Came home today to find my front window broken. Took a quick look prepared to pull a piece of glass out of the garage to fix it. A broken window pane is no unusual thing as my windows date back to 1900. This time however I find a muntin is also broken (also known as that wooden thing that actually holds the glass panes in a wood window.) by some impact. I quickly googled lumber yard knowing that this is not a chain store part and was pleased to see one nearby. I called Learned lumber and was transferred to "lumber". The first person I spoke to had no idea what I was talking about even after I described it several ways. He put me on hold. Then someone else picked up. I had to repeat the whole conversation but he finally said that they had some of a limited variety but was not sure they would match mine. I said I would be over to check if they matched mine. I asked him if they were open to 5 pm and he assured me they were.
I was already in the car by then and on my way. It took me almost 30 minutes to get across town and rolled into their parking lot at 4:55. Normally I would not go into a store that close to closing but 1) I know what I want, 2) someone knows they have them, 3) will grab what I need and pay cash.
As I crossed the parking lot I passed a group of about six people sitting in the lot drinking beer. It struck me an odd place to drink but I kept moving. Entered store through open gate and passed through open door. I waited for a minute for the person at the desk to stop their personal conversation but that didn't happen so in the interest of speed I went looking for someone else. I finally found someone towards the back of the store who immediately informed me that they were closed. I said, yes closing soon but I called about this and I just need pointed to them. He said, yes those, that aisle is closed. So he knew what I was talking about. He then proceeded to walk me back to the front of the store telling me that they were closed and I could come back in the morning. At this point I pulled out my phone just in time to see 4:59 become 5 pm. I showed him this as he led me out the door. He said, come back tomorrow. I said "Yes sure, I will drive back a half hour to the other side of town to turn around and do it tomorrow for what may or may not be the part I need." He replied "OOsh" and then proceeded to join the beer drinking group. Which is when I realized that these were the employees!
So I wasted an hour of my time and my gas to be treated quite rudely by the store. Honestly, if this store is the last place in town to carry these, I will wittle my own part before buying from them.
Simple answer that could have avoided bad reviews and a customer who will never again consider you for business? "Are you open until 5?" "Yes, normally, but today we are closing a little early so if you are going to be here in just a few minutes we could wait for you, otherwise try us in the morning." I would have respected the honesty and gone over in the morning if I had not found something else first. I would have remembered that honesty and tried them the next time I needed something. Instead I wasted a whole bunch of time and they are getting a WHOLE LOT of negative reviews. read more