From Chester With Sympathy

Phil Groom writes:

Thanks to our intrepid photographer (you know who you are) for these latest pictures from Chester:

Chester's Christian Bookshop, 25th Feb 2009 - trading as...

... trading as... don't look too closely at those stickers now...

50% off, according to the sale notices; but would you pay as much as half-price for books in this condition? Personally I’d say even asking 50p each would be a bit much; but perhaps greetings cards are more reasonably priced?

"I said I needed a VAT receipt and this is what they gave me..."

The only other information on the receipt is a signature, which I’ve cropped off the bottom. I’m told that the staff were very apologetic and are evidently doing their best under the circumstances: no blame attaches to them; just plenty of sympathy needed…

Despite requests to ‘Head Office’ the tills have apparently been out of use since Trading Standards visited a few weeks ago — here’s a reminder of how things were Shopping in Chester in January:

Chester Till Receipt and Bag, January 2009

Now, what’s this rumour I hear of a sudden bout of stocktaking in all the shops?