staff asked they would be refused.
The whole company is a waste of time. As I mentioned. Head office dont care (look at their facebook page, all they care about is money and they cant even be bothered to answer customers questions which could gain them sales). Managers will cut your hours down or force you out if you have a complaint. The staff who do have their hours cut right down hate the company and have no motivation.... Not surprising when they are earning less than a jobseeker
Reply to this comment
★☆☆☆☆
“The Worst Job I have EVER had!!”
Written on: 11/06/2012 by ADEM
I have gone from a sales assistant to a sales manager and back again all because the company is so badly run, They expect me to work upto 70 hours and only getting paid for 38 im 21 years old i thought i would stick to the job and see how far i could get, but when you have area managers being best buddies with store managers you'll start to find that the manager gets away with pretty much everything possible, 4 days off a week, taking holidays throughout stock take, I have moved down to a... (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“Everything at Pound Stretcher is rubbish”
Written on: 11/06/2012
Everything I have ever purchased at Pound Stretcher has turned out to be badly made rubbish. I have brought duvet covers where the stitching all fell apart and an egg poacher that melted! Also, no refund even when I took it back to show them what had happened to it. The plastic egg poaching compartments just melted, never had that happen before! (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“Employees”
Written on: 08/06/2012
I was employed at the a new pound stretcher shop and have now resigned after 3 weeks. The deputy manageress treated me like dirt. As well as this, they tried to mess around with my pay, so be warned to keep a track of this. Just because I am 16 they seemed to think it was ok to treat me like sh*t on their shoe. I would not recommend working their, or in fact shopping there. Most of the stock is damaged anyway. (read more)
★★★★★
“Through my eyes”
Written on: 30/05/2012
OK, so I accidentally stumbled upon this. And i've noticed staff have written reviews on here, so I just want to give my input. I have been working for Poundstretcher for almost 3 years, I am 19 years old, and I left school with excellent GCSE grades, went on to Community College in the hope of becoming a Doctor. However, changes in circumstances meant that i left the college with poor A level grades. I started as a Christmas temp, and went on to become a perminant part time sales assisstant... (read more)
See next 10 reviews
Showing 11 - 20 of 80 Reviews
★★★★★
“Helpful staff make the most of the situation”
Written on: 30/05/2012 by Audreyqwerty1
Yes Poundstretcher is very cluttered and is completely over stocked. But, it's the place to shop for friendly, helpful and eager staff. I would call myself a regular now at the Frome store and since I've started shopping here the girls have been so helpful to me! When I asked for an item I couldnt find the woman at the till immidiately asked if I needed assistance, and called another member of staff down to help me with what I was looking for. The young lady that helped me (jazmine I... (read more)
Anonystaff's Response to Audreyqwerty1's Review
Written on: 07/06/2012
Excellent review. A key thing is the staff are excellent in 99.9% of stores. Several I worked in had some great customers. Most customers who were nice I got to know the names of and even said hi in the street.
A lot of staff do joke around with customers and have a laugh with them so they leave with a smile... Which is what customers want. They have enough of the 1 worded service from staff in supermarkets. Sadly if head office knew staff were chatting to customers or having a joke so they leave happy, that staff member would be out the door as head office like staff to serve the customer, get their money and get them out the door as quick as possible so staff can take the next customers money.
Your very right about the shop layouts. 3 of the shops I worked in were a state. Floor tiles were cracked, anti-slip rubber on stairs were coming lose. 2 of the stores actually put a report in to head office for them to get onto maintenance and get it fixed.... Never got a reply.
Most of the stock that is sent in is dribs and drabs. Which is the companys downfall. You could get 3 or 4 pallets of a certain chocolate bar. The area manager will demand a bay is cleared for the chocolate bars. You do that and a week later they all sell out so the bay is empty. Chances are head office wont send in anything to replenish that bay (only stuff thats already overflowing on shevles) so when customers come in the shelves are bare or theres just 1 or 2 things on them
Reply to this comment
★☆☆☆☆
“I will never step foot in another poundstretcher store...”
