…and not in a good way.
Today we ventured to one of my favorite shops for one of their sales. I have blogged about them before and met the owner. We talked family and kids and her passion. This time I parked in a not even half full garage. Despite the garage being empty the store was busy – I loved to see that. I was treated terrific. The kids were listened to, the sales associate answered my questions, was extremely knowledgeable, and friendly to me and the kids. It was everything I would have expected.
We spent money.
I mentioned to the associate wanting to go across the street for some fro-yo for the kids. Because of an event, she suggested I walk. Sounded good to me.
We deposited our package in the car and as we were coming up the stairs we were confronted by a women.
She stood above us, with her hands on her hips and asked if we were going across the street.
I started to say yes, and she began to get adgitated and yell at me. Saying things like, “we aren’t paying customers, the garage is only for paying customers, that we need to move the car, that I don’t understand small business, and on and on.” She was authoritative, rude with her word choice and scared my children.
I tried to tell her we were walking across for a snack, but she wouldn’t listen.
I tried to tell her were just spent money in a local store.
In the end I packed the kids up and left. We never made it for our snack. My daughter doesn’t respond well to strangers, let alone someone yelling. She was shocked and frightened. There is no way I can bring her back there. We went home.
I could understand if I didn’t actually spend the money or if the garage was full.
So this person, just lost a customer for all the businesses around her.
So for our small businesses – I wonder if it isn’t enough that you are good (even terrific) if your neighbors are awful, will you fail too?
Disclosure – I am in the process of figuring out if this rude women was the owner or a worker. I’d hate for the owner not to know what happened today. I also don’t like throwing small businesses under the bus, so names have not been used.
