WOW OH WOW. psychotic is the best adjective for my experience here…read more
first, some background. in Feb 2021 i was hunting for Bandol with some age on it and found a decent bottle here. I placed an order over the phone and picked it up. fine experience, and i thought the selection was nice; made a note to return when in the area.
obviously the other big background we all know is that Covid is still a big deal so i try very hard to give everyone more than 6' of personal room, and expect the same, especially from staff. i wear mask always when in shops and downtown areas.
this past 1st weekend of April, i found another bottle on their site i wanted and decided to stop in. it was midday on Friday, four men are inside, none seem to be shopping, but none greet me. i recognize one as the man who was there last time and he's the shortest one so we'll call him Shorty.
not seeing the bottle i sought, i caught attention of one of the men and asked: 'are you shopping or do you work here?' he didn't really reply so much as throw up his hands and look confused, but then Shorty yelled from the front, 'i can help you, sir' and rushed back. He immediately got within 6' of me. i began backing up, and he kept up with me until i said, 'could i please have 6' of space'. this seemed to irritate him, but he went to look for the bottle.
i wanted to check out their Loire chenin, and once the aisle was clear i went in. after a few moments of browsing i go to leave and see that one of the men is standing at the end of aisle to my right. just standing there. ok...
i turn left. another man is standing at that end of the aisle too. again, just standing there. there is no room to get out. then, i notice that the other two employees are in the aisles above and below my aisle. so in a (est.) 40' x 25' space, EVERY SINGLE EMPLOYEE is within approx. 6' and i have no where to go. i'm a little frustrated, but i stay calm and say, 'guys, i need some more space please. i can't leave the aisle right now. could i get some more space please?'
the wardens at the end of the aisle move, but Shorty screams, 'WE HAVE TO DO BUSINESS HERE, SIR.' (the sir is dripping with disdain in his tone.)
i turn and say, 'Why are you yelling at me? I understand business; I just wanted space."
he repeats: ''WE HAVE TO DO BUSINESS HERE, SIR.'
'do you always scream at customers? do you think i want to shop here now?'
he's a broken record, 'WE HAVE TO DO BUSINESS HERE, SIR.' he is incredibly hostile, irrationally so.
meanwhile, none of the other employees seem to think this inappropriate. i will admit, i lost my cool here and crossed a line. i told him to go fuck himself.
to this another employee says, 'well now we're not going to sell you anything'.
my reply, 'fuck all of you too; i do not want to shop here!'
i am sorry that i swore at you all, but the outright disrespect and hostility i encountered pushed me over the edge.
BUYER BEWARE. STAY AWAY.