Averagely average (Empire Stores)

Member Name: sarah.b

Product:	Empire Stores
Date:	15/10/00 (29 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: it's average

Disadvantages: it's average

Way back when I was but a lass Empire was seen as the ultimate catalogue; they didn't give it to everybody and it had all the trendiest gear.

So when I had some time on my hands a couple of years ago, I thought I'd try running this agency, as my mother had in the 1970s. I was in for a big disappointment.

Everything in the catalogue was just, so-so. The cutting-edge fashion was certainly gone (Empire was the first catalogue with serious platform boots and shoes - high enough to rival anything Gary Glitter could do, my mother assures me).

I ordered a few things for friends and family anyway. Some was out of stock. Some of it was OK; nothing was terrible quality, but nothing was stunningly good either.

I've found the customer service just 'average' too. Some of the people on the other end of the telephone are great, others aren't. I've had some adminstrative hassles with them over the years, but nothing to make a good enough story for this forum!

I still run it because I have a few elderly neighbours who like it. The way I see it though there's a lot more competition than there was when Empire had its heyday, and it doesn't seem to keep up with the times.

Prices are not especially competitive, nothing about it is.

Summary: