Whitcoulls Reviews 

Very disappointing and unwelcoming experience.

I took my child to the bookstore this afternoon, and he became interested in a comic book and started reading it. The store was quiet, there were very few customers, and he was not disturbing anyone. However, a staff member asked whether we were actually going to buy the book and suggested that we go to the library instead.

There was no clearly stated policy about how long customers are allowed to read in the store. The passive-aggressive way this was handled was completely unnecessary and made us feel unwelcome. Discouraging a child from reading in a bookstore is extremely disappointing. We will not be returning.

Shopped at whitcoulls timaru store today and safe to say I won't be going back, from the second I walked into the store I was immediately asked if I needed help by 2 different people with in a minute, I continued looking and my friend had come over to me saying they wouldn't give her a scratch ticket as she forgot her ID (fair enough) however when my friend came over to me and we were looking at the colouring books we were being staired at by both lady's not to mention as soon as I was by the counter holding an item they offered to put it up for me on the counter I politely said no thank you they then asked twice more when I grabbed a couple more item they were very persistent witch made me feel extremely uncomfortable like they thought I was going to try steal or something never in my life have I been treated like that it felt like eyes were constantly on me and I was asked if I needed help atleast 5 times by the same 2 people this was beyond ridiculous I only go in once in awhile but now I won't be back at all this exsperiance has been very unpleasant

Whitcoulls The Palms - most unhelpful, wouldn't get a book in for me despite me being a regular customer. As a result I won't be using Whitcoulls again. They've lost a custermanently. So unless they have the book you want. Don't bother using them. Thos is my local store, I don't drive and have had trouble with curiours following delivery instructions which I told them. I'll use Scorpio - a far superior store from now on

Just bought a roll of birthday paper, $9.00 and it had a sticker half way round it that you couldn't get off without ruining the paper. Took it straight back and the girl spoke to her manager who said they give you extra to allow for the loss. Why didn't they tell me that when I bought it, just wasted petrol driving back to queensgate lower hutt.
They wanted to give me a credit but I insisted on my money back, I don't usually shop there and never will again as the manager was such a smart arse cow

I ordered a book as a gift and sought a refund for it almost immediately as someone else had also purchased it for the person I was shopping for, however I was unable to get ahold of whitcoulls on the day I ordered and instead had to give them my contact information so I could cancel the order. I called up the next day and they told me a refund was not available even though I had contacted them to cancel the order the same day I purchased, and that I could not escalate this to someone higher up with the power to discretion to refund. I feel that this is really poor service on their part and that there should be a more effective way to cancel offers, instead I feel as though I have been ripped off and treated negatively. I am not inclined to ever shop here again which is really disappointing.

Just did an online order . Got a local Couier to collect from the Te
Rapa branch and the books weren't even put into a paper bag ,

the staff at south city are always so very helpful. i really enjoy going to this shop.

Don't do orders and have no idea when their own stock is coming in

No one likes a smart ass that's what I experienced today when I asked a question regarding the sale for boxing day there sale sign was misleading and the customer experience was absolutely disgusting.

Extremely poor service, their website glitched and I had 5 of the same things instead of one. They refused to honour the error and offered me a gift card (I asked to cancel my order within minutes) and when I asked to speak to someone else they refused and said it was a phone issue on my end and could never prove otherwis so therefore they won't give me a refund. Made the mistake of ordering with them again and heard nothing about my order for weeks. I followed it up and got a snarky response that they were waiting for it to be in stock, which they never bothered to mention at the time of the order

Buyer beware. This company do not do refunds even minutes after the purchase. Will only give credit note. A fact they tell you on your receipt which is obviously too late. Check out their website refund policy before shopping there, and look around they are generally way more expensive than other stores selling the same product.