This review is for SNIPES and let me be real with y'all... this is a mixed bag, but it needs to be…read moresaid.
Now, I'm big on customer service. Like BIG. Because to me, customer service is the experience. You can have the flyest store, the best sneakers, all of that -- but if the service is off, it will ruin everything. And being from El Barrio, I stay in my neighborhood. I shop here, I eat here, I spend my money here. So when I walk into a place, I expect a certain level of respect and service.
My mom, my son, and I used to frequent this Snipes all the time, especially because it's right next to my nail salon. But I'm not gonna lie -- we've had some really bad experiences in there. Like attitude for no reason, rude interactions, people acting like helping you is a problem. And I don't play that. I've worked retail. I know what the job is. You leave whatever you're dealing with at the door and you show up for the customer. Period.
There was one experience that really did it for me -- rude cashier, rude associate getting the sneakers, just bad energy all around. It got to the point where I told my mom, "I'm not even going back in there." And we didn't for a while.
But the reason I'm even writing this review? Sirus.
Sirus was a gem. Always.
Every time we came in and he was there, it was a completely different experience. He would go the extra mile, help us find what we needed, make suggestions, actually engage. One time I needed my son sized, and another employee literally slid me the sizing tool instead of doing it -- like what? That is your job. Sirus stepped right in and handled it with no problem. That's what customer service looks like.
He made the experience feel easy, comfortable, and honestly enjoyable. And that matters.
We recently went back in, and you can tell the store has changed a bit -- layout, staff, all that. But unfortunately, the service is still very hit or miss. Nobody greeted us when we walked in. We're clearly looking for help, and employees are just... there. Not engaging, not assisting. There was a young lady folding clothes who saw us and said nothing. Another associate gave attitude when we asked for help.
At one point, I just asked for Sirus -- that's how much of an impact he made. And that's when I found out he's no longer there. And honestly? That explains a lot.
Now I will say, once I matched energy -- because yes, I will return the energy you give me -- things shifted a little. And of course, once it was time to make a purchase, attitudes started changing. Funny how that works.
Look, I still go because I like what they carry. The sneakers, the clothing -- they have good stuff. But the customer service? It needs work. Badly. Because people will always remember how you made them feel, and a bad experience will stick way longer than a good one.
Sirus set the standard. And if you never got to experience him, I'm sorry -- you missed out.
I'm hoping one day I walk in and get that same level of service across the board, because I'd love to come back and update this review on a better note. But for now... it is what it is.
