27 Jun, 2021 → by ClaimboUser155007
Customer Service: Verbally attacked by employee

1

On June 26, 2021, my husband and I entered BB&B to purchase a Kitchen-Aid mixer for someone as a gift. An employee in the LOVELAND COLORADO store informed us that they only had one of the correct color in the store and it was a display. She was pleasant and there were no problems to our knowledge at this point. We told her we needed to think about it for a minute. She gave us space to discuss our options. All was good. Then my husband thought he had an idea that could provide the box for the display and went to ask for a manager. It turned out to be the same employee we had spoken with the first time, Leandra. Another employee, male and much younger, Collin, followed us back to the mixer display as my husband explained his idea to just give us the display box they would throw away (according to the manager's own words) for the replacement display. She said they could not do that and that BB&B corporate policy was that BB&B would tell them which mixer and box they could or could not use once the display was sold. As a result, she was not allowed to replace the display and give us a box. I told her that was kind of a stupid policy, with a smile, like "what a silly policy" kind of comment. She smiled and acted like she wanted to be a good employee and appease the customer, I did not feel like she was being difficult at all, I just did not like the policy. We told her we understood but thought it was a stupid policy. She seemed to understand and remained professional. I walked away repeating the idea that I thought "IT" (NOT HER or anyone else) was stupid, as in it=policy (not a human) was stupid. I was not angry or aggressive but felt it was silly and my tone was congruent with that sentiment of silly policy. She offered to provide a shipping box and we agreed and thanked her. However, her employee, lagging behind me, began yelling at me. Loud enough that anyone in the store could easily hear the commotion. He told me not to talk like that in front of his manager. Sort of confused, I asked him to clarify and he escalated his voice, tone, and accused me of calling her a B**ch. I never said any such thing, nor would I have. I told him I did not say that and clearly stated my exact words and he basically called me a liar. The manager was nice, I had no reason to think of her as the issue at all, she just couldn't accommodate due to store policy. It was never about her and I never spoke about her in any way. My husband told the younger employee that he must have misunderstood and his wife would never say that about someone and the employee told my husband "If believing that makes you feel better" in an insulting and loud tone. Instead of de-escalating the growing tension and yelling, the manager said nothing and just stood there. I told her directly "I am glad your employee wants to stick up for you, but I never said anything thing like that, nor would I." After going back and forth with the younger employee, he left, seemingly angry, saying he needed a break. My husband and decided to discontinue our shopping and waited at the register for the mixer. When the manager brought it up, my husband tried to restate that I would never call her that and she said "Yeah, sorry that happened." The way this played out, I felt attacked. It was like the employee literally picked a fight with me. There is a difference between thinking a policy is stupid and attacking a person. I stated an opinion (and I did so in a light, non-threatening tone, a passing comment) about a corporate policy, he attacked a person, two before it was over. He verbally attacked two customers trying to buy a $400 mixer. What happened to customer service? What happened to professional language? Why aren't employees taught to de-escalate or defuse situations? This employee could have said "I heard" or "I thought you said" or anything at all once we adamantly denied using foul language or name-calling. Instead, he called, no he yelled at us, calling us liars. The manager should have taken charge, stopped her employee, and defused the situation. I still do not have an issue with the manager, she did nothing wrong. Collin was out of line, insulting, and verbally aggressive. His behavior was unacceptable, unprofessional, and dangerous. I will never shop, recommend, or have a single positive word for BB&B again. What an awful and hurtful experience.
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