CharlieT Posted October 19, 2012 Report Share Posted October 19, 2012 My latest reply from WHS. Keep the pressure up and they just may take note. Dear Charlie As we have already advised you, our till prompt process has been in place for many years and has never previously generated any customer complaints. In this respect, we have undertaken no recent changes to our procedures. The introduction of till prompts with regards to certain shooting titles originated from the fact that a number of these publications have historically included free giveaway 'cover mounts', with items attached to the front of the magazine, that have included certain firearm related products. With regard to the application of these procedures across our store chain however, these till prompts have only been applied to a section of the gun related and shooting titles that we stock, representing a limited number of publications. We continually look at all store procedures, including the use of till prompts, to determine whether they are appropriate in light of changing customer needs, legislative amendments and other regulatory monitoring. Our desire going forwards is to work more closely with the shooting magazine publishers to address the concerns that have been highlighted by all of the customers who have recently contacted us, in order to ensure that appropriate monitoring procedures can be applied, prior to these publications being sent to the store for placing on sale Regards Juliette Cavilla Head of Customer Services Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blunderbuss Posted October 19, 2012 Report Share Posted October 19, 2012 (edited) My latest reply from WHS. Keep the pressure up and they just may take note. Dear Charlie As we have already advised you, our till prompt process has been in place for many years and has never previously generated any customer complaints. In this respect, we have undertaken no recent changes to our procedures. The introduction of till prompts with regards to certain shooting titles originated from the fact that a number of these publications have historically included free giveaway 'cover mounts', with items attached to the front of the magazine, that have included certain firearm related products. With regard to the application of these procedures across our store chain however, these till prompts have only been applied to a section of the gun related and shooting titles that we stock, representing a limited number of publications. We continually look at all store procedures, including the use of till prompts, to determine whether they are appropriate in light of changing customer needs, legislative amendments and other regulatory monitoring. Our desire going forwards is to work more closely with the shooting magazine publishers to address the concerns that have been highlighted by all of the customers who have recently contacted us, in order to ensure that appropriate monitoring procedures can be applied, prior to these publications being sent to the store for placing on sale Regards Juliette Cavilla Head of Customer Services Charlie Just had an identical, word for word response. I naively thought it might have been a personal one until I read yours! Here's what I fired back: Dear Juliette, Thank you for taking the time to reply, I do appreciate it. Your till prompt process may have been place for many years but it obviously wasn't activated at the auto check outs until recently. I buy shooting times in one of your stores every week, until last week it had never activated. Please note that having the till 'alert' in a busy shop, for an assistant to 'authorise' the purchase is demeaning and embarrassing. It implies I am buying something unsavoury or pornographic, not a leisure magazine covering a legitimate and popular sport. Secondly, I'm afraid the free give away issue is a complete red herring. 'Firearm related products' implies guns, ammunition or component parts. The reality is foam ear plugs, dog whistles, fabric pellet pouches or other benign items which are completely legal for anyone to own, without age restriction. The magazines would be breaking the law if this was not the case. As with all the other reasons given for this policy change, it does not stand up to even the flimsiest scrutiny. I am pleased to hear that you wish to work more closely with the shooting community, the only way forward is to reverse this discriminatory policy immediately. The word is spreading throughout the rural community about this and people are angry about it, you may wish to Google 'WH Smith shooting magazines' to see what the local press around the country, particularly in rural counties are saying. Suffice to say your company's reputation is being damaged and only swift action can limit this Regards 'Blunderbuss' Edited October 19, 2012 by Blunderbuss Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poontang Posted October 19, 2012 Report Share Posted October 19, 2012 (edited) Charlie Just had an identical, word for word response. I naively thought it might have been a personal one until I read yours! Here's what I fired back: Dear Juliette, Thank you for taking the time to reply, I do appreciate it. Your till prompt process may have been place for many years but it obviously wasn't activated at the auto check outs until recently. I buy shooting times in one of your stores every week, until last week it had never activated. Please note that having the till 'alert' in a busy shop, for an assistant to 'authorise' the purchase is demeaning and embarrassing. It implies I am buying something unsavoury or pornographic, not a leisure magazine covering a legitimate and popular sport. Secondly, I'm afraid the free give away issue is a complete red herring. 