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Train operator Thameslink and discount retailer Poundland have traded barbs after a disgruntled rail passenger tweeted innocuously about delays.
Thameslink has come under heavy fire in recent weeks due to unpopular timetable changes, and another set of delays prompted a Twitter user, ‘Kevin’, to tweet an image of a departure board with several cancelled services visible.
Why, Ambassador @TLRailUK , with this fine service you are really spoiling us. pic.twitter.com/RZP9E0yF7k
— Kev (@londonkro) May 30, 2018
Thameslink reportedly responded to Kevin to say: “Very sorry Kevin. Appreciate at the moment the service is less Ferrero Rocher and more Poundland cooking chocolate.”
Poundland retorted in short order, with a tweet from retail director Austin Cooke, saying: “Frankly you have no right to use our name to describe poor service. We served 8 million shoppers last week and didn’t have to close any store due to leaves on the roof, the wrong kind of rain, or a shortage of manager.”
He added: “We think we have a pretty good idea about great customer service is compared to most rail companies. But if we ever fall short, perhaps we’ll describe ourselves as a bit ThamesLink.”
The volley was complete with a legal threat: “If you don’t want to hear from our extremely twitchy legal team, we suggest you remove your tweet.”
.@TLRailUK You’re ‘off the rails’ #TLFail #Proudland pic.twitter.com/rago9G1zmh
— Poundland (@Poundland) May 30, 2018
At the time of posting this article, Retail Sector could not find the offending tweet on ThamesLink’s feed, but the feud had already made its way into the mainstream press.
