Typically, I do not write reviews of places I have patronized, regardless of the experience being super positive or astonishingly negative. However, I feel compelled to publicly detail the most horrible, uncomfortable customer service I have ever received. I would also like to make it known that I like to support small business. I drove past Home Depot to get Hill's, and now regret giving even the smallest amount of business to Hill's Hardware.
I walked into Hill's to have a key copied. I greeted the woman behind the counter and let her know what I needed. From that instant I received an attitude. After she put down the pizza she was eating, she walked to the key machine and began assisting me. As she was doing that, I was looking around admiring the selection of items you wouldn't find in a big box store. I thought to myself about how I would enjoy coming back to Hill's whenever I needed something because of the hometown, mom and pop feeling. That soon changed.
"$2.37," she stated. I pulled out my wallet (which is a money clip style wallet with slots for credit cards) and removed my Debit Card. She looked at my card and then at me with the most disgusted look and reiterated, "IT'S $2.37." I apologized for the "inconvenience" of not having any cash on me at the moment. With that, she threw the keys on the counter, grabbed my card, and said "I just don't get whats wrong with this generation." At this point I had to try very hard to refrain from escalating the situation by beginning an argumentative dialogue with her. As she swiped the card she asked if I wanted it to go through as Debit or Credit. I stated, "Debit is fine." Her response, "I get charged either way, so don't act like you're doing me a favor." After I entered my PIN, I grabbed my items and exited the store.
This may not sound like much, but the manner in which she treated a customer, regardless of what I was buying, was despicable. I understand that Credit Card processing fees may be "hard" on small businesses, but they are part of the Use Agreement. If your business plan cannot sustain itself against such a fee, perhaps you should't treat a likely repeat customer with such disdain. The cost of lost future business will far exceed the pennies this woman wanted to belittle me over.
In summation, unless you like to be disparaged by your local small business owner, I would advise against spending any money at Hill's Hardware, Cash, Credit, Check , or otherwise. read more
