I visited UPS Store #4526 in Lenoir City, Tennessee, today, Wednesday, October 7, 2026, and I have…read morenever experienced this level of disrespect and unprofessionalism from employees at a business. The result was so inappropriate I am not at all confident they will process my package so it is successfully delivered.
When I entered the store, there were only three customers present. One employee was assisting a customer with a large document-copying and fax job. There were three other employees in the store who were assembling boxes, and doing other tasks unrelated to any customer.
I understand that employees have work to do when there are no customers waiting. However, when a customer is standing at the counter, I believe it is reasonable to expect someone to acknowledge them and provide assistance.
One employee came to the counter with a large bin and she continued working on the contents inside the bin. I waited approximately five minutes before asking, "Can someone help me?" I was referring to her or one of the other employees who were working nearby.
The employee gave me an extremely cold and hostile look and with complete contempt said, "Excuse me. I didn't see you there."
I explained that I was standing directly at the counter and questioned how she could not have seen me. Instead of simply acknowledging me and helping me, she told me that I was being rude. I explained that I understood she was working but I said when a customer is standing at the counter, it is appropriate to pause other tasks when possible and assist the customer. She then doubled down on her lie of "I didn't see you there" and then said she was working on other things.
At that point, two additional employees came from the back and joined the confrontation. Rather than simply assisting me or de-escalating the situation, they also began telling me that I was rude and repeatedly told me there was "a lot going on," that I "wasn't waiting long," and that they would get to me when they were ready.
I was absolutely stunned. I was not demanding special treatment. I was simply asking to be helped.
Unfortunately, the interaction continued to deteriorate. The employee assisting me made multiple errors while processing my transaction, and I believe I may have been overcharged. I am now having to question whether my transaction was even processed correctly.
Finally the two other employees walked away from the counter and began loudly talking about me within my hearing. They were discussing how "rude" I was and expressing disbelief about my behavior, as though I were not standing right there. I found this incredibly disrespectful, humiliating, and completely unprofessional.
The employee handling my transaction did not put the shipping label on my package. I remained at the counter to make sure the label was properly attached. When I asked if she was going to tape the box closed, she simply responded, "Yes, I'll get to it" but then she just tossed my box aside.
After being treated this way from the moment I asked for assistance, I was genuinely concerned about leaving my package in their hands. I sincerely hope my package is handled properly and arrives at its destination without any issues.
Employees can certainly be busy, and I have no problem waiting when a store is genuinely overwhelmed. What I do have a problem with is being treated as though I was an inconvenience for simply asking to be helped, being called rude by multiple employees, being confronted at the counter, and then hearing employees openly discuss and criticize me after the interaction.
This was not simply a matter of having to wait. It was the attitude, hostility, and complete lack of professionalism that made this experience so upsetting.
Customers should be treated with basic courtesy and respect, even when employees are busy. Unfortunately, that was not my experience at this location today.
I sincerely hope management takes a close look at how customers are being treated at this store, because based on my experience today, there is a serious problem with customer service and professionalism at this location