Rules, Britannia: An Insider's Guide to Life in the United Kingdom by Toni Summers Hargis

Author:Toni Summers Hargis [Hargis, Toni Summers]
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub, pdf
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Published: 2007-03-31T16:00:00+00:00

11

Shop Till You Drop

STORES ARE CALLED “SHOPS”—whether they’re quaint candy stores or giant supermarkets. Shopping is about the only thing the Brits do as big as Americans, and most major cities now boast a “hypermarket” (an enormous store selling everything) or huge shopping center within a few miles. Retailers are very into merchandising; therefore, the stores are usually a pleasure to walk around. I’ve come to expect beautifully stacked shelves and artistic window displays from British shops, especially during the holiday season. At Christmas, every major city boasts a department store window display that could rival a Broadway production. Be sure to take the kids to visit the nearest one to you if you have a chance.

Again, although it may look the same, shopping in the UK has its own set of do’s and don’ts, some of which you should definitely know ahead of time.

• Forms of payment: Checks (cheques) are accepted almost everywhere, including restaurants, but must be accompanied by your bank’s Cheque Guarantee Card. This guarantees payment of up to £50 by your bank. (When obtaining a checkbook from your UK bank, you should also receive this card.) Your driving license will neither be required nor sufficient to support the check. Needless to say, U.S. checks will not be accepted.

Credit cards and debit cards are checked much more thoroughly than is usual in the United States, as are matching signatures on cards and checks. Don’t be offended if a sales assistant takes time to check all the details—they do it with everyone. You will never be able to use another person’s credit card, under any circumstances. While working in the retail industry in London, I often witnessed young Americans on their travels armed with Daddy’s credit card and a letter stating they were allowed to use it. Obviously, it never worked, and even when we had a customer service person explain the procedure, the would-be customers were always outraged. Scottish notes are legal tender throughout the UK and must be accepted as payment.

• You may find the return policies in some stores more stringent/less reasonable than in the United States. British people are not used to making a fuss, and shop assistants are not used to people demanding refunds. If you have a bona fide claim, hold your ground and don’t let them walk all over you! Always keep your receipts.

If you really think you have a claim that is being denied by a store, find your local Citizens Advice Bureau or CAB (there is usually one in every city). They will advise you as to your consumer rights, as well as how to go about claiming them. I have had great success myself using this method.

• One of the great things about shopping in the UK is the fact that the price tag you see is the price you pay. (The bad news is that there’s a 17.5% VAT tax everywhere.) All taxes are included in the displayed price. No more scrabbling for high school math to work out the price after sales tax.

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