First of all, I'd like to add that I would never expect making such a negative remark towards a business because I know all that entails to run a business. SO... I came here with a group of 10, to simply purchase bottled water for our day at the river. (We had intentions to come back to the Hunt Store in the evening to enjoy a nice dinner.) Unfortunately, none of us will be returning here again.
The moment we walked in a "strawberry blonde" woman (for readers sake, let's call her Pinky, as she was wearing a pink shirt) behind the desk, darted her cold eyes towards one of our female friends, pursed her lips together and snarled "You need to cover up!"
...
(Keep in mind, this is an establishment that is walking distance from the river where people are often seen wearing...*gasp*...Yes! Believe it or not...bathing suits!) But our friend was not in bathing suit, she was wearing a halter tank top with a skirt that went down to her ANKLES. Are halter tops not common to wear while spending a day out at the water? During this time of year this is not an uncommon occurrence. I understand her choice of clothing may not have been appropriate for Carnegie Hall but please, this was in no way inappropriate or offensive considering the setting we were in, the temperature outside and the time of year! We were watching people wearing MUCH less than her tank top and skirt (which I will mention again, went down to the ankles).
....
Several customers heard Pinky shouting with a look of disgust on her face, which called for more unnecessary attention.
To our shock and embarrassment, we all left and decided to take our business elsewhere where we were welcomed with smiling faces. We were inside the Hunt Store no longer than 1 minute and already out the door. The middle aged woman behind the counter had a very rude demeanor from the moment we walked in, so smile, no hello, she did not approach us and calmly tell us that there was a dress-code for customers. (There are no signs outside that inform anyone about a dress-code and in fact, I later learned people come in there wearing BATHING SUITS all the time). I don't know what sparked Pinky to want to attack our friend. She was absolutely unwelcoming, uninviting and unprofessional handling a situation in a businesslike setting. Eventually we all thought about it after we left and decided to go BACK to the store to inform the manager of how inconsiderate Pinky was. When our friend walked in the second time and passed the counter, Pinky was heard talking to her fellow employees, "Oh, she's going to go complain about me now!" (As a business owner, I know this would NEVER be tolerated in my company. NEVER EVER bully the customer, and NEVER make them feel attacked.) Before our friend could explain to the manager about the altercation, Pinky immediately followed to her defense and interupted their conversation, trying put her 2 cents in. Perhaps she knew she was completely wrong and this was her attempt to save face to her manager? As a business owner, I understand that you never approach a customer in such a rude and negative demeanor first and foremost. And secondly, once the issue is in the managers hands, an employee has no right to interject customer-manager dialogue and make the customer feel attacked. The sad thing is due to Pinky's lack of self control, lack of respect and inability to act professional our friend was not able to have a full respectable customer/manager dialogue without her standing in between, arms crossed. Pinky's body language, the snarl on her face, how quick she was to come up to the customer the SECOND time she came in only trying to talk to the manager was all very uncomfortable and unprofessional.
The manager on duty, Daisy, however was very kind and professional and handled the situation she best she could, but sadly that does not reflect on the elderly woman with "strawberry-blonde" hair, behind the front counter. And for that, I am unapologetic to say we will not bring our business or any friend of ours here any more. read more