Written on: 24/05/2012
I will never step foot in another poundstretcher store as long as i live.This is a company that doesnt stick to rules and regulations,the stock is piled as high as it can go and the shelves and flooring are needing repair dont they realise they will end up with more people suing them for accidents ie tripping over on fauly flooring and shelves that are not secure so they could fall on a customer at anytime.Or even worse.The walk ways are always cluttered and basically the store looks like a... (read more)
★★★★★
“Your an idoit”
Written on: 10/05/2012
what kind of idoit thinks what you buy from poundstrecher has a 12 month warranty haahahahahhaah (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“Rude and unhelpful staff!”
Written on: 06/04/2012
Alas, I left my easter egg shopping too late this year and was over joyed to find one Mars Egg left in PoundStretchers. However, the box was damaged. When I got to the till, I asked if there were anymore eggs to which I was told no. I then asked if it could be reduced a little as it was a present and had a ripped corner. The manager came over and said- no I can't reduce that for you, I could stick it back together myself and sell it full price to somebody. When I said I'd leave it if that's... (read more)
Pauljones25's Comment
Written on: 06/04/2012
The problem is head office never make it clear as to what can be reduced and by how much. There was a general thing around the company which was damaged stock (except confectionery) can be reduced by 10% only.
There has never been any set rules by this, and alas if you reduce something by more your job will be on the line. The rightful reply of that staff member should of been 10% off (probably 30p).
The amount of waste in stores is shocking, again because of the ever changing policys, staff dont know how much they can or cant reduce stock prices by,
Customer service is a priority, regardless of things I always have tried to give the best service possible when I was there.
Due to hour cuts and being overworked by head office the majority of staff are not able to work to their abilitys and are left in bad moods. Check out the reviews here.
£stretcher is no longer somewhere you go for customer service, you go because you want to buy what they sell.
Reply to this comment
★★★★☆
“dont no what people are on a bwt”
Written on: 06/04/2012
ive worked for poundstretcher for two years and yeah dont get me wrong the company has up and down day but u name me one place that dosnt and people re slatin poundstretcher either leave and dont work for them or just dont shop there and give them your money its as easy as that xx :) (read more)
Pauljones25's Comment
Written on: 06/04/2012
An up and down day?
So let me get this right?
Managers having extra pressure to work more than their 38 hours (often 50+)
Staff being cut down to 4 or 8 hour contracts and given next to no overtime after years of loyal service. In fact you never get the same wage each month. 1 month you may get a bit of overtime and be able to live, but the next you get no overtime and struggle to pay bills.
Cameras installed in stores specifically to make sure staff are not stealing or being dishonest rather than to catch the customers walking off with the stock.
Head office always undermine staff. They may set a policy to abide by, but as soon as a customer complains head office force the store to go against the policy head office set and do what the customer wants.
Many stores do not have the right equipment.
Bad business sense where they force stores to open days ( such as new year) where even tescos isnt open, and then because they lose money, punish the staff by cutting hours to make the cash back.
Pallets being overloaded and sending too much stock
The list could go on for a while. I have worked at 6 different stores (covering and relocating) and its the same in each of them, people are miserable in their jobs there.
However, at current theres not many jobs available anywhere else so people working there have no choice but to stay there or be jobless.
I have kept in contact with many staff (probably about 150 over the years). Out of all of them who have left, they say the best thing they could ever of done was to leave the company.
Many work in similar retail establishments but they have said they are treated better and fairer in their new jobs. So its not just an "up and down day".
Dont get me wrong, not all the stores are like this. Maybe 80%. You are 1 of the lucky 1's.
Reply to this comment
Majoretteegp's Comment
Written on: 13/04/2013
Poundstretchers are the worst shop I have ever had the audacity to shop at and never again. The staff are so miserable and deflated makes shopping a horrible experience. The stores are scruffy dirty lack HSE and boring also dull in lighting. A store I avoid completely now
Reply to this comment
★☆☆☆☆
“Load of rubbish”
Written on: 29/03/2012
Tried to return a faulty electric blanket purchased for my mother at Christmas obviously thinking it has a 12 month Warranty only to be told by apparently the assistant manager there is a 28 day policy and they could nt take it back because they couldn't sell it as u could see it had been used I replied I wouldn't expect you to resell It as its broken that why I'm returning it then to be told I'd have to come back the next day to see the manager. Ha ha never shop there again the... (read more)
Pauljones25's Comment
Written on: 06/04/2012
Again, head office change the rules and policys like the weather.
