I have never been treated with such disrespect while shopping. This was one of the most disappointing retail experiences I have ever had, and because of it, I will never shop at the Lowe's in Austell, Georgia again.
I first went to the Lowe's in Douglasville because I found clearance pavers. Before doing anything, I spoke with Ms. Donna and showed her the price. She checked the system, confirmed they had 56 pavers in stock, and instructed me to go to the back to verify they were there.
When we arrived in the back, a gentleman told us he was going to get a pallet jack. We waited for more than 30 minutes in the heat, and not a single employee came back to check on us or offer any assistance.
We eventually went back inside and met the only employee who truly demonstrated outstanding customer service--Jabari. We explained everything that had happened, and in less than 10 minutes he located the pallet. Jabari worked alongside my husband to load all of the pavers. After waiting so long and standing in the sun, I made sure to thank him because he genuinely cared and took ownership of helping us.
After everything was loaded, I continued toward the front of the store. When Carlson noticed I was struggling to push the heavy load, he immediately stepped in to help. I explained that Ms. Donna had sent me to get the pavers and asked if he could bring them to the front so I could arrange delivery. He did exactly that without hesitation. Carlson was courteous, professional, and willing to help.
Once we reached the front, the experience completely changed.
Ms. Donna first called a manager on the phone and told the manager that she believed we had already spoken with him. I immediately corrected her and said, "I never told you that I spoke to a manager." From that moment on, I was confused because she seemed to be making assumptions instead of listening to what I was actually saying.
After the phone call, Ms. Donna informed me that the pavers were $19.99 each and that the Douglasville clearance price could not be honored at the Austell location. She then called over another associate, and eventually the store manager, Jared, became involved. Jared explained that Douglasville clearance prices only apply at the Douglasville store and that the best he could offer was a discount.
I understand that stores can have different pricing policies. What I don't understand is why I was instructed to go through the entire process of locating, loading, and transporting the pavers after I had already shown the clearance price before we even started. Had I been told from the beginning that the price would not be honored, we could have avoided over 30 minutes of waiting, loading heavy pavers, and unnecessary frustration.
The most upsetting part happened when I also brought two plants from the clearance rack. Ms. Donna questioned whether they were actually on clearance and stated that if they were, they would have been marked differently. I immediately showed her the clearance stickers that were already on the plants. At that moment, I felt as though my honesty was being questioned and that she was implying I had somehow placed the clearance stickers on the plants myself. I would never do something like that, and I found the accusation extremely insulting.
What disappointed me even more was that Jared, the store manager, stood there while this interaction took place. Instead of stepping in to de-escalate the situation, ensure I was treated respectfully, or acknowledge my concerns after everything my husband and I had already gone through, he allowed the conversation to continue the way it did. As the manager, I expected leadership, professionalism, and a commitment to making the situation right. I did not experience that.
After everything we had already gone through, my husband had to continue the conversation because I was so upset. I simply told them to leave the flowers because I no longer wanted to purchase them.
I want to sincerely recognize Jabari and Carlson for providing exceptional customer service. They treated us with kindness, respect, professionalism, and a willingness to help. They are the reason this experience wasn't even worse.
Unfortunately, my interactions with Ms. Donna and the lack of leadership shown during the situation left me feeling disrespected, unheard, and unfairly judged. Customer service isn't just about policies--it's about how people are treated. Every customer deserves to be treated with dignity and respect.
I hope Lowe's uses this experience as an opportunity to coach its employees on communication, professionalism, and customer care. Jabari and Carlson represent the kind of service customers should expect, and they deserve to be recognized for going above and beyond. read more