Boots — Local services in London

I would typically have given 5 stars to this location as I frequented this place many times in 2020. However, all changed with a recent visit to pick up a prescription.

Vicky, behind the Prescription counter, she seems to be working at Boots for a long time, and is very unapproachable, unfriendly, and has a passive-aggressive/sarcastic disposition when engaging with customers. She definitely needs a refresher course on Customer Care, and not dispense prescription like it is a Gulag camp, having customers/patients appear like they are begging for their prescription. Boots is in the healthcare industry, I would expect more care and empathy in their staff. Deepal was awesome to talk and deal with, so was the young lady at the checkout counter that day holding an iPad, I also gave her feedback about Vicky. And I also mentioned to Deepal after collecting my prescription that I did not have a good experience with Vicky. And made my visit to this store a rather unpleasant one. Customers at Boots may not always feel 100% though they're may appear to look 100%, all it takes is some kindness and empathy, and it will make customers feel better even with small gestures. I highly recommend that Vicky be trained in proper customer facing roles with immediate effect. I later observed that she was rude and standoffish to many customers and not just me, at first I thought it was a profiling thing. But she was just as rude to customers of different ages and backgrounds. Perhaps she has worked at Boots for far too long and is either unhappy with her life or her job. Don't project your unhappiness or your "higher than thou" attitude to customers. It is not only unprofessional, but sorely outdated. This is 2021 not the 50s or 60s. Even banks no longer have bankers behind iron bars behind the counters.

She also has some difficulty understanding English, which is really not a problem. I am happy to speak slower or spell out slowly for her. But she makes you feel like you are the one who can't articulate English. Again, a very poor customer facing demeanour.

Boots need to consolidate the customer care training not just for the new but the staff who have been working there a long time, and feel like they can pull their weight with their colleagues and bully/intimidate customers.

I also noticed that other Boots staff seems a little afraid of her, and appear like they are tiptoeing around her so as not to upset her.

Not acceptable in this...

This is the most toxic, disgusting and dangerous pharmacy I have ever had the misfortune to enter. It used to be fine, but they've refurbished it and moved everything around, so now the entire ground floor is given over to toxic fragrance. There is not even any entrance you can use to avoid it. To access the pharmacy counter for example, you need to go through the entire fragrance floor, right to the middle, to access a basement, then right at the back. At this point the entire store is just one giant cloud of fragrance toxicity - totally unavoidable.

One in evety 20 people at least is allergic to one or other fragrances. Anyone who have ever tried to conceive, or had anyone in their family had cancer, or is remotely conscious about the environment and fragrance/phthalate toxicity, or has ever struggled with obesity or weight, should know that fragrance is a toxin, a carcinogen, genotoxic, mutagenic, and an obesogen. This is all very well established in medical literature. If you didn't know, go read it.

It is totally unacceptable that a pharmacy, necessary to so many, is totally inaccessible by reason of unavoidable toxic exposure. Will never be going again.

Had wanted to try to save the high street over shopping online, but this sort of store is not worth saving....

I had the pleasure of meeting Jeboria at Boots HSK today, and I can't praise her enough for her exceptional talent and professionalism.

From the moment I stepped into her chair, Jeboria's passion for skincare and makeup was evident. She took the time to assess my skin type and condition, recommending personalized skincare products to prep my skin for a photo shoot. Her expertise in skincare not only left my skin looking flawless but also ensured that the makeup application was smooth and long-lasting.

When it came to makeup, Jeboria's creativity truly shone. Her attention to detail was remarkable, as she expertly applied products to enhance ones features without overpowering them.

Her professionalism and calm demeanor helped me feel relaxed and confident throughout the entire process.

Thanks to Jeboria's talent and dedication, the photos turned out even better than I could have imagined. Her artistry truly elevated the entire shoot, and I received countless compliments. I couldn't be happier with the results!

If you're looking for a skincare artist who excels in both skincare and makeup application for photoshoots, I highly recommend Jeboria at Boots HSK. Her passion, skill, and attention to detail are unmatched.

Thank you, Jeboria,...