In fact, when electrical goods are returned they are sent back for proper disposal.
as far as I know (iv left there now), you are indeed entitled to a refund or replacement as long as you have your receipt. I have worked in 6 stores and all had the same policy. Electrical always comes with a 12 month policy.
Go to another store and get a refund or call head office and explain barnsley store wouldnt give you a refund.
Reply to this comment
★☆☆☆☆
“Rude and Ignorant Staff”
Written on: 26/03/2012 by disgusted1 (1 review written)
No wonder that other customer reviews are so terrible. It would seem that the majority of staff at Poundstretcher are rude and ignorant - certainly most of the ones I have dealt with are, particularly in the lower end of Market Place Warminster. My advice to the staff who complain about their minimum wage jobs IS THAT IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT GET OUT - WE THE CUSYOMERS DO NOT LIKE YOUR IGNORANT ATTITUDEE!! (read more)
Pauljones25's Response to disgusted1's Review
Written on: 06/04/2012
Again as my above comment reply says.... Jobs are very scarce at the moment. So many have to stay there. Just to bring up a few points I made before.
Imagine you are a staff member. Regardless of minimum wage. You are all of a sudden cut down to a 4 hour contract after years of loyal service. You are working there 1 day with just yourself and management in the store. Meaning you know nobody else can jump on another till, so you are going to have unhappy customers blaming you all day.
You are not even trusted to reprint a receipt or cancel a mistake so have to find the manager each time that happens, whilst knowing every move you make is being recorded on camera and scrutinised by head office.
Also on your mind is will you be able to live that month? Knowing overtime is never guaranteed and having no idea if you will be kept on your 4 hours a week (earning less than someone on jobseekers).
Customers can be very nasty. They dont understand its just the 1 staff member and a member of management (who is often busy with other customers, loading in delivery or filing reports). In fact many customers who are nasty make the staff member feel like dirt. Iv witnessed a customer waiting shout "im gonna go over and batter that @~#'#'! in a minute and serve myself".
Now try and say you will be a happy smiling staff member 100% of the time? Being shouted abuse at is never nice, and some of the things said cant just be forgotten in a few seconds as they move onto the next customer
Reply to this comment
★☆☆☆☆
“terrible customer services”
Written on: 20/03/2012
my wife went to poundstretcher store in grays all the shelfs were coming apart and the curtains she was looking at kept falling from the top shelf she complained and was told would be dealt with when we went in to purchase the curtains a few days later nothing had been done and a pack of curtains fell from top shelf and hit my sons neck leaving him marked the man at the till scribbled head office number and sent a incident report when i phoned the number was passed round to atleast 3... (read more)
Pauljones25's Comment
Written on: 06/04/2012
Many people have the same problem when I worked there and I agree.
Head office never sent the right equipment into stores and the main problem is down to staff and management putting things safely on the shelves, only to be told by a once every few months visiting area manager that he wants it done differently and makes staff move everything around again.
From my experience the way the area manager wants things moved around is the way which causes all sorts of health and safety problems (stacking things as high as possible with limited safe shelving)
Reply to this comment
★☆☆☆☆
“Buy cheap, buy twice”
Written on: 20/02/2012
This company sells poor quality products cheaply that last a very short time which makes cheap products nothing more than expensive rubbish. They rely on people who think they cannot afford better to waste there money and feel too embarrassed to go back for a refund when the item fails. If you are short of money do not waste it in junk shops like poundstretcher it is a false economy, shop wisely and avoid this shop like the plague. (read more)
★★☆☆☆
“Up there with the worst on the high street.”