'Firearm related products' implies guns, ammunition or component parts. The reality is foam ear plugs, dog whistles, fabric pellet pouches or other benign items which are completely legal for anyone to own, without age restriction. The magazines would be breaking the law if this was not the case. As with all the other reasons given for this policy change, it does not stand up to even the flimsiest scrutiny. I am pleased to hear that you wish to work more closely with the shooting community, the only way forward is to reverse this discriminatory policy immediately. The word is spreading throughout the rural community about this and people are angry about it, you may wish to Google 'WH Smith shooting magazines' to see what the local press around the country, particularly in rural counties are saying. Suffice to say your company's reputation is being damaged and only swift action can limit this Regards 'Blunderbuss' That's a cracking reply BB Makes my threat of a fire bombing campaign seem pretty weak by comparison. :blink: On a more serious note I spoke to my brother last night, and I mentioned the petition to him. He's never so much as held a gun in his life, but he was appalled at WHSmith's stance. I sent him a link to the petition and he's signed it, and is going to get the people at work to sign it too. Edited October 19, 2012 by poontang Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamiedenny Posted October 19, 2012 Report Share Posted October 19, 2012 good response Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Highbird70 Posted October 19, 2012 Report Share Posted October 19, 2012 (edited) She as sent the same stock repply like blunderbuss Dear Mark As we have already advised you, our till prompt process has been in place for many years and has never previously generated any customer complaints. In this respect, we have undertaken no recent changes to our procedures. The introduction of till prompts with regards to certain shooting titles originated from the fact that a number of these publications have historically included free giveaway 'cover mounts', with items attached to the front of the magazine, that have included certain firearm related products. With regard to the application of these procedures across our store chain however, these till prompts have only been applied to a section of the gun related and shooting titles that we stock, representing a limited number of publications. We continually look at all store procedures, including the use of till prompts, to determine whether they are appropriate in light of changing customer needs, legislative amendments and other regulatory monitoring. Our desire going forwards is to work more closely with the shooting magazine publishers to address the concerns that have been highlighted by all of the customers who have recently contacted us, in order to ensure that appropriate monitoring procedures can be applied, prior to these publications being sent to the store for placing on sale Regards Juliette Cavilla Head of Customer Services What a load of bullpupu Edited October 19, 2012 by Highbird70 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrapFiller Posted October 19, 2012 Report Share Posted October 19, 2012 Someone has set up a facebook page in support of WHSmith's ridiculous decision. https://www.facebook.com/reece.c.fowler?ref=tn_tnmn#!/events/157048957773494/ We need to set up a facebook page to support our cause, and to encourage a boycott of WHSmith's. What's the actually page called can't get the link to work in my iPod Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poppythedog Posted October 19, 2012 Report Share Posted October 19, 2012 (edited) I received the same old tosh, I thought it was personal but apparently not :-( here is my reply: Dear Juliette, at least you have the decency to reply in person, perhaps as head of customer services you should look at stopping the tactic of sending standardised, patronising rubbish such as the first reply I received, it really does nothing but annoy the recipient. Please read my notes on your reply below and let me have your comments? Have you ever been shooting? Perhaps a day at a clay shoot such as those where our Olympic stars train would enlighten you somewhat? Best regards, Dear Mike As we have already advised you, No you haven’t. our till prompt process has been in place for many years and has never previously generated any customer complaints. In this respect, we have undertaken no recent changes to our procedures. So can you give me the exact date when shooting titles were included? The introduction of till prompts with regards to certain shooting titles originated from the fact that a number of these publications have historically included free giveaway 'cover mounts', with items attached to the front of the magazine, that have included certain firearm related products. What products (a key ring or a year planner for example) and how could such products possibly have any negative effect on the under 14 year old customers that you feel should not be exposed to a legal and healthy sport that, by it’s very nature, encourages responsibility and respect for others? With regard to the application of these procedures across our store chain however, these till prompts have only been applied to a section of the gun related and shooting titles that we stock, representing a limited number of publications. So can you list which shooting titles you deem suitable for under 14’s to read and which you do not? We continually look at all store procedures, including the use of till prompts, to determine whether they are appropriate in light of changing customer needs, legislative amendments and other regulatory monitoring. Our desire going forwards is to work more closely with the shooting magazine publishers to address the concerns that have been highlighted by all of the customers who have recently contacted us, in order to ensure that appropriate monitoring procedures can be applied, prior to these publications being sent to the store for placing on sale Sorry but your reply is a load of flannel, I still think your decision is politically motivated and originates from anti-shooting employees of WHSmith or do you expect me to believe you held a meeting of informed and unbiased persons wherein you decided that WHSmith needs to censor what 14 year olds should and should not read despite what government legislation dictates? Regards Juliette Cavilla Head of Customer Services Edited October 19, 2012 by