We were genuinely excited to stop by this antique store while traveling from out of state. The shop itself has a wonderful selection of booths and a wide variety of interesting antiques, and initially we were really enjoying browsing through everything. Unfortunately, our experience was completely overshadowed by an incredibly unprofessional and unkind interaction with one of the employees. At one point, another employee had kindly offered to help us retrieve an item that was placed high up and stepped away briefly to grab a ladder. While we were waiting, a woman suddenly approached and began trying to grab the same item. Because she wasn’t wearing the store’s branded apron like the other employees and didn’t acknowledge us in any way, we naturally assumed she was another customer. We simply said, “Oh, we were already going to get that,” thinking we were clarifying the situation. Instead of responding politely or identifying herself as an employee, she scoffed at us and spoke in a condescending and disrespectful tone, as if we were ridiculous for thinking she might be another shopper. The situation was uncomfortable, but we chose to brush it off and continue shopping. Unfortunately, the situation became much worse shortly afterward. While near the front of the store by the checkout area, I overheard the same woman speaking with another employee and openly making fun of us and the interaction that had just occurred. Hearing a staff member mock customers within earshot was extremely uncomfortable and shockingly unprofessional. Customer service—especially in a small business—should be rooted in basic respect, professionalism, and kindness. Even simple misunderstandings can be handled gracefully, but this employee instead chose to respond with rudeness and then ridicule customers afterward. That kind of behavior reflects poorly on the business and completely soured what could have been a very positive visit. It’s truly unfortunate because the store itself has great items and potential to be a lovely stop for visitors. However, experiences like this make it extremely difficult to want to return or even recommend it to others. I sincerely hope the management takes situations like this seriously so that customers are treated with the professionalism and courtesy they deserve.
