WHSmith Reviews 

49,869
TrustScore 4 out of 5

4.1

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Review summary

Created with AI, based on recent reviews

Evaluating 71 reviews, reviewers had a great experience with this company. Customers frequently commend the staff for their helpfulness and friendly demeanor, often going above and beyond to assist with inquiries. Many people highlight specific individuals who provided amazing service, solving problems efficiently and offering kind support. This positive interaction with staff is a recurring theme, contributing to a pleasant experience for many. However, a significant number of people express dissatisfaction with the pricing, finding many items considerably more expensive than expected. Consumers also frequently report issues with customer service, citing instances of unhelpful or rude staff, long queues, and a general lack of attention. Additionally, some reviewers noted concerns about product quality, such as diaries with thin paper or food items lacking ingredients.

What people talk about most

Staff

Reviewers mention ambiguous feedback about staff, with many customers praising specific employees for their... See more

Price

Reviewers highlight negative aspects of price, expressing shock and dissatisfaction with the high costs of... See more

Product

Users describe ambiguous interactions with products, with many reviewers expressing shock and disappointment... See more

Customer service

People report negative experiences with customer service, describing it as poor, inconsistent, and at times,... See more

Service

Consumers find service to be ambiguous, with some reviewers consistently reporting poor service, especially... See more

Reviews shaping this summary

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Tanvir at WH Smith Waterloo was extremely helpful with my purchases which I left at the selfservice till at WH Smith. He was kind and courteous and caught up with me with my goods. He also demonstrate... See more

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

My husband lost his mobile phone in the Gents toilets at Sarn Services on the M4. Sharon S on the WSSmith desk had it habded into her by a member of public. (Thanks very much to that person). Shar... See more

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Had an issue with elderly mothers vouchers. Emailed customer services and problem was solved within 24 hours. Amazing service, I was so impressed. Thank you Emily!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

I couldn't find a children's book that I'd been searching for previously in another W H Smiths. This time I asked an assistant if he could check the stock to find it. He stopped the job he was doing t... See more


Company details

  1. Book Store
  2. Childrens Book Store
  3. Convenience Store
  4. Gift Shop
  5. Pen Store
  6. Sandwich Shop

Written by the company

WHSmith is a global travel retailer for news, books and convenience. WHSmith Travel stores offer a tailored range of newspapers, magazines, books and impulse products for people on the move in airports, railway and bus stations and a broader convenience range in hospitals and workplaces. As a leading travel retailer, we have established a core brand that is recognised globally and is synonymous with customer service and a quality offering. Operating circa 590 international stores in 30 countries outside of the UK, our stores can be found in airports, hospitals, railway stations, motorway service areas and workplaces worldwide.


Contact info

4.1

Great

TrustScore 4 out of 5

50K reviews

5-star
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1-star

No recent history of asking for reviews

This company hasn't invited customers recently, so reviews may not be representative

Replied to 37% of negative reviews

Typically replies within 1 week

How this company uses Trustpilot

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4.1

All reviews

(49,869)

61 reviews in the last 12 months

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Companies on Trustpilot aren't allowed to offer incentives or pay to hide reviews. Reviews are the opinions of individual users and not of Trustpilot. Read more

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

charged for nothing not refunded

1 hour after a purchase, I was charged twice more for different amounts for purchases that I have never made. 2 months after that, they still refuse to refund and say it's my bank's fault that they charged me 3 times.

27 June 2025
Unprompted review
WHSmith logo

Reply from WHSmith

Hi, I'm sorry this still hasn't been resolved for you, as the team would have checked the payment details. If you can please email further to customer.relations@whsmith.co.uk, Kind regards Claire

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

The older female member of staff long…

The older female member of staff long blonde hair and glasses at your store in Edinburgh Airport (gate 2) attitude towards customers is disgusting. She needs to learn how to speak to customers and treat them with respect. Standing texting on her phone while there is a queue and treating them like an inconvenience to her day is shocking. Also how she speaks to people is shocking.

28 August 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

NEVER returning to Sutton WHSMITHS EVER…

NEVER returning to Sutton WHSMITHS EVER again. Disgusting staff and appalling use of customer service. Accused me and my friend of stealing as wouldn’t tell us what we had done wrong after 25 mins of waiting.not even one apology as they refused to apologise. Wouldn’t recommend coming here to purchase anything.

23 August 2025
Unprompted review
WHSmith logo

Reply from WHSmith

Hi Lana, Sorry to hear that. As the high street stores are now ran by TGJones, if you would like to contact them to look into this further, their email is customer.relations@tgj.co.uk. Kind regards Claire

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Rippoff merchants!!

£4.19 for a 500ml diet coke and 2.90 for a roll of menthos at Manch airport train station....are you absolutly mad??? I put them back and walked out!! Why are you trying to rip off tourists or passengers , you give a really sh^^tty view of the UK. You get a whole meal deal from Tesco express for £4. Why are you ripping people off so much??

