Attention: Long review
I hope you are all doing well. I'm sharing this post today to address a recent experience I had at Hurwitz Mintz in New Orleans. I had hoped to the store manager or my sales consultant would have reached out in an effort to resolve this matter privately. Therefore, I feel compelled to share my experience publicly and leave reviews to warn others. I cannot, in good conscience, recommend this store to anyone.
On Thursday, May 18th, my sister and I visited Hurwitz Mintz with the intention of purchasing furniture for a project with a significant budget. Our encounter with Janis, our salesperson, left us feeling uneasy. It seemed as though Janis was carrying over a negative attitude from a previous customer interaction, which reflected in our experience. However, I strongly believe that every guest should be treated with respect and professionalism, regardless of any external factors. Unfortunately, we felt belittled as Janis used terms like "economical," "sale," and "closeout" within minutes of explaining the store layout to us.
After approximately an hour, we managed to identify the furniture pieces we needed and took pictures to make it easier for Janis. We met her downstairs and provided her with the list of items. However, nearly every item we mentioned would take an estimated 3-5 months to arrive. Considering that the entire design was dependent on a specific piece, I requested a more accurate delivery timeframe. Janis responded by emphasizing the need to place the order by Monday to secure a 10% discount, which was unrelated to my concern. Finally, after insisting, she involved a manager who provided a delivery estimate of 30 days. It was disheartening to receive such little customer service throughout the process.
During our visit, we inquired about cash and carry options. Janis informed us that purchases had to be paid in full before 4 PM. Although her response was slightly insulting, we brushed it off. I then requested a specific quantity of items, and Janis confirmed she had four in stock. However, when I expressed my desire to purchase all four, she suddenly claimed that one of them couldn't be found. This inconsistency was frustrating. When Janis asked if we were ready to place the order for the rest of our selection, I declined, explaining that we needed to measure, tape things out, and decide on the dining room. Instead of being guided through the order placement process like other customers, we were directed to the finance area, which left us confused.
To our surprise, when we went to make the payment, we were informed that American Express cards were not accepted. This was unexpected, as Hurwitz Mintz is reputed as the finest furniture store in the south. Nonetheless, we proceeded with the payment and received inadequate instructions on how to retrieve our items. The overall checkout process was painful and added to our discomfort.
Upon leaving the store, my sister and I felt uneasy and uncertain about the entire shopping experience. It was not merely a matter of poor service; the entire encounter was uncomfortable from start to finish.
On Saturday, May 20th, I returned to Hurwitz Mintz to gather some measurements and re-evaluate a table we were considering. As I entered, the receptionist kindly greeted me, acknowledging that she remembered me from my previous visit. However, our conversation was abruptly interrupted by another associate named Rebecca, who displayed rudeness toward both me and the receptionist. The interaction was completely uncalled for and left us both feeling that the situation required management intervention. By this point, I was rattled by the confrontational behavior of Rebecca, especially considering that I was not her customer.
I had entered the store with a tape measure in hand, ready to make a purchase, but instead, I was met with hostility. The receptionist and I discussed the shocking incident, unable to comprehend what had just transpired. Rebecca's disrespectful behavior continued as she barged into her manager's office while he was on a call, simply to point me out. This incident made it evident that she felt untouchable.
I had interactions with two managers who offered their apologies and assistance. I proceeded with obtaining the necessary measurements, but I remained utterly shocked that I was subjected to such hostile treatment while trying to spend my hard-earned money.
I share this experience not to vent or seek retribution but to bring attention to the unacceptable level of customer service I encountered at Hurwitz Mintz. It is disheartening to be treated in this manner when I had every intention of being a valued customer. I hope that by sharing my story, improvements can be made within the company to ensure that no other customer has to endure such an unpleasant experience.
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