I'm 40, and in my years I've travelled all over the world with bands and as a journalist. In that…read moretime, I have never, ever found such rude and bad mannered staff as I have at Viva Hate, Derby.
We were in mid-afternoon and my son, 6, was looking at badges to buy. My partner bought him a Minecraft badge, and left the shop. As me and my son were getting ready to go, my son spotted some other Minecraft items, as six year old's do. I called him over, then looked at the counter assistant, who was looking supremely annoyed, and was grumbling to himself. I called my son over, and then looked once more towards the counter which is next to the door, and the assistant was literally scowling at us, and shaking his head. I said to him "what is the problem"
Counter Assistant: "I want to go out, I have to go".
(There was no way of us knowing this)
I call my son, who came over...
Me: "There's no need to be scowling at him, he's six years old!!!!!"
C/A "It's not him"
Me: "So I'm a problem now?, all I've done is bought an item and spent at most, 4 minutes in your shop, and you have the nerve to scowl at my six year old son"
I was furious, and once my son was out of earshot, I gave the assistant a piece of my mind, not that he was in the least bit bothered.
He shut the door and left the shop.
I popped into the next door unit, which is also part of Viva Hate, and asked the counter assistant there what was the problem with the person next door.
This counter assistant just scowled too!!!
I have never, ever been to a shop that so clearly didn't want custom. It was like the sitcom Black Books, but nastier.
Incidentally, we went straight from Viva Hate to a store next door, and they saw the look on my face and were totally, totally wonderful, and pretty much put me, my partner and son back on the track of having a lovely day out.
Anyone heading derbywards, I IMPLORE you, do not go to Viva Hate, go to Asylum, find a Blue Banana, go to brum on a train. There is zero excuse for such rude behaviour from counter staff.
