To Whom It May Concern (and yes, I'd send this straight to upper management):…read more
Let's talk about what went down at your Bloomington, IL PetSmart on June 11, 2025 at 1:00 PM, because wow -- what a disaster.
I walked in, un-greeted and unnoticed. I headed to the aquatics section for five comet goldfish. One associate was helping two ladies, so I figured he'd circle back. Spoiler alert: he did not. I waited around, browsed nearby accessories, gave all the polite "I-need-help" body language -- and nothing. No staff in sight.
Turns out, you now expect customers to scan a QR code to get help. Cute in theory, but not obvious at all. No sign, no heads-up -- nothing. I'm 38, I've been keeping fish since I could reach the tank, and never once have I needed to scan a code to ask for help. It's giving tech gimmick instead of customer service.
After a solid 15 minutes of being ignored, I helped myself. I bagged the fish. No one noticed -- well, except another poor soul also lingering for help. I could've walked right out and no one would've known. That's how invisible customers are in your store.
Then I head to checkout. There's a line four people deep, one sluggish cashier, and suddenly staff start magically appearing when the line gets long. A woman (shoulder-length brown hair, light blue eyes -- I assume the manager on duty) finally offers to ring me out. I explain that no one ever helped me, so I got the fish myself.
Her response? Not concern, not an apology -- just attitude. She lectured me about the QR code, like I was supposed to be a mind reader, and tried to make me look stupid in front of the entire line. Newsflash: the only thing more embarrassing than being scolded for helping myself is the fact that I had to because no one was doing their job.
Let me be clear -- I've worked in customer service for two decades. I know retail. I know what it looks like when employees hide in the back and leave the floor empty. I also know rule #1 is don't embarrass your customers -- especially the ones who are still trying to give you their money.
The one bright spot? Your tall Hispanic associate -- he's always been kind and attentive. And the grooming team? Fantastic. But this manager's behavior? It soured the whole thing. One rotten attitude, and I'm done.
So here we are. Feel free to check the cameras -- I was 6'5", wearing a purple shirt, black shorts, and a hat. You'll see exactly what I described. I'm not making this up. I just expected basic service. What I got was a masterclass in how not to run a store.
Congrats, PetSmart. You've lost a loyal customer.
Catch me at Petco from now on -- where the pets (and customers) actually get treated right.
Sincerely,
Andrew
(Formally yours, now Petco's problem)