poppythedog Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cant hit rabbits 123 Posted October 19, 2012 Report Share Posted October 19, 2012 I had an interesting conversation last night with a friend who is also an employee of WHSmiths. Although not a shooter, nor particularly clued up shooting and the law surrounding it, he is sympathetic to our position. He spoke to his manager about the till prompts on shooting magazines after spending a shift attending to the self service tills, and was told by the manager that it (the age restriction) was implemented because an under 14 cannot either acquire a gun license or gun, nor can one go shooting. Neither of us know if this is information passed onto management by WHSmiths upper management or if the manager has made it up to fill a space and answer awkward questions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frankydiver Posted October 19, 2012 Report Share Posted October 19, 2012 Just had the same reply as Charlie T That is after 2 emails. The last one I stated not to send a stock reply they dont listen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reece Posted October 19, 2012 Report Share Posted October 19, 2012 What's the actually page called can't get the link to work in my iPod It doesn't work anyway. Turns out it was an event that lasted a day, an "anti boycott", to counter our boycott. Basically, they were planning to spend more money in Smith's to make up for lost money from shooters. Or something. Because it lasted a day, it is no longer there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonathanL Posted October 21, 2012 Report Share Posted October 21, 2012 It seems to me that we aren't actually DOING anything apart from sending off futile (judging by the response that they get) e-mails. Am going to take a leaf out of Animal Aid's book. Problem is, I'm a computor dummy. Could anyone who isn't and has some time to spare, lay out and post on here a sheet of A4 with eye catching and as large lettering as is possible the following so that I can download it and copy a pile (think I may manage that) and put a couple on the window of the local shop and spread a few around inside: THE BRITISH BOARD of FILM OPERATES CENSORSHIP FOR GOOD REASON WH SMITH DOES IT OUT OF IGNORANCE Many thanks Edit: NOT REQUIRED, Son is HGV driver - just arrived out of the blue heading home from Cornwall - fingures flashed and I have 10 cracking copies ready to go. Actually, that raises a good point. Does WHS refuse to sell film industry magazines to children as they may contain discussion of 18 rated films? J. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonathanL Posted October 21, 2012 Report Share Posted October 21, 2012 I was thinking, would this issue be worth contacting MPs over? Given how the league's EDM got support because of lobbying by constituents, it might be worth contacting MPs to get them to publicise the cause, and to keep it in the limelight for as long as possible. The thing is though it isn't really anything to do with MP's. WHS is not owned by the government or the state and can do as it likes as loing as it complies with the criminal law. If they want to have polices like this then theyare perfectly entitled to. There's nothing wrong with people voicing their objection to it but I don't think that it really involves anyone other than WHS or the people who choose (or not) to shop there. J. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonathanL Posted October 21, 2012 Report Share Posted October 21, 2012 I had an interesting conversation last night with a friend who is also an employee of WHSmiths. Although not a shooter, nor particularly clued up shooting and the law surrounding it, he is sympathetic to our position. He spoke to his manager about the till prompts on shooting magazines after spending a shift attending to the self service tills, and was told by the manager that it (the age restriction) was implemented because an under 14 cannot either acquire a gun license or gun, nor can one go shooting. Neither of us know if this is information passed onto management by WHSmiths upper management or if the manager has made it up to fill a space and answer awkward questions. Even if that were true it's still a ridiculous position to take. You can't drive in public until you are 17 but WHS don't stop you buying car magazines. The age of consent is 16 but I don't think that WHS scutinises it's novels for any steamy bits and puts a till promp on certain ones. Like I said above though; WHS is a private company and has the right to make its self look foolish if it so pleases. J. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reece Posted October 21, 2012 Report Share Posted October 21, 2012 I had an interesting conversation last night with a friend who is also an employee of WHSmiths. Although not a shooter, nor particularly clued up shooting and the law surrounding it, he is sympathetic to our position. He spoke to his manager about the till prompts on shooting magazines after spending a shift attending to the self service tills, and was told by the manager that it (the age restriction) was implemented because an under 14 cannot either acquire a gun license or gun, nor can one go shooting. Neither of us know if this is information passed onto management by WHSmiths upper management or if the manager has made it up to fill a space and answer awkward questions. I hope you pointed out how wrong that is to him, so he could tell the manager. Under 14s can go shooting if they are supervised, and almost everything children do today is in some way supervised. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cant hit rabbits 123 Posted October 21, 2012 Report Share Posted October 21, 2012 I did explain the facts to him, fear not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BerettaSV10 Posted October 24, 2012 Report Share Posted October 24, 2012 Don't know if WHS are changing methods, my last emails to them have been ignored so far, not even a auto response reply. :( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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