this week: Hinckley, Leicestershire

mystery shopper

this week: Hinckley, Leicestershire

Thomas Cook

2 Castle Street

Hinckley &#42

This was a small, slightly untidy agency with three consultants on duty. I was served immediately by a consultant who got me the 2001 Blakes and Hoseasons brochures.

She called Blakes and discovered that the 2002 brochures were not due out until the middle of November but she gave me this year’s brochures for guidance.

She added that the brochures tended to be the same but she could not look up the prices without the current brochures.

&#42 Staff attitude

Going Places

9c Castle Street

Hinckley &#42

There were two consultants on duty. I was greeted with an abrupt “the brochures are not in yet” by one consultant who added that they only had ordinary hotel brochures.

I expressed interest in what they offered and was told in a very disinterested fashion that it was the “normal bed and breakfast” hotel. As an afterthought, the consultant went to the rack and picked out Bridge Britain and Ireland and Hotelbreaks from Rainbow and Goldenrail. She was clearly not interested in the enquiry.

&#42 Agency appearance

Bowen Travel

39 Castle Street

Hinckley &#42&#42

This was a quaint-looking agency on the corner of Castle Street. There were two consultants on duty and no customers.

I was greeted by one consultant with a blank look when I asked about cottages in Wales, but her colleague said the operators I would need were Hoseasons and Blakes.

She said they had no brochures in at present but were expecting them within the week, adding that the UK brochures were generally coming out a bit later this year. There was no offer to call me.

&#42 Agency appearance

&#42 Brochure racking