One problem which most people come across in France is the complete lack of a culture of 'customer service'. With some notable exceptions, it seems that the French, especially the large stores, don't do 'customer service'.
I have a fund of stories of garden machinery dealers refusing to accept their own guarantees, of assistants in DIY stores saying 'J'arrive' in the middle of a transaction and never being seen again (it was almost 12 midday!), and of stores refusing to exchange faulty goods. And as for our local supermarket which repairs broken food packets with tape and puts them back on the shelves!

But don't let's be negative! Instead can I ask people to nominate the BEST customer service they've come across in France. Let's get a list going of the places we should support as they are so good; 'pour encourager les autres', perhaps!

I'll start the ball rolling by nominating our branches of Bricomarche in both Le Lude and Saumur (49). The assistants there can never do enough for you, and will always help with a smile, guide you to the correct shelf, and help you load your car. They are brilliant.

As for small shops, a local electrical repairer fixed my Skybox while I waited and wouldn't even accept payment!

So which other chains and stores would your readers nominate?

Adrian Fox
Pays-de-la-Loire