I have never had a problem shopping in any Puma stores all across the nation, due to their exceptional customer service, until May 6, 2012. I had a very unexpected customer service experience with one sales associate at this location. Someone took a dump in her bowl of cereal and she was subjected to finish every morsel of it. Usually when you enter the Puma Outlet store, you are showered with a bunch of smiles, "how may i help you?", a plethora of employees that are either happy, upbeat and sociable. They're always willing to assist anyone with any questions. Today was not that day. We spent a good amount of time in the store attempting to browse for shoes and apparel. When my family was ready to check out we went to the register and waited until the gentlemen behind the counter finished with the couple in front of us. The couple in front of us came in to make a return, so the sales associate went to the back to get help from a female associate with a nose ring.
She came out to the front and yelled at the guy saying that he had "a god damn attitude." Talk about awkward. The guy was embarrassed and ran to the back instead. The "shit in my cereal bowl" associate proceeded to help the couple, but ended up yelling at them as if they were degenerates. The couple was also embarrassed and ran out of the store immediately.
As we waited to be called next in line, Inka turned raised two fingers in the air and looked down at us without uttering a word of "next" or "May I help you?" My mother approached the line and she did not smile or offer any services that trained Puma associates routinely practice. While she rang up my mother's shoes, my cousin approached me and said, "I really like this particular shoe, but I couldn't find the size..." As she was speaking, Inka rudely interrupted and said, "It's because you don't know how to ask. That's your problem. Because you didn't ask you assumed we didn't have it, but we did have it. So maybe next time you should learn to ask!" This very awkward remark left us speechless. She than continued on with, "I'll go check, but you should really ask, you can't just say we don't have it. You should ask." Seeing that it was a problem, I told her that looking for the shoe was not necessary and that we were sorry it was a problem. Inka continued to repeat herself again. While I casually told her in a calm voice, she yelled at us in the store in front of other customers. I decided to stop talking and she gave us a really cold nasty stare even after she finished ringing up my mother.
I called the District Manager and informed her of the incident. I was told that they would have to speak to the employee regarding the incident. However, I highly doubt anything will be done about it. It's obvious this sales associate somehow lied to get her job, how else would Puma hire something like that? It had to be a recruiter's mistake. I advise anyone shopping here if you experience the same problem, to bring your attention to the Puma Headquarters office in Boston, MA instead. None of the other employees in this store will ever treat you in this demeanor. read more