First v Stagecoach in Manchester

[Mayneway]

RE: First v Stagecoach in Manchester
Comfort wise - from a Tamesider who uses both Stagecoach and First services (outside the city centre), I still perfer to travel with Stagecoach than First. I always get the impression with First that they are more interested in turning a profit than the actuall passengers using the services.
Don't get me wrong in the last couple of years they have made real improvements in regards to reliability and the fleet in general. The fare decrease also made a big difference but there still seems to be a gap between both operators.
The use of customer service agents by First leaves a general level of dissatisfaction from complainants where as at stagecoach complaints are very quickly dealt with with either the depot manager or the network manager which makes a huge difference.

Plus on the ground, there's always approachable Stagecoach inspectors at busy interchanges, (in Ashton theirs normally two inspectors on duty, I carnt remember the last time I saw the First inspector).

What's even more interesting is that certainly in Tameside in recent months is that quite a large number of drivers seem to have defected from First to stagecoach, despite the influx of new vehicles at First, I'm presuming it's mainly down to pay and conditions but it's surprising that drivers see a better future with Stagecoach than with First. I've certainly never heard reference to driver shortages at Stsgecoach, yet they seem common place at First.