Rude customer service.
Complaint
Buttercup
Country: Canada
So today I walked in to Zellers at the Gloucester centre in Ottawa, Ontario. (Not Gloucester, Ontario as Ottawa is amalgamated and has been since 2000 or 2001). Something I normally don't do, but I was there any and it saved me a trip to Wal-Mart. Anyways I went in to purchase a curling iron when I stopped by the cosmetics department.
I decided to look for a new, cheap, nail polish to take me into the fall season. As someone who used to work at Shopper's Drug Mart at the cosmetics counter and attended several seminars on various cosmetics, I know that the way the colour appears isn't exactly as it shows on the nail. Ex: It may look red, but is actually a shade of dark pink/magenta. To avoid this I opened the bottle and held the brush against the inner edge of the bottle and watched it reflect against the light. I did this for a few shades and dropped some of the excess from the brushes on my thumbnail to compare. I was looking at the different colours and got down on my knees to look at the colours on the bottom shelf when a merchandiser, a woman of about late fourties-fifties came up to me and said "May I help you?" and then immidiately gasped (loudly, I thought she was having a heart attack)and shouted "YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSE TO OPEN THE NAIL POLISH!!!" I said "Oh sorry I didn't know." "WELL YOU KNEW ENOUGH TO PAINT YOUR NAIL!!!" I said "I'm sorry I was just testing the colours" and looked confused at her and at the bottle. She said "Spoiled brat thinking you could do whatever you want. You should be ashamed of yourself." and I said with tears in my eyes "I'm sorry." So I put the nail polish back and hurried out of the store. I ended up sitting in the food court area of the mall crying because I have anxiety issues and have a fear of confrontation.
Never in my life have I been treated with such disrespect. I'm 20 years old, I'm not a child, I can drive, vote, drink alcohol, and have a job. I'm a person, not a dog, and deserve to be treated with respect. Of all places to have that happen at a store? Where people are suppose to have a safe, enjoyable, and easy experience. Wake up employees it's a recession. In a time where many people are losing their jobs and businesses closing wouldn't you want to treat people with respect to not only ensure your job, but also ensure that your store is still in business. She could have nicely stated that "Sorry no opening nail polishes. Store policy." No need for shouting and degrading behaviour.
What confuses me even more is this whole no opening nail polish. Maybe I'm wrong and you're really not suppose to do it, but I remember all the times when I myself had opened and seen many cosmeticians(sp?)suggest and let customers open the polishes. Plus the fact that if the cosmetic industry didn't want people opening nail polish they would be packaged/sealed properly. As with many eye shadows, foundation, lipsticks, ect. All these are sealed and offer testers.
I keep hearing about different Zellers in different locations going out of business, well if this is a sample of the staff no wonder. I'll go to places with the same/cheaper prices minus the attitude. One lost customer, Godd riddance, aurevoir, vive Wal-Mart.
I decided to look for a new, cheap, nail polish to take me into the fall season. As someone who used to work at Shopper's Drug Mart at the cosmetics counter and attended several seminars on various cosmetics, I know that the way the colour appears isn't exactly as it shows on the nail. Ex: It may look red, but is actually a shade of dark pink/magenta. To avoid this I opened the bottle and held the brush against the inner edge of the bottle and watched it reflect against the light. I did this for a few shades and dropped some of the excess from the brushes on my thumbnail to compare. I was looking at the different colours and got down on my knees to look at the colours on the bottom shelf when a merchandiser, a woman of about late fourties-fifties came up to me and said "May I help you?" and then immidiately gasped (loudly, I thought she was having a heart attack)and shouted "YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSE TO OPEN THE NAIL POLISH!!!" I said "Oh sorry I didn't know." "WELL YOU KNEW ENOUGH TO PAINT YOUR NAIL!!!" I said "I'm sorry I was just testing the colours" and looked confused at her and at the bottle. She said "Spoiled brat thinking you could do whatever you want. You should be ashamed of yourself." and I said with tears in my eyes "I'm sorry." So I put the nail polish back and hurried out of the store. I ended up sitting in the food court area of the mall crying because I have anxiety issues and have a fear of confrontation.
Never in my life have I been treated with such disrespect. I'm 20 years old, I'm not a child, I can drive, vote, drink alcohol, and have a job. I'm a person, not a dog, and deserve to be treated with respect. Of all places to have that happen at a store? Where people are suppose to have a safe, enjoyable, and easy experience. Wake up employees it's a recession. In a time where many people are losing their jobs and businesses closing wouldn't you want to treat people with respect to not only ensure your job, but also ensure that your store is still in business. She could have nicely stated that "Sorry no opening nail polishes. Store policy." No need for shouting and degrading behaviour.
What confuses me even more is this whole no opening nail polish. Maybe I'm wrong and you're really not suppose to do it, but I remember all the times when I myself had opened and seen many cosmeticians(sp?)suggest and let customers open the polishes. Plus the fact that if the cosmetic industry didn't want people opening nail polish they would be packaged/sealed properly. As with many eye shadows, foundation, lipsticks, ect. All these are sealed and offer testers.
I keep hearing about different Zellers in different locations going out of business, well if this is a sample of the staff no wonder. I'll go to places with the same/cheaper prices minus the attitude. One lost customer, Godd riddance, aurevoir, vive Wal-Mart.
Comments
I'm a university student who has been working at Zellers in Electronics for a year or so now. I can't believe some of the crap that associates get away with. Zellers seems to have universally poor management across the board.
I really do hope that you file a complaint, or ask to have the phone number of the District Manager. (Although, he/she may not be any better).
