lost day update...

[johowton]

Grand morning all,

I went back to that shop yesterday and the owner was there.

The first woman, who went to lunch, was also there. Her name was Sherry, and a whole new attitude. She could be quite pleasant. She knew who I was when I went in. Kind of flushed when I asked for the owner.

Now the owner, sat with me over a cup of coffee and listened to what I needed to say. Very patient with me. lol
After I told her of the events of the other day, she excused herself and came back a few minutes later. Debbie came in after a while, and both "salespersons" were asked, in front of me, what was going on that day. Sherry didn't feel well and had a headache, Debbie was tired of doing all the work while Sherry sat around all day. Work place politics.
I responded to these poor excuses with a simple, never take it out on the customer. You lost a large sale that day. The owner seemed to be ashamed of this behavior of "her girls" and very politely asked what she could do to make it up to me. Nothing. I just wanted to let her know what happened to me. I also told her I would never be back. It was an hour drive for me. Well anyway, those two women are now looking for another job, and I am more than welcome to come back and shop when ever I felt more comfortable.

I am not sure if I will go back. I kind of feel bad that these women are unemployed now, but it was their own doing. The owner has my thanks for taking care of this matter. Also, you all have my thanks for just listening to me complain.

I think a road trip to Trenton is on tap for today...still have a couple hundred dollars to spend...

Have a great day everyone. I feel so much better now that it all worked out...

JO

[GrammaBabs]

Re: lost day update...

good for you... so many people complain but never actually go to the boss..

A Co. cannot know these problems if people will not make them aware of what's going on... sorry, but I've always said the right person for the right job,,, people need work right now ( those that WANT to work)... CS is not to be taken lightly... ie, MSQC does it well and takes it seriously..success right? but not without a lot of work... I have "served people" all my life in retail and coporate level.. loved it, but saw many many people along the way that did not belong there.

[Madeforyouinma11]

Re: lost day update...

Oh, I just posted in the other thread to see if you had called. I'm glad you went in and were able to get it all settled. Since the two people are now gone, I might give the shop another chance. After all, you did like the fabrics...why should you suffer and lose out on the fabrics you love.

[BobW]

Re: lost day update...

I'm glad you took the time to visit with the owner. And for the record, you didn't get the girls fired, they got themselves fired. They probably never thought you would follow up with the owner and they could get away with being rude and mistreating customers.

[Quiltngolfer]

Re: lost day update...

I am so glad you told the owner about your experience. She may be a very nice lady. It sounds like she corrected the problem. I hope she will get some new employees who enjoy helping people. Disrespectful salespeople can kill a business. I feel so lucky to have friends at my LQS. They are all so nice and will help you pick out fabric or work out a problem with a quilt or machine. You might want to give her another try if she has fabric you like.

[pcbatiks]

Re: lost day update...

Good for you, Jo! Happy to hear that you talked to the owner. Maybe those two jobs positions will now go to people that enjoy sewing & quilting and that will appreciate & enjoy their job.

[Mom23]

Re: lost day update...

It sounds to me like the owner of the shop handled things the correct way. I am proud of you for holding your head high and walking back in the door. I do hope you give the shop another chance. This could be the beginning of a friendship with the owner. She sounds like a kind and caring woman.

[Mpyles]

Re: lost day update...

Glad you got to speak your mind to the owner and the girls. I would have to think this isn't the first time she has had a problem. As a stern warning would have been appropriate had this been a first offense. So good that you went back! I also think you should absolutely shop there, the owner listened to your complaint and responded so you would shop there.

[Slokarma]

Re: lost day update...

Good for you and good for the owner. You might / probably saved her business, to live another day. So I would not worry about the salesgirl.

The thing is, you can probably order fabric cheaper on line. But it's the touching the fabric, the human connection with another fabric person, and the helpfulness, courtesy and the smile that makes going to a local shop a treat. If you don't get any of this for the extra money it cost you, you might as well order online and call it a day.

[Iris Girl]

Re: lost day update...

Good for you! I have to agree with Mary if this had been a first offense a warning would have been in order, since they were let go I would say it was a common problem and now someone who really loves fabric and helping customers will get a job.

[songbird857]

Re: lost day update...

My guess is that they didn't get fired only from this incident - there may have been previous similar complaints. This shop owner obviously cares about her customers and her shop

[Jean Sewing Machine]

Re: lost day update...

Wow, talk about a lesson learned for that set of clerks! Glad for you that the owner was responsive to your complaint. I think some owners " circle the wagons" around their staff against the customer in similar situations. They don't get it-- the customer who walks away with money in their pocket is a big loss for the business. And when they walk away because of being mistreated by clerks, something needs to be done about it, in this case, the clerks got the axe. Hey, you don't know, this may have happened with these two in the past, so this might have been the straw that broke the camel's back!

[Slokarma]

Re: lost day update...

You know, if the clerk would have just came clean and apologized and promised to do better.....I hate it when somebody lies and makes excuses, when there is no excuse.

Anyways, in the day of comment sections and Facebook, I would be darn sure I'm doing everything I can to keep my reputation in the 5 star side of things!

[RFREE]

Re: lost day update...

Good for you! As everyone is saying you have probably saved this shop by letting the owner know just what went on. There is no telling how many other customers that they had run off because they wouldn't say anything to the owner.
I had a similar experience several years ago. I had taken my serger into a very reputable shop to have it threaded.The Store logo is.......
" WE SELL THE BEST AND SERVICE THE REST". Well when the owner(yes the OWNER) found out I didn't buy it from him(QVC) he very rudely stated..."THAT'S THE TROUBLE WITH YOU PEOPLE BUYING YOUR MACHINES FROM TV AND NOT KNOWING WHAT YOU ARE GETTING OR HOW TO TAKE CARE OF THEM!" He then yelled back to one of the girls working there and said "Thread this serger and charge her $50.00. At this point I was so put off by his blatant rudeness I said " I don't think so buddy" "I will figure it out or throw it in the trash before I give you $50.00 to thread it". I walked out and never darkened his doorstep again. "I just kring every time I see him on TV saying..."WE SELL THE BEST AND SERVICE THE REST". I tell everyone I know about my experience with him.
I honestly think if he was the last place to buy anything sewing I would throw in the towel and find another addiction.
You done the right thing by going back and talking to the owner.

[EmmaB]

Re: lost day update...

I had a similar experience with an owner who plasters her business on one of our local channels and is just sweet as pie on the commercials.

I went in her place looking for a foot for FMQ. She asked me if I had done FMQ and I said no, but was going to give it a go. She immediately got all snarky about how if you don't know what you are doing you can really mess things up. Her attitude towards me was like I was completely ignorant for trying it on my own. Well, maybe I am but if I tear up my machine that's my bad. She didn't have to imply that I was too ignorant to try. If she was offering classes she could have said that from the get go and I may have at least considered them. It was like she insulted my intelligence.

I pretended to look at some other things, walking around holding the FMQ foot in my hand (which has quite a mark up compared to what was offered online) and was fuming, but I never said a word. I casually walked over and put the foot back and as I was walking out the door heard her say "Come back again". Don't think so.