I was planning on getting home after my today's Trader Joe's shopping experience and write a 5-star review praising one of their Mates (Hawaiian shirts) for being so nice and courteous. I was in the wine section and noticed that a certain popular wine was still out of stock. On my yesterday's visit, I inquired from another staff member about this lack of inventory who said they'll have it back tomorrow. Hence the reason for my visit.
TJs Alternate Universe
As I was pondering what other brand of wine to pickup, since my current fave was still out of stock, I heard a voice saying, "can I help you with our wine selection?" That triggered the thought, am I hearing this correctly, there is actually a nice person working at TJs who isn't angry or disillusioned and is actually offering to help and elevate this patron's shopping experience? I said, "Hi, yes, I was here yesterday looking for this brand of wine and one of your staff members told me that you'll be getting 6 cases by today." She said "Let me check for you." (Trader Joe's corporate office give this Mate a raise.) She comes back after a few minutes saying, "I am not sure why they told you we'll be getting 6 cases, but we are planning to get 1 case by Monday." And she continued, "Would you like me to hold a couple of bottles for you?"
Give This Mate a Raise
This is the Trader Joe's alternate universe, where unlike the Star Trek reference, the staff are actually classy, helpful and courteous (in this rare reality). This extremely gracious mate was a woman and a brunette.
I select 2 other bottles, pay for them and place them in my own shopping bag with the receipt inside. On my way out I decided to thank her again, but couldn't find her, and here's where the TJs Alternate Universe positive experience comes a crashing halt.
The A-hole Mate
Another mate, this time a white male, approaches me and quite rudely barks at me, "What you got in there, what's in your bag? Did you pay for it, where is the receipt?" What a total criminal a-hole! He is a complete dark shameful spot on the whole of TJs training of their staff (it doesn't seem there is any training at all). I remained quiet while this huge jerk looked in my bag to find the receipt, which he did. I told him, "You are offending the hell out of me." He said "Sorry," with his head down in shame and walked away.
Frankly TJ, sorry does not cut it.
Sorry Does Not Cut It
I put the wines in my EV and walk back to the store to complain about this jerk for being so freaking offensive and totally ruining my previous positive experience. I spoke with another Mate at the CS counter, who apologized and said they have had a lot of theft. I chatted with him a while and told him this is no way to talk to your good customers.
The a-hole Mate who was so rude could have easily said, "I am sorry Sir, do you mind if I check your bag. I see that you brought your own. Thanks. Ok, sorry about that (having found the receipt). Have a good day." That's how this awful checking of the bags is supposed to be handled correctly, not by treating a solid customer like a thief.
The helpful woman Mate gets a 5-Star, the a-hole male mate gets 0 stars. read more