This is a review of Rona on Ottawa Street in Kitchener - I'm writing it here as they don't seem to have a "review" section of their own. No wonder! I stepped into their store around noon this beautiful Sunday in April. The outdoor garden centre was still closed, so I wanted to ask someone whether they sold gravel anywhere else in the store. I saw a Rona store assistant and before I could even start my question, he made a "please leave me alone" gesture and brushing by me said: "I have five people waiting." Great! Customer service was more helpful, but they did not have the gravel I needed, so I settled on black top soil which was piled up by the entrance to the store. In the meantime, I also needed some help with storm door handles. I was shown where they were, but other than that, there was no help. "this is what we have -
good bye!" I picked one keeping my finger crossed that it would work and went to the cash register. When I was paying, the young guy at the cash register started playing on the word "dirt." Although one of his colleagues had remarked that I was buying "soil", he kept snickering. I tried to take it easy and join in the joking, but it did not feel right. As instructed, I drove my car to where various piles of soil and mulch were and waited for someone to help me with it. Three-four minutes passed - no one came. Finally, I saw a young man walking out of the store, but, surprise, he did not come to help me (by the way, I am a middle aged woman and cannot lift more than six-seven kgs). I tried to get his attention (even honked my horn), but he quickly moved in the opposite direction. What if I had had a heart attack and needed urgent help? So I had to lock my car and go back into the store. It was interesting to see the scene - three four store assistants (all male - including the one who had had five customers waiting)) were chatting and having a good time. Everything was nice and slow - despite the fact that the busy season has begun. I complained to customer service and asked them to facilitate my talking with a manager but they never called any. I was getting tired. Finally, I got someone outside to help me with the soil and, please do not laugh, when I got home, I did not have soil in my car trunk, but black mulch! Have a nice day!, Rona people. Have a nice day! I heard as I was driving away from the Rona entrance and in the mouth of that disinterested young man, it sounded like an insult. read more