I apologize for this incident, not on behalf of Zellers, but on behalf of humanity.
when i got my bill they charged me a dollar for it and it wasn't even real mayonnaise
when i asked about it the big old fat rude manager lady was rude and didn't even care.
The fries were not good either they were like frozen fries.
Zellers please dont charge me for ketchup next. On the good side were these old fashioned butter tarts....MMMMMMmmmm they were very very very good.
I was robbed by zellers. I would love a phone number to complain to as im afraid to go back in there. Im 21 years old. Not a "teen" coming to steal I was actually looking for a gift that they didnt have...so I walked out wearing the exact scarf that had they checked the security camera I came in with.
I AM SO ANGRY
I am very sorry for the way you were treated. i have no affiliation with zellers in anyway but i have simply never liked the place. I too have anxiety problems and understand how even a slight scolding, if caught of guard, can cause an emotional breakdown. people neeed to think before they speak, for all she knew she WAS talking to a thief with a gun, or a girl who is hyper-sensitive, like you and me. Its sick that you started tearing up and she showed zero emotion. she should have recoiled, realized that the crying girl had no intention of stealing and begged for forgiveness.
Also, Moore, you are a disrespectful loser. Understand that people are all made differently and dont criticize her for having anxiety issues (which she is aware of!).
finally, i know Shoppers is pricey but i have never once walked in there without being kindly greeted by warm employees (in the cosmetics department). I am a nail polish fiend and i refuse to go anywhere that wont let you open the bottle and see it in the light. An employee approached me once while i was checking colors and her comment was designed to ease my worry: "just checking the colors? i know there's so many. take your time!" I LOVE SHOPPERS
One time (not at shoppers) i was told i could not open the bottle and would have to buy it. i asked for testers, they refused. so i set the bottle down and left. Being a fiend, i understand how vital it is not to waste money buying the same color over and over again. if a company isnt going to keep testers available all the time, regardless of if they get stolen or not, (and if they don't post signs stating the store policy is to not open them) then i'm going to open the bottles. period. good luck to the first person that screams at me, it wont end well for them.
Also, Moore, you're a waste of space. refrain from criticizing people who are different than you because they are different. You obviously lack emotions and your comment should be disregarded by the poster. Keep your head up miss! its hard for people with anxiety disorders, but once we form a backbone everything changes! do not let yourself get pushed around.
Also, Moore, maybe you accuse people of stealing because you steal happiness every day. its funny how you say things like they are fact when you have no first hand knowledge of anything. you are IGNORANT
were you there? oh yeah, of course you were, cause theres no other reason you would say 'stop stealing' unless you watched it firsthand, right? no one is so completely pathetic and stupid as to state something like it is fact when they didnt see it unfold right? oh wait... yeah someone is that pathetic and stupid.... its you!
jump off a bridge, please and thanks.
Any ways, yesterday I was fitting my kid using a wall mirror at the back "my 4 yr old daughter is v. Picky so she has to decide which outfits she likes best."I hang back any items that we r not taking. a Zellers associate approached us as we were just finishing and said "there is a fitting room, in case you don't know" I said " I know, but its v. Hard with the kids." she insisted" we have a family room." I said "no need, we r done anyways" and I walked away from the area.
I went to the ladies section to try some hoodies for myself that I saw earlier in the flyer, again using a wall mirror at the back. My older kids started goofing around with each others, talking & laughing and I was asking them to please be quiet and behave so that we get done and leave but they wouldn't listen. So I said to my kids" I was planning to take you for Tim Hortons for a treat after we're done, but since you r not behaving, we r ganna go straight home" my oldest son said " oh no... Why didn't u say so from the beginning!" i swear all of this happened in no longer than one minute trying to decide on the hoodies while trying to keep my kids quiet. At that point, another Zellers associate who was working nearby appeared knocking with her index finger on the side of her forehead murmuring and cursing indicating that we r being noisy. I looked at my kids and said "are you happy now? Putting mommy in this position?" But then for a moment I felt steam coming out of my head thinking she has no right. So I turned to her and said" they are kids and all kids make noise and I was just telling them to be quiet. What do you want me to do more?". She said" it's our store and you should behave yourselves. I said" they re kids for God's sake!" she said" it's not the kids, it's the adult!"
I was really shocked and angry by her words and attitude. It's already stressful enough for me everytime I do shopping with the kids and I do my best to ensure they r behaving, not touching anything or running around or be loud. I try to use the store cart and put all my kids inside whenever it's possible just to have some peace of mind. But since my younger son was sleeping when we arrived yesterday, so I had to use the stroller.
I pushed my stroller towards the cashier near the exit feeling really angry and taking it all on kids by telling them" no computer, no tv, no treats for you guys for one week!... ..... and you know what, I'm not buying anything for you" and I took all the stuff clothes back bags, lunch boxes, hoodies everything out of the stroller and put aside in my way out and left!"
After I arrived home and relaxed I realized it's not kids fault. Kids r kids and u can't just seal their mouths, + kids get tired and fussy especially when u have to take them shopping, + I've seen kids do terrible things touching, dropping things which I never allow my kids to do & I try to keep them under control. I always tell them to hold the stroller and walk with me no touching. I just realized this woman had no right to yell and say what she said and making me feel bad. I felt glad putting back all the stuff not because I had to punish my kids but realizing u don't put your money in a store that treats u this bad.
U feel u have to be so hard on yourself and kids to please the employees at the store only to get this kind of treatment. Swore to myself not to ever step a foot at any zellers. Still feel v. Angry inside.
I just can't believe I literary spent thousands of dollars @ zellers on clothes for my kids and gifts for my big family before going 4 vacation last summer!