Its strange for me to write this review especially regrding a liquor store, however, for the past year or so I have shopped at least, a couple of times a month in this store. Most of my purchases are small, one bottle of wine, perhaps two at the most. I must say in my estimation, it is about the worst place I have ever traded with, in my experience. There is a woman who is a manager there, I dont know her name, but she seems to enjoy abusing the customers. This is not a sack and pack liquor store, they have quality wines and spirits, with the highest prices in town. Dont shop there if you think you are going to get a bargain because this liquor store is part of a chain, in fact their prices are at least $2-$3.00 or higher on the same wine sold at H.E.B. grocery store across the street.
My ire was raised for the final time on Dec. 31st, 2013. The store was busy, but orderly. People came in picked out what they wanted , waited in line to be checked out and were done. Customers behaving with out incident in a liquor store , I mean, WHAT MORE COULD A BUSINESS WANT? it was New Years Eve and everyone was in a good mood, well , almost everyone...However, the manager must have had a different perspective on the situation, she was a miserable, grouchy, provoking TYRANT. Monitoring shoppers and openly profiling people as if everyone was a shop lifter. This woman seemed to take matters into her own hands and took them quite personally.
A customer, an adult hispanic woman, who was shopping with a young boy at her side, had her arms full of drink mixers and two large bottles of spirits , she had sent her son to get a hand basket for her. Her son went to get her the basket, which was sitting on the floor near the entrance of the store about 15 feet away from where his mother was, there was a line of people which made it difficult for the woman to cross the short distance with her arms filled. As the little boy was struggling to pry these two hand baskets apart, so he could give one of them to his mother,instead of the manager helping, the manager swoops in and shouts, "DO NOT TOUCH ANYTHING IN THIS STORE OR TRY TO BREAK ANYTHING. YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO TOUCH ANYTHING IN THIS STORE, GET AWAY FROM THAT.." We were all in line, about 10 of us, watching the scene created by the manager. The mother came over at that very moment , loaded down with about $150.00 worth of alcohol in her arms and said, " You mean, my son can not get me even a basket? My arms are full and I asked him to get me the basket." . This child was not left unattended and was not running wild in the store, he simply left his mother's side for a moment to get a basket for her. It was amazing the mother didn't raise her voice at the utter rudeness of the store manager. It was uncomfortable to witness. It is not everyday people are abused by the staff of an establishment and have to pay for it.
I was waiting in line for the cashier check out, when it came time, a young man, started to ring up my purchase, a bottle of sparkling wine which came to $16.00 with tax. Before I was able to give my debit card, the "manager" stepped in to monitor my transaction. She takes my debit card and asking for my identification. I gave it to her, even though I appear to be well over 21 years of age. I asked her, "Are you carding people today" i was trying to make a joke of it. She said, "Yes, we are. We are checking all debit and credit cards to make sure the signer at the point of sale is who they say they are." Nasty, evil tone of voice, and she did it at full volume in front of a line of people. I noticed the other 2 cashiers were not following this procedure. It was only done to me.
The manager is a short, over weight woman with red hair. She happened to be wearing a black and silver head band that said "Happy New Years" that looked like a cake topper on her head. This woman was undoubtably on a rampage. It was embarrassing to say the least, not because she asked for my ID but the reason she asked for it and her rude manner in which she conducted herself. I shop in that store and am recognized by the employees but It is a totally unpleasant experience. I really do not want to go back there. I am continually followed in the store by the manager, she treats me as if I am a criminal with out any reason to do so. I have witnessed her treating other customers, particularly hispanic and african-american customers with the same venomous approach. Its unnerving, I do not want to give these people another dime of my money. I would suggest to those shopping in Sequin to go to the liquor store on Kingsbury Street, its small and family owned with lower prices and friendly customer service or buy wine or beer at the HEB across the street because the prices are much lower. Over all, my experience on Dec, 31st, 2013 at about 5PM was the final straw for me. I dont want to witness the discrimination or the rudeness and pay for the experience ever again. read more
