WALKING into a busy Sydney Myer store at lunchtime, staff ran across the floor with extra stock, talking into walkie-talkies or wheeling trolleys.

I asked one woman stocking hosiery where I could find headphones. ''Level six, darl','' she replied, irritably.

Lucky bags ... but our reporter found it hard to get help. Credit:Sasha Woolley

I asked another assistant where to find pepper grinders. She pointed to the next level up, clearly annoyed I had stopped her.

A female cashier explained that all casual staff had been let go, adding to the workload of permanent staff. She gave me a complaints form and urged me to fill it out, so Myer might consider putting on more staff.