Written on: 11/12/2011
Disgusting company. I'm a victim of bullying in this business. I was just a lowly shop assistant. I urge everyone not to shop here. They treat their employees like dirt, they sell stuff that breaks or is already broken and the shops are cramped and dirty. My advice to management: * Start looking at how bad your staff are being treat - If the staff are depressed and feeling miserable then the customer service is bad and profits will fall. Also hire polite store managers with good... (read more)
Guest's Comment
Written on: 29/01/2012
in all reality and honesty the company is all about profit.... however they are going the wrong way about it.
I mean for starters they have no clue about out of date stock. According to managers, head office have said the company can sell out of date stock for up to a month after its passed its sell by date without labelling it as out of date.... rubbish.
Random hours are the worst... why does it take until the saturday for an area manager to inform store managers on how many hours they can give their staff? staff cant make plans and many loyal staff members will look for work elsewhere.
The company as a whole has no business sense, they are clueless and as an employee (not through choice) I have never worked anywhere as bad, the day will come when the losses become too much and the company folds
Reply to this comment
See next 10 reviews
Showing 21 - 30 of 80 Reviews
★☆☆☆☆
“manager”
Written on: 15/11/2011
leigh store must have a new manager who is so full of themself see is makeing the life of the staff hell thay are not happy anymore any makes your visit to the shop very unconfortouble, get rid and then it will be a happy place to shop i wont be going in againe till things alter (read more)
★★☆☆☆
“Management speaking inappropriatly to staff.”
Written on: 06/11/2011 by michelle27
I was absolutely appalled with the level of service that i recieved today. The Manageress spoke out offline to a member of staff infront of myself at the till. The young girl is new & there is a new computer system installed. I felt as much embarrassed myself as the young girl did. All because a 4pack of beans never scanned & the manageress was secretly watching the young girl. It was in no way the young girls fault the till was beeping as she scanned everything, only the beans didnt... (read more)
Anonystaff's Response to michelle27's Review
Written on: 11/11/2011
Sadly happens all the time. As a staff member the company runs with head office getting big cash bonuses, likewise the area managers.
Store managers are given pressure off the area managers and expected to do the impossible. Because the company has a \"moan and your out\" policy managers put up with doing 80 hours+ a week with no breaks due to staff cuts at head office.
Im a sales staff member and I get treated like dirt by my manager. Been there pretty much 10 years too. They change the rotas last minute without notice, constantly moan at staff that they are not working hard enough when they have worked themself into the ground.
Head office dont trust non management staff to do voids, refunds or even reprint a receipt so they cant do that with their code.
They then come up with stupid ideas like sending too much delivery in and making stores open until 7pm where no customers will come in so they lose cash.
Then to make up the cash they cut hours for all staff once again. Our store is 1 of the biggest they have and running it is usually 1 management, 1 till staff member and 1 running out delivery, the company should go bust. Im praying they do
Reply to this comment
Guest's Response to michelle27's Review
Written on: 11/12/2011
i used to work at poundstrecher in stratford-upon-avon and i was given the sack today because i was asked to do a job by the area manager and she said that i should never listen to the area manager because it has nothing to do with him????
Reply to this comment
★☆☆☆☆
“poundstretcher hell”
Written on: 03/11/2011
I have worked for pound stretcher for 4 months over the summer period, I have been in retail management for the last 10 years, I have never worked for a company that has such low standards regarding staff welfare before, First off I get sent to a store for training which is far enough, I was working 8am-8.30pm then having to travel home 2 hrs so was not getting in till 10,30pm, the training manager was nice at first, then I started to spot problems such as a 16yr old girl not getting enough... (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“BEWARE ”
Written on: 12/10/2011 by mooniekate17
I only worked for this company for 4 months last year over the xmas period, believe me that was enough, i really pity the people on here who worked there for years, i truly do not know how you coped. I worked as a store manager for a Bristol store, this company break every law under the sun regarding everything, Trading standards should go into each store and shut them all down. I was expected to work 80 hours a week, every week, my store was having a 'refit' just after I started, me and my... (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“I am an employee of Poundstretcher, I have been for...”
Written on: 12/04/2011 by cheesedoffstaff (1 review written)
I am an employee of Poundstretcher, I have been for more than 7 years, right from the start I literally made myself ILL for the amount of hours and backbreaking work I did for the company. When i started it was owned by different people back then, a bit better than they are now for looking after their staff.
