Sansha

As a user of Sansha's Recital pointe shoes since 2007, I was quite shocked and dismayed by the treatment that I received in the Covent Garden (London) store today--so much so that I can honestly say that I will never purchase Sansha products again. The (single) salesperson on duty was on the phone when I entered and refused to even acknowledge my presence. After trying to find my shoes myself, I was immediately reprimanded. When I tried to defend myself, I was told to leave. Disappointed doesn't even cover it.

I went there on Saturday after deciding to switch from a costlier pointe shoe brand (and Sansha had a discount offer too). It was extremely crowded, especially since it's such a small shop. The staff (2 of them) were very patient but people coming in for pointe shoe fittings were often told to come back in an hour! The stock in the store is also different from the stock on the main website. I ended up spending around £15 more than I'd intended to, on one pair. They won't sell shoes without your being fitted for them, which might be frustrating for more experienced dancers. But good overall.

Sansha has a lovely set of down to earth staff who try there best to help you even if they don't always have the stock available, however they will always try and order it in for you. They also have late night shopping on a Thursday which means they are open until 7pm which is great if you have college and need to pop in after! Go give them a visit ... especially if your a student, professional or teacher as we all get 20% discount ... happy days !

From a business perspective, sansha would entice more potential customers if they introduced a more welcoming and friendly atmosphere such as Bloch or Dance Internationale. After comparing Bloch and Dance Internationale, it is clear the standard of service at sansha is far less than that of both said stores. For instance, the staff at sansha were rude and rather unwilling to help with anything- even answering something as basic as when the opening hours for the store were.

Name: Beginner
Location: London