Boots . . . they don't sell those in here!! (Boots Stores)

Member Name: kiss_me2070

Product:	Boots Stores
Date:	22/12/08 (259 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Lots of products for all your beauty needs

Disadvantages: Some unknowledged staff!

Boots are a large store and there is no doubt at least 1 in every town. They sell a large range of cosmetics, beauty products and have a large pharmacy as well. Boots also not only have an opticians but a photo processing department as well.

***ABOUT BOOTS***
Boots started off in 1849, when John Boot opened a herbalist shop in Nottingham. Since then boots has grown into a large store with their first pharmacist being appointed in 1884. Since 1849, they have introduced many cosmetics, such as No7 which was introduced in 1935. Their Soltan sun care range was introduced in 1939. Boots now not only have high-street stores, but they also have flagship & airport stores as well as local pharmacies as well.

***SO THEY SELL COSMETICS, BUT WHAT ELSE?***
Boots have a vary of different products, each of these are listed below, with some more information:

* PREMIUM BEAUTY - This includes all the expensive brand names such as Estee Lauder, Clinique, Clarins, Origins and more popular, well known brands.
* MAKE-UP - Boots sell a large range of different make up this include well known brands such as Maybelline, L'Oreal, Bourjois Paris & other popular high street brands.
* SKINCARE - This includes Moisturisers, Firming Lotions, Wrinkle Creams Toners, Make-Up Remover, Hand/Nail Creams & other related products.
* SUNCARE - This includes all the obvious sun-tan lotions and sprays, after sun & Bronzing/Fake Tan products. This not only includes their own range but also Nivea, Garnier and other brand names as well.
* HAIR - This includes the obvious such as Shampoo, Conditioner, Hair masques, Colorants, Styling Products and more. They have a large range including their owns brands, Toni & Guy, Umberto Gianni, Lee Stafford and lots more popular brands such as Pantene, Sunsilk, Herbal Essences, the list could go on forever!
* FRAGRANCE - They have a large fragrance selection which is normally kept looked in glass cupboards, these include very expensive to cheaper brands of perfume. They do fragrances for men and woman, and these include big names such as Hugo Boos, Thierry Mugler and more.
* ELECTRICAL - This section includes Hair-dryers, Straighteners and curling tongs, Toothbrushes and other related products. You will again see some big names such as Oral B, Babyliss, Trevor Sorbie, etc.
* BATH & BODY - This covers shower/bath wash, hand washed, soaps, body scrubs & moisturisers.
* ACCESSORIES - They have a large accessory section which includes beauty products such as tweezers, eye-lash curlers, Cotton Wool, Nail Files/Scissors, Body Brushes, Travel bags and Travel bottles, Sunglasses, etc.
* MOTHER AND BABY - They have a large mother & baby range which includes nappies, baby food & snacks, baby health products and skin care, as well as a clothing range as well.
* PHOTO - They sell disposable cameras as well as digital cameras, Memory Cards, Photo gifts including mugs and mouse-mats. You can also take your camera films in to be developed and you can also use the Kodak easy-share machines to print out your own photographs, to print pictures straight off from the memory card from your digital camera.
* PHARMACY - here you can take your prescriptions in & collect them. You also get help and advice from the pharmacist as well. Most stores will have a consulting room where you can go to if need be. They also sell all the obvious things such as plasters, medicines, bandages and more.

***PRICES/COST***
Find the prices of products in here are very reasonable, not only that but if you have a boots advantage card you can also collect points on your card as well, every time you spend. (More about the boots advantage card later). Compared to some other local shops/supermarkets I find that boots is always cheaper and they do have a lot of price cuts and offers on products such as 3 for 2 or specific items or 2 items for a specific price. You will always find offers going on it boots at different times of the year.

***BOOTS ADVANTAGE CARD***
A boots advantage card will cost nothing to get. You can simply apply online or in store where you just need to fill out a form, this will NOT cost you anything, this is totally free. For every £1.00 you spend at boots you will receive 4 points. When you have enough points you can use them to buy items form the store. Every-time you shop in the store your boots card will always be credited with new points & it will display how many points you have on your receipt. Boots also have days/evenings where you can receive triple or double points if you spend over a certain amount. Not only this but you can also use the boots advantage card point machines, which means you can print of discount vouchers and enter competitions. There are a few of these in every store and if your not sure how to use it there is normally always someone around to ask. I think their points system is very generous compared to other stores and I always try to save my points up for Christmas.

***STORE LAYOUT***
In all the stores I have been in I have noticed that if you go through the main entrance, there is always the premium make up stands with the girls trying to sell the products such as Clarins, Clinque & No7. In my opinion I think some of these girls need to cut down on their make up. Followed by them is normally the other general branded make-up and high street branded make up. The store is all clearly marked by hanging signs from the ceiling with the appropriate signs above their sections and down the aisles. I always find it every easy to find things in here as it's all very clearly marked.

***PHOTOGRAPHS***
I have used the photo department quite a few times and I can't fault them once, because I have never had any issues there. When taking a film in to be developed for the next day or for an hour, they've always been ready when I've gone to collect the photo's. Their Kodak machines where you print your own photographs out are very easy to use as well and if you need any help the assistants on the photo counter will always help you out.

***PHARMACY***
I have to admit, that I have never taken a prescription or have never got advice from a boots pharmacy. I always go to a separate chemist as I find the queues and wait far too long in my local boots. Not only this but when I went with my boyfriend, to get his prescription, we were also waiting for a good 15-20mins at his local boots store as well. How-ever if you need advice about medicines the staff in the department are very well knowledge and even if they aren't sure they will ask the pharmacist or another person present!

****CUSTOMER SERVICE***
I have to put my hands up and say that there are some brilliant staff in boots and some of them are very helpful and polite, but on the down-side I have also noticed that some of the staff prefer to have a chat with their friend and don't concentrate on serving customers, I have to say I have noticed that this happens mostly around the xmas period so I am presuming they are xmas temp staff! I have also noticed if you go in there first thing as soon as they open, you may have to wait for a while to be served because no-one actually see's/notices you standing at the till waiting to be served. Several times I have had to gone and asked for someone to come and serve me.

I also have to comment on a bad experience I also had at my local boots store. A Customer had obviously spilt something and not told a member of staff & as a staff member was showing me where something was I slipped on it. There was 5 members of staff all around and who saw me slip over and not 1 of them helped me up. The assistant who was showing me where the product was just asked if I was ok. I managed to get up and said that I think I was ok. I landed on my right arm & leg so it was quite a hard fall and it did hurt to walk. No member of staff asked me to fill in the accident book, or anything. No-one got me a chair to sit on or anything! It wasn't until I mentioned about filling in the accident book that they said 'Oh yeah that might be a good idea'! I filled in the book and limped back off to work. I was a bit shaken and my leg was very painful and it was like this for over 1 week! In a way I'm glad it was me who slipped over in there and not an old lady or man as I think they probably would have ended breaking a leg or hip as the fall was really hard! I do how-ever think maybe their staff should be re-trained on how to deal with accidents in store.

This hasn't put me off boots and I will definitely continue to shop here as, they always have great offers and promotions which always seem to grab my attention.

Summary: A Great monthly shop every payday for me!