The attitude they have now towards staff is terrible, not just shop floor staff, but shop managers too, totally expendable, their newest idea that ANY customer complaint results in...
(read more)
Paulp27's Response to cheesedoffstaff's Review
Written on: 16/04/2011
agreed, they should seriously be looking closer to home if anyones in the wrong.
<br/>
<br/>How I had to laugh about a recent staff notice put up at work. Saying how staff are not even allowed to tell customers when its 5 mins til close.
<br/>
<br/>So now what are staff meant to do? not say a thing... wait around 20 mins unpaid after their shift for 1 slow browsing customer and end up missing buses or trains home? all for the sake of making the company an extra 50p?
<br/>
<br/>
<br/>I have sent off 3 complaints to head office regarding the ways staff are treated and the massive amount of breaches that are caused by head office (overloading delivery's, the way normal staffs hours are cut so they dont physically have the time to do everything) but not 1 has been responded to or even taken into consideration.
<br/>
<br/>
<br/>If nothing changes I will be putting 5 years of breaches, known bullying, and ways the company has failed its staff to a legal bench and see how they handle it then
Reply to this comment
★☆☆☆☆
“Since employee's are giving there views I thought I...”
Written on: 07/04/2011
Since employee's are giving there views I thought I would step in.
I had been a loyal staff member for 7 years. The first year there was fine, it was relatively enjoyable but then the company went down the pan.
My 30 hour contract got cut to 8 hours a few years back (with no notice whatsoever)... I never get overtime so have to live on just £200 a month, but then when it suits them at xmas time they will flood me with hours and overwork me.
All staff in our store had their hours cut down...
(read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“i also worked for this dodgy company and i worked over...”
Written on: 17/03/2011
i also worked for this dodgy company and i worked over 70 hrs per week not by choice i was forced to do so. there are new directors in the company that do seem to have there head screwed on but instead of staying in the back ground they need to look very closely to the area managers and regional mangers as they are just big lieing bullies that get a kick from having a title and cannot do there job at all. i am suprised this company manages to stay open. it does not have a clue how to run a... (read more)
Guest's Comment
Written on: 20/07/2011
lol dnt blame u it was ok when i first strted there at poundstretcher but now im looking for a new job worst place to get a job period !!!
Reply to this comment
★☆☆☆☆
“I am taking this particular branch of Pounstretcher to...”
Written on: 20/02/2011
I am taking this particular branch of Pounstretcher to the small claims cort. I found the attitude of the staff,particularly the manager, Mr. Michael Downing, aggressive,intimidating and bullying. I have never, in 61 years written a letter of complaint before, but I found Mr Downing's attitude so reminiscent of schoolground bullies that I felt I had to make a stand. (read more)
Guest's Comment
Written on: 12/06/2011
You go for it - poundstretcher needs to be taught a lesson, i am sooooooo angry at them money grabbing..
Reply to this comment
★☆☆☆☆
“i have worked for this company for more than 7 years...”
Written on: 09/02/2011
i have worked for this company for more than 7 years until i got a lucky escape i worked more then 60 hours a week and at christmas time much more i stayed in my store for a full 30hours as i had a visit the next day this is not the first time in which i have stayed such long hours ive opened up stores for the company to be told they dont put there staff up in hotels so therefore i stayed in a caravan yes a caravan. when the head men came i was pushed to 1 side with not as much as a well... (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“Visited my local store and was horrified by what I...”
Written on: 14/01/2011
Visited my local store and was horrified by what I heard from a staff member. The poor staff are bullied by senior management and the previous manager has had a nervous breakdown. I personally won't shop at a store run by a company that treats its employees like dirt. (read more)
See next 10 reviews
Showing 31 - 40 of 80 Reviews
★★★★★
“As a employee of poundstretcher, i find it interesting...”
Written on: 06/01/2011
As a employee of poundstretcher, i find it interesting to read these reviews, however when people start complaining about service from staff members it makes me laugh as its normally the thick, rude, padantic people who complain about the service. If you talk or act in a rude manner towards me personally, then you will 100% get a lot worse from me as i am not paid to listen to abuse, silly sarcastic comments etc, i am paid to help customers who are polite and genuinally need help rather than... (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“I too work at manager level in one of these stores and...”
