This experience was disappointing enough that I felt compelled to share it.
On a Saturday evening around 6:50 p.m., I stopped by Hobby Lobby with my 4-year-old daughter and my elderly mother-in-law. We were preparing for an upcoming funeral, and I needed help with an expensive gold frame I had purchased from Hobby Lobby. One of the corners had separated, and I wanted to know whether the framing department could repair or reinforce it.
Because the frame was large and heavy, I left it in my trunk until I confirmed that someone could help. My mother-in-law waited nearby so she could rest while my daughter accompanied me to the framing counter.
I approached the employee working in the framing department and asked if he could assist me. His first response was, "I'm off in six minutes - what do you need?" The tone immediately caught me off guard. As I began explaining that the corner of the frame had broken apart and needed reinforcement, he interrupted me and said, "Stop. Just hurry up and tell me what you need."
I was surprised because I was simply trying to explain the issue so he could determine whether it was something the framing department could fix. I told him the frame was needed for a funeral and asked if it could be repaired.
Instead of addressing my question, he asked why my husband couldn't fix it. I explained that my husband is currently deployed, so he wasn't available to help, and that while I would try to repair it myself if necessary, I also work full-time. His response was simply, "So do I."
At that point, it was clear that helping me was not a priority. What made the interaction even more upsetting was that my 4-year-old daughter asked afterward, "Mommy, why was that man so mean? Why didn't he want to help us?" Hearing that from my child was heartbreaking. I told her that maybe he was having a difficult day because I wanted her to understand that we should still try to show kindness to others.
I shared my experience with the manager, who told me that this employee often tells others how important it is to be friendly with customers. Unfortunately, that was not reflected in the interaction we experienced.
Thankfully, we went to Ace Hardware afterward, where an employee immediately took the time to help us. He recommended reinforcing the frame with small metal corner brackets, nails, and gold spray paint. His advice worked perfectly, and we were able to save the frame in time for the funeral.
This review isn't about expecting perfection. Everyone has stressful days. It's about the importance of treating people with basic courtesy and respect, especially when they may already be going through a difficult time. A little kindness can make all the difference. Unfortunately, that was missing from our experience at Hobby Lobby. read more