Terrible customer service, y'all: Bethesda Smoke Shop on River Road is a nightmare…read more
I rarely leave negative reviews (and don't enjoy them, either). That said, my husband's experience at Bethesda Tobacco in Bethesda earlier today was so bad that, well, I am compelled to warn others.
He went in hoping to ask some straightforward questions about some items, and to then (hopefully) purchase a product. When he arrived, the store appeared empty, so he waited a few minutes. Eventually, an employee emerged from the back - holding a sandwich, mind you - and began talking to him while chewing. I cannot stress enough how unprofessional and off-putting this was. No greeting, no acknowledgment of the wait (or of my husband, really): just a mouth full of food, and an attitude of annoyance.
My husband asked about options in the $30 price range, since many products were priced around $50. The employee's response was basically "nope" (with a mouth full of sandwich) - delivered with no explanation or alternative suggestions. It was obvious that customer service was not a priority.
Things only got worse when my husband tried to clarify dosage versus price. There was a $10 product labeled as 200 mg, and a $55 product with the same dosage. When he asked about the difference, the employee "carelessly" admitted he didn't know, and proceeded to keep eating his sandwich. At that point, my husband just left the store; it was clear he was not going to get any helpful information.
The very small silver lining: Bethesda Smoke Shop does carry a very wide selection of kratom and nicotine vapes. Unfortunately, product variety cannot make up for completely incompetent and disrespectful customer service. Being talked to with someone's mouth full of food, dismissed without answers, and ignored while standing in the store is utterly unacceptable.
I would not recommend Bethesda Smoke Shop to anyone looking for knowledgeable staff, professional service, or even a basic level of courtesy: there are plenty of other stores where employees actually care about helping customers.
1 star - 0 stars, actually, but I don't think that's an option on here. And, it makes me sad to be honest: I was a regular there a few years back; the gentlemen working there all knew who I was, and would always help me out if I was short a few cents. *Deep Sigh* Looks like things have plummeted over there.
