Stranded John Lewis shopper thanks staff (From Bucks Free Press)
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Stranded John Lewis shopper thanks staff
11:00am Tuesday 22nd December 2009 in News
Stranded John Lewis shopper thanks staff
A HOLMER Green man who was stranded at John Lewis following the winter chaos on the roads has praised the work of staff at the Cressex Department store.
Jason Pitt and his four-year-old son George were unable to get home in the Arctic conditions and took refuge in the shop alongside 150 other shoppers and staff.
He sent this letter of thanks to the store's staff:
I am writing to publicly express my thanks to the staff of John Lewis in High Wycombe, expertly led by Deborah Strazza the Store Manager,during our enforced sleep-over on Monday night.
My four-year-old son George and I were stranded in the store during the blizzard on Monday afternoon and it soon became obvious that were were going to be there for some time.
Mrs Strazza and her staff calmly made arrangements for around 100 shoppers and many staff to remain in the canteen beyond the usual closing time.
We were served tea, coffee, soup and cake and then given free access to the other food and drink available as often as we wished.
A number of children's toys from the store kept around 20 young children occupied as nervous adults looked on.
We were given regular updates of the traffic and weather situation and Deborah and her team advised us of the best course of action, based on reports from many staff who set off into the snow on foot to gather information.
In the end, several of us with young children opted to stay rather than risk spending the night in the car and we were glad we did - we were given double beds with new duvets and pillows opened from stock and free access to children's books to help get our little ones to sleep.
I was woken early by the GMTV cameraman but not in time to stop a rather embarrassing image of me asleep making it onto the national news, but that was a small price to pay!
After tea and toast we were helped out to our cars and shown genuine concern for our welfare as we set off on our slippery journey home.
We always seem to hear about the companies that abandon their customers in times of need but I would like it put on record that John Lewis more than lived up to their reputation last night and for that we are extremely grateful.
With thanks and best wishes, Jason and George Pitt
Comments(18)
SDJones
says...
11:12am Tue 22 Dec 09
Plus ça change...
says...
11:51am Tue 22 Dec 09
With all the departments could be an easier venue than going abroad ...
Keep fit kit. Massive TVs. Xmas goodies. Wow.
Do they do slippers?
Nice one.
Gravic
says...
12:07pm Tue 22 Dec 09
readerabc
says...
12:14pm Tue 22 Dec 09
don't they get a mention?
cmilsom
says...
1:58pm Tue 22 Dec 09
Greenlawn
says...
3:26pm Tue 22 Dec 09
Well done to you all, and Merry Christmas.
usvelt
says...
3:58pm Tue 22 Dec 09
wayneo
says...
6:41pm Tue 22 Dec 09
stonema1
says...
6:43pm Tue 22 Dec 09
buser
says...
7:56pm Tue 22 Dec 09
Himself spent 6 hours getting his bus back to the bus station - unfortunatly not to the base at Cressex, nor home to an outlying village, so spent the night at the bus station - with colleagues, similarly stranded, they attempted to retrieve buses less fortunate from various points around town, overnight - only to find them vadalised - some sad little soul having defecated on the driver's seat in one case, and windows were mindlessly broken - he eventually managed to get the bus to base and drive home, through the contra flows etc, around 10.20am. and drive his car home. Me? retired, disabled, snug and warm here at home since last Tuesday? Counting my blessings, glad himself made it home and doesn't have to try and drive a gritter through the turmoil, under police escort - whilst we all are moaning and groaning, let us spare a thought for everybody who actually tries, police, ambulance, gritters, passers by, etc, to keep us safe and be grateful! Ideally, it will all go away, Christmas will come and there will be peace on earth BUT!! Perhaps, back to where I started, if you are snug and warm, although a little inconvenienced, spare a thought for those who are a lot worse off!
wayneo
says...
8:28pm Tue 22 Dec 09
ivor
says...
9:10pm Tue 22 Dec 09
~
This could never have happened in the other department store in the town centre as they don't even sell beds!
~
Have you read Ivor’s blog today? Click on the “YOUR SAY” link at the top of the page then click on “BLOGS”.
Anita21072
says...
11:29pm Tue 22 Dec 09
Merry Christmas to all
Hit me
says...
12:08am Wed 23 Dec 09
And like people said, there were many places that did open their doors so well done all of them.
That said, there seems to be one notable non-entrant. A certain bed company? If I was stuck in my car down at junction 3 I would have been dreaming of pending the night in a nice warm bed, or even an office chair in head office over the road. Shame it didnt happen.
But again, well don JL. Faultless performance.
michael healy
says...
6:33pm Wed 23 Dec 09
I have had to take John Lewis PLC to county court for not fixing my Toshiba Teleivision Properly under their so called 5 years Guarantee. Its WORTHLESS, just a selling point of SALE JARGON.
I sent them my reciept and then heard nothing! Then i complained and they sent someone out to collect my tv and gave me a loan tv untill my one was fixed.
I then got a call to say my tv was fixed. When they dropped it off i noticed straight away it had a crack on the top casing and a piece visibly missing. Not only that they said they wanted to take their tv back. I refused to accept my broken tv as the picture was not proper as it should be, pixels were missing and the fact that it was damaged.
I sent a letter to their managing director and they had the audacity to say they wanted £600 for the loan tv because i didnt give it back. Anyway, i issued a law suit againt the Managing Director of the whole company, in his name. That made them sit up and listen a bit but they had it changed at court to J L PLC.
They refuse to give me £1300 back which i paid for the tv and say its over 5 years old but cannot prove this at all. Hence i will be fighting my case in High Wycombe county couRt in Feb 2010
SO JOHN LEWIS PLC HIGH WYCOMBE BRANCH.
YOU ARE NOT SO GOOD AFTER ALL.
I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM OTHER PEOPLE OF HIGH WYCOMBE WHO HAVE HAD A SIMILAR EXPERIENCE AT THE JOHN LEWIS HIGH WYCOMBE BRANCH WITH REGARDS TO THE "SO CALLED"5 YEAR GUARANTEE ON THEIR TELEVISION SETS
cezyboo
says...
8:26pm Wed 23 Dec 09
JL did a great thing for some people.
People are sleeping rough on streets and people starving in the world. Your worried about your **** TV. Who cares?
Well done JL
Merry Christmas
michael healy
says...
10:34am Thu 24 Dec 09
cezyboo wrote:I was very amused with your above comments about my meaness. However, this year alone i have formed a company to help the homeless people of the United Kingdom. So before you rant about me in the future please get your Facts Right.
Michael Healy the meanie. What is wrong with you? Crap happens. JL did a great thing for some people. People are sleeping rough on streets and people starving in the world. Your worried about your **** TV. Who cares? Well done JL Merry Christmas
John Lewis PLC is trying to sell their televisions under false advertising, saying every tv has a 5 year guarantee. Well they are trying to wriggle out of it now so the courts will rule this coming February 2010.
Red Snow says...
11:10am Tue 22 Dec 09
Top marks to you all. Happy Christmas