Pros
I have worked at 4 different stores, Cornwall (3 months), SW London (6 months) and Surrey (3 months). 20 hour contract uni. Pay is good inside London -if you are lucky enough to get it as advertised (£7.30 starting instead of £6.90). The London allowance gives an extra 10% of your contract pay. 30 days holiday- 3 staff allowed a holiday at once.
Cons
Always short staffed in London & Surrey (20 staff in total for 280k/week turnover store), on a close expect to finish between 2-3 hours late . every time. No-one has the time the clean properly. The last time everyone got out in time with everything done was in the equally busy store in Cornwall (30 staff in total 280k/week turnover). Good variety of tasks in Cornwall ~50% of time on tills ~50% time on other tasks such as delivery. Poor variety of tasks in Surrey/London- 90% of time on tills and be expected to work 10 hour shifts on tills 3-4 days/week and be very lucky to have a break (30 mins) within 7 hours. I was sick for 4 days (16 hours) and 16 hours of pay was deducted from contract and replaced with statutory sick pay to half the value of the deduction. You owe the company money when you are sick! Last month I worked 100 hours and received £675 gross. Despite living in London SW19 I was permanently transferred to a store 10 miles outside the M25 in March-(with a day's notice) where I would no longer receive the London allowance and have to spend 30% of my wage and 2hrs+ on commuting/day. I accepted for fear of loosing my job.