Alan Cook Travel

The rudest and worst service that I have EVER received: I went into my local travel agent today for the the first time. I usually book with Thomas Cook down the road but the lady that usually books my holidays has left so I fancied booking with an independent agency to receive the specialised travel knowledge that they are known for. I was looking for brochures initially on the following– Mum and Dad’s anniversary present, a touring holiday of Scandinavia. Budget £1000 each.
Family holiday to Turkey, all inclusive 4* Hotel Budget £3000.
Cruise over Xmas to Carirbean for me and my partner or Thailand. Budget £4500. Total possible spending £10,000. I got as far as picking up 6 brochures for Mum and Dad’s holiday. The elderly grumpy man stopped serving the man in front of him and spat at me a tirade of abuse about the amount of brochures I was picking up! I told him that he had a brilliant selection and that I would return them when I book. He then barked out a lecture about how brochures were hard to come by and that he is going to start charging £1. He said ‘You have quite enough there, now please leave!!!’ I couldn’t even be angry because it was hilarious to see. He practically had steam coming out of his ears. Me and the startled young man in front of him looked at each other in bewilderment.
This ladies and gentlemen is customer service at it’s worse. This is how not to drum up business and how not to run a travel agency. I know for a fact as I was in the travel business a long time ago that brochures are free to travel agents and tour operators would be absolutely horrified at this negative attitude.
The grumpy old man serving me must be a secret millionaire to be able to afford to throw away £10,000 worth of business. My recommendation to him is to give up retail and go and do something else.
Me? I’ll stick to Thomas Cook thankyou very much, where I am always greeted with a smile and a plea to come back and book soon.