Written on: 04/01/2011
I too work at manager level in one of these stores and for next week we have had our hours cut to one manager and one member of staff in the shop at a time.
This shop is as big as a football pitch and is now a major health and safety risk due to pallets being delivered.
Despite asking for advise from a regional and area manager i was bullied down and made to feel my job was at risk if i questioned them.
I am sick of working for this company and would advise people not to shop in their stores...
(read more)
Fairydust5's Comment
Written on: 09/03/2011
Sounds about right.l I too am a assitant manager on a sales assitants wage , working all the hours under the sun. Without so much as a thank you.
<br/>
<br/>I log copmplaints about the state of our building on Silq & they get ignored , They think i'm a handy man as well as an accountant & a sales ass & deleivery person.
<br/>
<br/>Our store is chocca with stock & no where for it too go . So fed up fingers crossed for my interview i cant wait to get out of here.
Reply to this comment
★☆☆☆☆
“I agree with the comments for the last person they...”
Written on: 19/12/2010
I agree with the comments for the last person they have hit the nail on the head staff are treated like c**p from the bottom up well no that is not true just the managers are treated like c**p. I think the company needs to have a good hard look at it self as they the way they are going they will be the next woolworths which would not be a bad thing to be honest. I hope anyone thinking of working for this company thinks twice as you will just be cheap labour with a fancy title but it means... (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“I have worked for this company for about 5 months, and...”
Written on: 19/12/2010
I have worked for this company for about 5 months, and boy I wish I hadn't bothered even to answer the vacancy ad. I have never worked for such an unprofessional company in all my Management career. I have always worked for independent companies and they have in my experience, always valued the hours, hard work and thought that you put in to your job. However I have worked 90 hr weeks in the past, and still when the bosses walk in they will tell you that your shop is not filled to maximim... (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“I work for the company and have done for almost a year...”
Written on: 16/12/2010
I work for the company and have done for almost a year now they are an absolute two bob company.I left only for that company to go bust and had to return oncemore to the land of over stocked warehouses and to few staff,what a nightmare!Home bargains and b&m are miles better.I could only wish that we would go bust and the other company I was working for still existed. (read more)
★★★★★
“I have spent a couple of hundred pounds in the Upper...”
Written on: 29/11/2010
I have spent a couple of hundred pounds in the Upper Boat store near Ponty pridd recently Excellent value for money and very pleasant and helpful service always.
I thought I had been overcharged last week and went back today. I had an excellent response. I was told that it looked as though I had bought more than one product. As I only had the credit card receipt the lady went to check and indeed I had also bought a set of car mats. I felt such a fool and was most apologetic. I had a very...
(read more)
★★☆☆☆
“I have worked for this company for a month I must...”
Written on: 28/11/2010
I have worked for this company for a month I must agree with all the above comments from other managers store staff. This week I have worked 75 hours which is a joke. Which means I have been paid less than four quid per hour. I am going to be leaving very soon I dont care if I have no money but I have I want to see my wife & kids. Out of all the people I have spoke to that work for this company no one is happy. I think it is a joke that we have so many pallets delivered 3 or 4 time a week.... (read more)
★★☆☆☆
“My reason for this review is to report yet again an...”
Written on: 30/09/2010 by timbucktoo (1 review written)
My reason for this review is to report yet again an unsatisfactory level of service that i have recently recieved by this company, a company i have trusted, recomended and spent alot of time and money in. i recentley shopped in your Spalding branch due to an advertisment i saw in the newspaper, "the sun" to be exact. you were advertising a memory foam matress for £69.99, as ive been looking out for one of these for some time i went along to buy it. However when i got to the store, i saw... (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“I bought some cream curtains and when i opened them up...”
Written on: 28/09/2010
I bought some cream curtains and when i opened them up they were actually a really nasty yellow. When i took them back to the shop to hopefully get a refund, i was confronted by a very rude and patronising manageress. It took an arguement for me to get a refund, purely because she was so rude to me. I will never shop there again. Pull your socks up Poundstrecher. You have no right to treat people badly just because they may be on a budget. (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“I worked for this company for 4 years as a store...”
