Deleted
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May 18, 2024 20:55:38 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jan 1, 2020 15:44:14 GMT
There is a new business in our area that makes desserts. It has been open about 6 months and is owned by a neighbor (but we don't personally know her). We have been customers a couple of times, she gets great reviews locally for her bakery items, but she has been going through some growing pains during the holiday season that she has been very open about (mostly supply and demand type problems)
We stopped in to get some sweets to take to a New Years event. The owner wasn't there. Short story, the employee was pretty rude but even more, it was obvious she didn't like her employer. Every question was answered with "I dont know. She hasn't bothered to tell me" and similar type responses. We walked away with nothing because she couldn't or wouldn't even give us a price for some mini treats they were offering for New Years Eve (and this was the day before). It is possible that she didn't know the price but she couldn't even tell is if we could place an order or what the flavors were going to be and they were very obviously baking already.
It wasn't so much that we couldn't order but more the really hostile way she answered that left us saying she really doesn't like the owner" when we left.
Would you let the owner know or just write it off to an employee that was probably exhausted from a busy holiday season and was just over it.
Edited to say that I dont care about her being rude to us, it is more about the feeling she gave off about the owner.
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Post by Blind Squirrel on Jan 1, 2020 15:49:40 GMT
I would let them know, because that could sink a small business.
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Post by revirdsuba99 on Jan 1, 2020 15:50:31 GMT
I think the owner should be told. One of the problems of opening a small business, is that it is 24/7 until you can hire the best employees, in other words, no days off, particularly during the holidays! It is better to close for the day, listing an emergency on the door and a number for those who have placed orders to call if they can pick up, or call and cancel the orders.
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Post by Basket1lady on Jan 1, 2020 15:51:46 GMT
I would let them know, because that could sink a small business. Agreed. Regardless of the employee was in the right or not, the owner needs to know. |
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Post by cindyupnorth on Jan 1, 2020 15:53:54 GMT
Yes, I would let the owner know. She lost business because of this employee. She should know.
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kelly8875
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Post by kelly8875 on Jan 1, 2020 15:56:08 GMT
I would let them know. If that employee is like that with too many customers, customers will not return. No customers means no business.
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ashley
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Post by ashley on Jan 1, 2020 15:58:03 GMT
I think I’d mention the lack of information available but not the employee’s specific words regarding the employer.
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Post by SockMonkey on Jan 1, 2020 16:04:00 GMT
I would let the owner know, but frame it as concern for her business (which it is) not so much a "Karen speaking to the manager" thing.
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Post by crazy4scraps on Jan 1, 2020 16:31:33 GMT
I would let them know, because that could sink a small business.  Especially if this place only has the one employee who is there representing the business when the owner isn’t there. Regardless of whether the employee was being truthful or not, that type of bad attitude is very off putting for the customers coming in. If the employee has concerns, they should be taken up with the owner directly and privately and not complaining about their boss to the customers. All it will take is for a few customers to leave feeling offended and post poor reviews on Yelp or Google or Facebook and that business is sunk.  |
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Deleted
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May 18, 2024 20:55:38 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jan 1, 2020 17:00:26 GMT
I would let the owner know, but frame it as concern for her business (which it is) not so much a "Karen speaking to the manager" thing. I hopefully didn't come off that way because I really am concerned about the negative vibe she was giving off about the owner. I wasn't really invested one way or the other in getting the pastries. We just happened to be driving by and had seen on FB they were offering some mini-pastry platters for NYE. It was bad enough that DH who is usually kind of clueless said "she really hates the owner, doesn't she?" the minute we walked out of the shop. |
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Post by SockMonkey on Jan 1, 2020 17:02:16 GMT
I would let the owner know, but frame it as concern for her business (which it is) not so much a "Karen speaking to the manager" thing. I hopefully didn't come off that way because I really am concerned about the negative vibe she was giving off about the owner. I wasn't really invested one way or the other in getting the pastries. We just happened to be driving by and had seen on FB they were offering some mini-pastry platters for NYE. It was bad enough that DH who is usually kind of clueless said "she really hates the owner, doesn't she?" the minute we walked out of the shop. Not at all! I just mean to approach the owner with concern rather than "I don't like how I was treated" so that the owner isn't on the defensive and will be more apt to listen. |
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Post by Suziee2 on Jan 1, 2020 17:24:26 GMT
Since they are already having growing pains, I would let them know. Owning and starting a small business is hard enough, and having employees that are openly criticizing or complaining doesn't help. Maybe they are hacked that they are working a holiday, but that does not give them the right to broadcast to potential customers. If it were my business, I would NEED to know.