23 August 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 2 out of 5 stars

W h smith maidenhead is awful

W h smith maidenhead is awful. Always big queues limited staff, unavailable staff, stock that should be there missing….and equipment that doesn’t work wasting my time and time of others absolutely has gone downhill since it was taken over buy this family

19 August 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Can't be long until this store ceased to exist

Wouldn't leave one star after receiving derogatory comments from the store manager today in Dorchester. Left my toddler distressed and me fuming after a simple exchange request. I suggest Jay brush up on what customer service is and how to implement it to a dying high street store.

17 August 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Clueless employee

Po in store ,Bury st Edmunds : awful.Assistant not a clue & when I queried if another collegue could assist met with a"no , get a solicitor to help".
Had a document needed verifying & was stated on said paperwork
a PO is acceptable to sign etc .

6 August 2025
Unprompted review
WHSmith logo

Reply from WHSmith

Hi A.C, I am concerned to learn this. The WHSmith stores are owned and ran by TGJones now, and if you can please email them at customer.relations@tgj.co.uk and their team can investigate this further, Kind regards Farjana

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

WH Smith's pricing

WH Smith's pricing strategy is an absolute disgrace and if not changed, will quickly lead to the destruction of a once great company. Let the shareholders decide. But it'll be too late by the time the decision takers take action off the back of a set of woeful results. The damage will have been done - its customers will have fled, never to return.

2 August 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Extortionate pricing for food at airport

After checking the transaction details it shows that the price includes 2x £6.99 meal deals and 1x £3.99 for Rowntree randoms which comes to a total of £17.97.

^^ in a rush at airport thinking we would avoid our usual trip to Pret and save some pennies this is what 2 meal deals and a packet of sweets came to, I was so shocked I queried it with customer services who confirmed!!

Do yourself a favour and avoid getting ripped off. Poor behaviour from a British retailer.

20 July 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Passing the buck

After WH Smith told me ON HERE me to e mail them regarding the wrongful accusations of shoplifting i did so then told me in the e mail to e mail TG Jones which i have already done. STOP PASSING THE BUCK

28 July 2025
Unprompted review
WHSmith logo

Reply from WHSmith

Hi Elizabeth, Sorry for the confusion on our part, the company has been split and we regret the wrong email address was provided on your early review. We have advised you of the correct email address, and TGJones customer services will look into this further, Kind regards

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

No wonder the company is going out of business.

Hubby went to local branch to look for a magazine about motorhomes. There was a selection of around 8 to choose from. He selected one to see what was included information wise and was approached by a member of staff and told he couldn’t read the books. Fair enough for those stood for long periods with no intention of purchasing, but at nearly £10 a magazine what did she think? Do they really expect people to just walk in and buy blind at that price.
Hubby told her “well that’s a sale you just lost “ and walked away.
No wonder the place was pretty much empty! What an attitude and a very dumb way to do business.

24 July 2025
Unprompted review
WHSmith logo

Reply from WHSmith

Hi Hazel, sorry to hear of your husbands recent experience. The WHSmith stores are owned and ran by TGJones now, and if you can please email them at customer.relations@tgjones.co.uk, with the store location and their customer services will be happy to pass this on as feedback. Kind regards Claire

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Overpriced crap

Overpriced crap. Food is far below the standard of other supermarkets and £4 for a bottle of water is simply unacceptable.
The advertised pricing on products is deliberately vague and hard to read, to the point where it’s borderline a con. Trading standard would have a field day.

20 July 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

For the Belfast international airport…

For the Belfast international airport one. I'm sorry but it should be illegal the prices they charge, a bottle of lucozade in shops £1.89 yet here it's £3.99 in here? Kids bag of sweets £1.50-£2 yet £4.59 in here? This is out and out PRICE GOUGING which is meant to be illegal and before they start with airport rent bla bla bla when we went into Starbucks just beside it I believe they were barely 12% dearer than the high st 1s which proves WHSMITH 100%+ rises are profiteering and should be banned.

17 July 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Job's Worth @ W H Smith next to Boots at St Panras …

W H Smith next to Boots at St Panras Concourse.
Saturday 12th July 7.30am and 8.10am
Okay it's quite understandable that they were half an hour behind with sorting the newspapers out because of the late delivery
But deliberately dragging their heels and not feeling the need to help half a dozen people who were waiting is another thing.
Both members of staff were sorely lacking in social skills, anybody would think it is costing them!
But in a way it did 'cos I went elsewhere!
Have a.nice day. 👎 0/10

12 July 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Dont buy pens from this place

I brought gel pens that were 10 pounds and was exited to use them until i did. The ink was dried out and it barely coloured anything it then dyed out so now i brought freshly new gel pens that wont work and i am extremely upset.

11 July 2025
Unprompted review

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