Written on: 22/09/2010
I worked for this company for 4 years as a store manager before finally escaping this year. Absolutely horrendous company to work for. They expect management to work 50 plus hours a week without anything in return. Managers are given a pittance for staff. The owners don't care about customer service they just want as much stock out as possible never mind fire exits or disabled customers they don't care. Avoid at all costs. Go to poundland or poundworld for a bargain instead. (read more)
See next 10 reviews
Showing 41 - 50 of 80 Reviews
overview
Top 5 Department Stores & Hypermarkets
To calculate the top 5's we take the following factors into account:
• All the star ratings the company/product has received,
• The number of reviews
• How recent the reviews are
As rated by real users
-
1. Macys
5 reviews read latest review -
2. Wilkinson
49 reviews read latest review -
3. Saks Fifth Avenue
2 reviews read latest review -
4. Harrods
17 reviews read latest review -
5. Trago Mills
6 reviews read latest review
Hot Stuff in
Latest Reviews in Department Stores & Hypermarkets
-
House of Fraser
"A very happy shopper" Read More
-
Debenhams
"Staff give wrong " Read More
-
John Lewis
"UTTERLY USELESS,DON'T READ EMA..." Read More
-
Selfridges
"Not impressed!" Read More
-
Harrods
"Product delayed by more than a..." Read More
Latest items in Department Stores & Hypermarkets
See more ▼
- You are here:
- Review Centre
- High Street Shopping
- Department Stores & Hypermarkets
- Poundstretcher
- Overview
Crazysurfkid's Comment
Written on: 21/03/2013
Its more the "manager" than the company re breaks etc. The cutting down of contracts to 4 hours was something they tried back in 1996!! In theory it was a good idea, but in practice not so. The idea being @ 4 hours you dont get a break (if over 18. So for every 4 people you save an hours pay). I was never convinced this was good practice as you dont build good teams this way. Other side of coin says "hey, at least i have a job"! and unless your first job...i would have thought holidays were common sence (as long as you follow the company policy ie so many weeks inadvance).
Anonystaff's Comment
Written on: 02/04/2013
Its not like that at all.
I used to work at the company, alas no more, left quite a while ago after having experiences of working in a few stores for many years.
The original poster doesnt mean 4 hour shifts (to save giving people breaks) but means a 4 hour contract. A lot of places are giving low hour contracts nowadays but many staff members at £stretcher were cut a hard deal from it.
For example, many staff members were working on 20 hour contracts, then all of a sudden the contracts were snipped and they were thrown on 4 hour contracts.
They used this to their advantage. Rather than having any consideration for the staff, they were happy to line their own pockets. Such as they would use staff on occasions where they thought they would be busy (Would be bare minimum staff so the staff would be overworked) and maybe give them overtime that week... but then for the next few weeks staff will be stuck on 4 hours per week. I don't know about you but "hey, at least I have a job" would never be the thought especially since 4 hours a week is £96 a month in wages, plus theres costs at getting to and from work. Whilst being on jobseekers pays nearly £300 a month.
Going back to employee's who had the hard bargain. On a 20+ hour contract people would budget for that amount, perhaps get a credit card, pay monthly on a catalog club or even get their own place. Being told 1 day your hours are to be dropped to a 4 hour contract has consequences such as not being able to pay bills.
It was hardly like you could plan anything either. Overtime is given when they feel like it and often you don't know what days or hours they want you to work the following week until last minute. Then you have to either cancel your plans or face a fallout with management resulting in them making sure your hours were bang on your minimum contract hours every week.
A lot of workers at £stretcher indeed are there as their first job so are not aware fully of the holidays and they certainly don't explain it when you start.
I recall manager's sayings being "what they don't know wont hurt them". That means they have no intention of telling you unless you find out. It benefits them too much. Such as if someone is entitled to 4 weeks holiday a year and they think its only 2, they effectively lose out on 2 weeks holiday pay and management won't have to take that out of their weeks allowance so they will be getting 2 weeks worth of work off them for free.