This review is specifically for the Brainerd store (managed by Kyle Shypkowski): your 'Manager' Carrie is rude af.
There's this older 'manager' named Carrie who has an unbelievably bad, completely uncalled-for attitude. We asked a very kind employee named Isaac about a return, and he directed us to the service desk. We walked over and waited our turn, since the employee (Christine) at the desk was already helping another customer.
Carrie was just standing there staring at us as we approached. Since she was clearly watching us, I smiled and politely gestured to our receipt, simply indicating to why we were there. Out of nowhere, she started explaining that we needed to wait because "she was here first." (The other customer) Okay? I think everyone understands how lines work. I assume she thought I were gesturing for her help, but even if so, why not help? She was just standing there chatting with other EE watching us stand there so.. why not help, yk?
Anyways, my mother-in-law calmly explained to the Christine that we needed to do a return. Christine said, "One second, let me see if we can do that," and walked toward Carrie, who again, was already staring and facing us. Carrie grabbed the receipt and began spatting, "No, no, we don't do that", as if the question alone offended her? Not being able to do the return is fine, policies are policies, but the attitude was completely unnecessary, and honestly a quite weird because it felt a bit personal?
I tried to explain what the first employee (Issac) had told us, to explain the origin of our conversation, when Carrie cut me off with another flat, dismissive "Yeah, no, we don't do that." No apology, no professionalism, No empathetic "unfortunately, no", Nothing. Just pure attitude, like a 16-year-old with a bad attitude problem.
My mother-in-law then started apologizing and explaining herself- (to which later she confessed she felt "wrong for even asking") about how she would try to fix the issue with her card on her own, just to keep the atmosphere at peace. While she was actively speaking to Carrie and Christine, I noticed Carrie wasn't even listening. She was side eyeing Christine at the desk, waiting for her to see her so that they could exchange looks. When Christine noticed, they exchanged a look that very clearly said, "ugh, people like this", or something of that nature, but we were standing right in front of them, and this exchanged played out long enough for us to watch them share those expressions. I get dealing with annoying customers, but asking for clarification on a question shouldn't cause someone to respond that way, especially as a 'manager'.
That made me extremely uncomfortable, so I spoke up and said I didn't appreciate how disrespectful and unprofessional that was. Carrie's response? "Merry Christmas."
Excuse me? You're being directly called out for rude behavior toward customers while still being simultaneously talked to and your response is a sarcastic and dismissive "Merry Christmas"? What a great experience.
I don't know how she lives her life outside of work or how she was raised, but as a frequent shopper, and someone who is not responsible for managing her attitude, I was extremely unimpressed and disappointed by the culture this store inhabits. Unfortunately, this also isn't the first bad experience we've had with her. In the past, we've brushed it off as "maybe she's having a bad day," or "maybe she hates her job", we have no idea, but after this interaction, it's clear this is just how she is.
I genuinely hope Kyle retrains her or does something, because her behavior actively damages the store atmosphere and makes shopping there unpleasant.
Signed,
Someone just trying to shop in peace. read more