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Post by mnmloveli on Jan 1, 2020 17:26:02 GMT
Definitely let her know. That employee is scaring off customers.
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trollie
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Post by trollie on Jan 1, 2020 17:31:52 GMT
If it were my business, I would want to know.
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gsquaredmom
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Jun 26, 2014 17:43:22 GMT
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Post by gsquaredmom on Jan 1, 2020 17:34:21 GMT
She is very lucky that someone who knows her had that encounter. Think of all the people who were put off by that employee that the owner does not know of. She needs to know so she can correct it. She may have lost heaps of business already! You are an accidental secret shopper!
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Deleted
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May 18, 2024 20:55:38 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jan 1, 2020 17:39:30 GMT
Before saying anything, have you checked her reviews on FB or Yelp to see if others have left the same feedback? Wondering if she is genuinely unaware, doesn’t care and/or lacks the resources to change things. If there aren’t any negative reviews about service, then I would let her know what happened as it’s one thing to deal with a frustrated salesperson and yet another when that salesperson can’t sell you any merchandise because there are no prices.
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Deleted
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May 18, 2024 20:55:38 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jan 1, 2020 20:21:12 GMT
As a small business owner, I'd absolutely want to know information like that.
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eastcoastpea
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Jun 27, 2014 13:05:28 GMT
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Post by eastcoastpea on Jan 2, 2020 6:09:04 GMT
I would definitely contact the owner.
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peppermintpatty
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Post by peppermintpatty on Jan 2, 2020 12:35:30 GMT
I would tell the owner and I wouldn't have even thought twice about doing so. This is a no brainer.
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Post by camanddanismom on Jan 2, 2020 14:47:13 GMT
I would let the owner know. That is bad customer service.
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Post by Mel on Jan 2, 2020 16:16:47 GMT
I would absolutely want to know if it was my business. As others have said, how many people who don't "know" her has that person turned off? I hope she takes it well and makes a change... |
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Post by 950nancy on Jan 2, 2020 17:49:24 GMT
I am wondering if the employee isn't related to the owner.
Either way, a nicely worded email telling what was said without your judgement is all that is needed. The owner will probably know some of it already and can fix the employee issue or the pricing issue.
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TheOtherMeg
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Jun 25, 2014 20:58:14 GMT
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Post by TheOtherMeg on Jan 2, 2020 20:14:47 GMT
The owner needs to know, and the employee needs training in customer service.
The owner also needs to tell the employee that concerns about the business (including the lack of communication between the owner and employees) need to remain between the owner and the employees. Ideas about the business, such as putting up prices so customers do not have to constantly ask, should be taken to the owner, not grumbled about to customers. If a customer suggests an idea, employee should say, "Thank you so much for your suggestion. I'll pass it along to the owner." No further comment necessary.
Perhaps the employee has never worked in a small shop before and needs tips on the crucial facts & details of working for the owner vs working in a corporate-owned store.
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Especially if this place only has the one employee who is there representing the business when the owner isn’t there. Regardless of whether the employee was being truthful or not, that type of bad attitude is very off putting for the customers coming in. If the employee has concerns, they should be taken up with the owner directly and privately and not complaining about their boss to the customers. All it will take is for a few customers to leave feeling offended and post poor reviews on Yelp or Google or Facebook and that business is sunk. 
