I've shopped here for many years and am a huge fan of the deli department. Traditionally our shopping experience at Big Al's Market has always been great. Friendly service and wonderful, fresh food. No complaints.
Unfortunately, that was not the case on our last and final shopping experience. My husband and I visited your deli several weekends ago and received incredibly rude service from a short (in stature), blonde-haired female cashier wearing black rimmed glasses upon entering and exiting your store.
We do not wear masks in any establishment, under any circumstance for reasons that do not need to be discussed here. With that stated, upon entering your store, this cashier loudly demanded we put masks on immediately. She hastily provided us with masks which she handed to us with her dirty, un-sanitized hands. We put them on, but noticed several other patrons not wearing them in your store (5 to be exact), so we slide our masks down under our chins feeling rather irritated by the big hullabaloo she had made at our entrance. Mind you, not a single other Big Al employee felt the need to ardently police the masking of patrons around the store. She was the only one.
Once we ordered and obtained our sandwiches from your pleasant deli staff, we went through this same cashiers line and in a rude and condescending tone she stated, "Yunno, you actually have to WEAR the masks properly to be in here. It's our policy." My husband politely proceeded to ask her why so many other patrons were in the store without a mask and were not being harassed? She snarkley stated, "If they're in here without a mask it's because I didn't see them enter the store without one!" What she didn't realize is that just moments before we'd entered her line, we watched her make direct eye contact, wave, and say hello to a woman entering the store who was NOT WEARING A MASK and that same cashier did NOT say a word to her about your mask policy!!! Pure hypocrisy!
After that we realized there was no reasoning with her. I calmly told her, "I'm sorry that you feel this way. We will never shop at this store again." She didn't respond or offer any sort of apology. And it's because of her rude attitude and lack of apology that you've now lost two loyal patrons, and I've spread the word to several of our friends in the area.
Regardless of your policy on masks, the pandemic, or your and/or your employee's political values, customer service in your store should ALWAYS COME FIRST! I'm saddened to have to write such a negative review on what I thought was such a wonderful, community driven market. Please consider educating your staff on proper etiquette and customer service. I would hate for you to lose more patrons during such trying and uncertain times.
Sincerely,
Nicolette Hughes read more
