RUDE AND UNPROFESSIONAL STAFF, DISAPPOINTING EXPERIENCE I would have given zero star but it wouldn’t me. My Christmas shopping experience on Tuesday 10th December, 2024 (between 11.40am and 12 noon) was ruined at Ann Summers in the Centre Milton Keynes shopping mall. I decided to treat myself to a ‘special toy’ and hoped that I would enjoy an exciting browse and shop at the well established Ann Summers store at Centre MK. With a reputation as a women friendly store I anticipated a pleasurable shopping experience in a safe, welcoming environment. However, when I approached the sex toy section I noticed a man just standing there. At first I thought he was a customer, but as I waited he just continued to stand there, and this made me feed quite uncomfortable and a little awkward. When considering such an intimate purchase, having a man hovering around is not something that puts a lady at ease. After circling around the shop three times to see if he would move on I noticed his employee lanyard. The thought of me re-entering the toy section, closely examining interesting items and then having a strange man moving in to commence a sales pitch or conversation on my options and choices made my blood run cold. I asked the female staff member wearing glasses present in the shop if there was a reason that there was a male staff at the toy section. In a very flippant tone, she flatly stated “Because he works here and because he’s very good at toys.” I was shocked at her attitude and didn’t know what to say to such rudeness and insensitivity towards a potential customer; without saying a further word I turned on my heels and left the shop as swiftly as possible. I have no issue that Ann Summers employs male staff, but the insensitivity of how they are used and the unprofessional attitude of the female employee I asked really upset me. She could have easily explained in a friendly and courteous manner that a male staff member was present and that as she could see from my manner and body language that I was uncomfortable with this have offered as a fellow lady to come and help me in the sex toy section, rather than disregard an uncomfortable situation for a customer and come back with a glib reply that ‘he’s good with toys’. What this female shop assistant should’ve said would be something like “I am happy to serve you if that’s OK with you.” But instead of offering me help, she was rude, insensitive and unprofessiona. I will certainly not be the only lady who would be deeply uncomfortable discussing the information I would have to give it to a male staff in order for him to recommend the best sex toy for me. Such a discussion information would be highly delicate and could involve sharing very very personal information. Even should I be brazen enough to discuss all aspects of what I wanted and needed to him, how could a male staff then explain or recommend something to me without creeping me out, discussing such things with a strange man. A large number of ladies have had unfortunate experiences in the past and may find an unknown man having such a conversation with them, even if quite unintended, being deeply triggering to them and cause severe emotional distress. I have no problem with male staff working at Ann Summers. But male staff will be better suited to serve at the till or a less sensitive part of the shop (which is the vast majority of the store area). It doesn’t matter how professional or how knowledgeable he is with the sex toys, this is not an appropriate area for male staff to be working in when single ladies are present. If a female customer doesn’t feel comfortable to interact with a male staff in this department, female staff in the store need to handle such situations more professionally and with much greater empathy, or at a very least not being rude to me as a customer as if I created a problem, and acting like they just wanted me to go away and not be a bother to them. Ann Summers has worked hard to establish their reputation as a renowned female friendly shop and a safe space for ladies to purchase intimate items. It’s so disappointing that the staff today were so insensitive and rude. I went out of my way to try to support local businesses and shop at a physical shop but it seems to me Ann Summers doesn’t care about their customers and their business, or they would emphasise such issues during their staff recruitment and training. There are plenty online shops out there, so I’m sorry, but bye-bye Ann Summers for a very disappointed and upset customer.