I have a side business that makes aftershave products. Because of this, I go through a lot of extracts and essential oils. I had been ordering my products online, but I saw that Cheryl's had them for just a little bit more, so I thought I'd shop local.
I went in the other day after work to pick up some stuff and ask some questions. I gathered up everything I needed and went to the counter, hoping to find somebody working at the store. As I sat everything down, someone came out and asked me if he could help me find anything. I had, in fact, wanted to smell some neroli essential oil for a new fragrance I was working on. I had looked it up online before I came in to make sure I pronounced it correctly (NERoli), but when I asked he said, "Oh, it's pronounced nerOLi."
Cool, thanks for correcting me unnecessarily. Even though I had $100 of stuff on the counter ready to check out, he said, "It costs over $30, so you probably don't want it." Well, if you say so. Then he proceeded to talk so much about how great their essential oils were the whole time we checked out. Cool, wish someone would let me smell them and check them out.
But figuring one employee wasn't representative of everyone, I went in earlier today with my girlfriend, who had a long list of things she needed to make a few products. While we looked around, I helped her locate everything she needed in the essential oil counter. Then, Cheryl herself came out. She asked if we needed anything, to which my girlfriend replied, "Yes, I have a few essential oils I need." Cheryl said, "They're in the counter." They stared at each other for a few seconds in silence without Cheryl offering to open the counter, asking her what she needed, or any other basic functions of the bare minimum of customer service.
As my girlfriend asked for the essential oils, I went and grabbed some stuff I needed. I came up, and Cheryl was asking my girlfriend if she actually wanted the oils or was just pricing them. When she said she was actually making a purchase, only then did Cheryl open the counter. As she pulled out the essential oils, my girlfriend asked for a larger size of the lavender. Cheryl replied, "That's a bit more expensive. You probably only want the smaller size."
(At this point, I'd like to point out that we are both very clean cut. In fact, I am often told that I look like Clark Kent.)
So my girlfriend decided that she was just going to buy the essential oils she had asked for (because it is apparently SO terribly difficult to open the counter) and forget the rest of her stuff. Plus, Cheryl insinuated she was too poor to buy it, so who knew when she would cut her off.
I checked out and, because it was a business expense, I asked for an itemized receipt. They guy didn't give me one the day before, so I had nothing for accounting purposes. She replied, "You mean other than the credit card receipt?"
"Yes."
"Listed out seperately?"
"Yes, I need it for business accounting purposes."
"Well..." (Again, let me point out that this is Cheryl, the business owner, who should understand what a business owner would need) "Let me see if this works."
The receipt prints out and it's not itemized.
"Well, I guess if you REALLY need it, I could look around and find the things to write you an itemized receipt by hand. I don't know if..." she trailed off, waiting for me to jump in and say it.
"No, that's fine. I'll just skip it," I said.
"Oh, okay, good. Thanks!"
And those were the last words I heard in the last visit I'll ever make to Cheryl's Herbs. Taking my business back online. I'd really like to buy local, but I'd also like to be treated like a 33 year old man who would be bringing in about $300-$400 of revenue monthly. I know it's not a ton, but you'd think you'd show the basic modicums of decorum to people who want to give you their money. Too bad. read more