Yesterday we went to Value City Shitty to exchange some pants we had bought for the girl for a larger size. While Joe was waiting in the returns line, I found some items I wanted to try on.
At the fitting room I told the lady I had four items because you know how they have to track what you bring into the room with those stupid numbered tags even though they never seem to pay attention to how many you bring back out with you.
The lady (she was in her 50’s or 60’s I’m guessing) told me that there were no four cards available at the moment, so I’d have to wait. I kinda just looked at her and didn’t say anything, since that was one of the most ridiculous things I’ve ever heard. But after about 30 seconds I asked her, “Can’t you just give me a three and a one instead?” to which she responded, “but then I’ll be all out of 1’s and the next person with one item will have to wait.”
What what what??? Basically she told me that in the off-chance someone came by with only one item, she had to hang onto that card and therefore couldn’t let me into the fitting room until someone came out with a four card. In other words, this imaginary customer who may fail to ever materialize was more important than me even though the last time I checked, I was a living breathing person who just wanted to try on some clothes!
I just looked at her for a moment as I was rendered speechless by her stupidity. I mean really, how do you respond to such moronic reasoning? Then I thought “well screw them if they don’t VALUE my business at VALUE CITY” and I walked away and put all the clothes back on the rack. The stupid woman was still “explaining” herself too; something about her shift almost being over or some crap. As if that’s MY problem.
After we left the store I thought it would have been more appropriate had I thrown the clothes in her face and told her to bite me, but dammit if I’m not polite even when the situation doesn’t warrant it. Not that it would matter. That woman couldn’t care less if I ever go back there again (and I won’t). I’m writing a letter to the store manager to give him or her a piece of my mind because that kind of “customer service” is anything but and I think something needs to be said about it. I don’t expect anything to come of it, but I’m tired of taking that kind of shitty service with a smile.
Has something like that ever happened to you, my readers, before? I’ve NEVER had something so stupid like that happen to me. Then again, I’ve never shopped at Value Shitty before either, so that could be part of the problem.
So then (oh yes, it doesn’t end there, it just picks up at another store) I went to Payless to return a pair of shoes and exchange another and I waited, unacknowledged, at the counter for a few minutes while this woman finished doing whatever it was that she had to do that was more important than taking care of a customer or at least saying “Hi, I’ll be with you in one moment.” And then she had the audacity to sigh and ask “How can I help you?” as if I was such an inconvenience by being there.
I see why people would rather shop in stores like Marshall Fields and Carson’s. They may be more expensive, but at least you get treated like a valued customer instead of an annoying insect.
Incidentally, I just called Value City to try and get the store manager’s name and NO ONE answered the phone. Nice.