I took Foxxy to get her nails done today. We went to Petsmart because I went there before and the work was good and it was a good price. As I'm standing there getting checked in, I watch an employee answer a call and then hang up a few seconds later. He then starts trash talking and making fun of the customer that had just called and his groomer coworkers started to join in. They were talking bad about customers right in front of me!
Well, I figured I could let it go, but then he gets another call and they start doing the exact same thing! They were talking about how lame so many customers are and how dense they can be...I was shocked! I told the guy checking me in that I had changed my mind and walked out. A manager was by the register and I told her what happened. She was very angry with them and went right in to talk to them. She offered me free service for Foxxy, but my thinking is that if they will talk bad about customers right in front of another customer, then they lack professionalism...and if they lack professionalism, how can I trust they will treat my dog right? Foxxy is VERY fearful and easily upset, and I wasn't sure if they'd be gentle with her and patient. Last time I picked her up after her nails, she was shaking and upset, but I kind of shrugged it off. Now I wonder if they weren't as kind to her as they should have been.
Long story short, did I overreact? Should I have taken the manager up on her offer to have free services? Would you go back?
FYI, there are SEVERAL other places I can go to, and one of them is highly recommended by a friend.
ETA: When they did it the second time, one of the girls working looked at me and then looked down real fast, as though she knew it was wrong.
Re: Did I overreact?
I'm not one of those "my dog are my kids" kind of people (yet). But still, I do not think you overreacted at all. I've worked in retail before and I'll be the first to admit that we talked about customers behind their backs. But not in front of other customers.
It's not just professionalism that they are lacking; it's a lack of respect for other human beings. Who's to say that they're not going to talk like that about you in front of another customer as soon as you turn your back? I would not trust someone who doesn't respect a fellow human being. Odds are they won't respect your animals either.
ETA: And yes, you did the right thing by telling the manager. Many times they don't see things like that for themselves (because everyone's on their best behavior when the boss is around), so they have to rely on customers' feedback.
I think your reasons are fine and I probably wouldn't go back either.
I wouldn't want to put my furbabies in the hands of someone who seems less than enthusiastic about meeting their customer's needs on with a professional manner either.
Your feelings are exactly that, your feelings. Don't dismiss a weird feeling. That being said, retail workers talk a lot of sh!t. I'm not saying you aren't justified for feeling skeeved out or that it wasn't extremely unprofessional, but sometimes it's just a way to vent about the crappy customer they get or if it's a bad day.. I don't think they'd actually hurt your dog.
Long story short, did you overreact? No, I don't think so.
Absolutely not, that was extremely unprofessional, and I think you did the right thing bringing it to the manager's attention. Also, I would have felt the same as you did with the free service... while it was nice that the manager offered it, I don't think I would want my dog taken care of by the people who may be reprimanded for their actions.
I think you did the right thing.
As already mentioned, while it is very nice of the manager to offer that I wouldn't trust the people I got in trouble to care properly for my dog.
Me:32 DH:33
Married Sept 2008
~~TTC Nov 2010~~
Jan 2012 - SA, low numbers and also low T
Mar 2013 - see first Uro - recommends seeing RE
May 2012 - see RE who recommends a new Uro who specializes in MFI
May 2012 - HSG: tubes clear
DH Surgery: 8/30/12- Bi-lateral Varicocele repair
Wait
IUI#1:12/19/12-100mg Clomid(CD3-7)(7M post wash)+ progesterone= BFN
SA:1/11/12- 38%motility, 2% morph
IUI #2: 1/21/13-100mg Clomid(CD3-7)(8M post wash) + progesterone= BFP!! EDD 10/13/13
Beta #1=81.1 Beta #2=134.5 Beta #3=58.1 #4=2369 WTH?!-Not sure if its viable
2/21/13 - Went to RE expecting the worse and saw the flutter of the heart...still measuring small. To God be the Glory!!
2/28/13 - heart rate = 147bpm!! Measuring on target!
3/21 - First OB Appt
~~PAIF/SAIF Welcome~~
I'm glad that I was on target. After seeing them handle the first call that way, I wanted to walk out. But after seeing it the second time, I was like "no freaking way".
It's just awful that people lack customer service these days, isn't it? That's like at a grocery store when they're ringing up my groceries and yelling to the next cashier about weekend plans. Really? But it happens so often I wonder if I'm just expecting too much.
You're not overreacting at all. I'd put a review on Yelp too so others can see what poor customer service that location has.
When I worked retail, my CW's and I trash talked about clients but would never dream of doing it in front of them.
Not at all!
I think you made a great judgement call on the professionalism of the employees. I have my own issues with Petsmarts that I won't go into, but I think you were absolutely correct in assuming that these folks were not professionals at all.
Good for you for going with your instincts!
-- Thoughts become things, choose the good ones! --