Tutor
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3 Messages
Rude store representative experience
Yesterday, on July 13th, 2016, I drove for 30 minutes to get to this AT&T store:
Turtle Creek Crossing,
Hattiesburg, MS 39402
Due to an accident on the road I arrived later than I expected at 6:58pm. Store closes at 7pm. Close one I thought. But imagine my surprise when I saw a male employee lock the store from the inside before the posted time for closure. I looked at my phone clock again, which is synchronized with AT&T cell towers, and sure enough it said 6:58pm. I knocked on the glass door and a female employee came by and informed me that they were closed. I showed her my AT&T phone and told her that it was not quite closing time yet. She repeated herself. "We are closed", just a little bit louder. And I had to drive back home without getting service from AT&T.
Honest question: If these emplyees hate their jobs so much that they cannot bring themselves to stay at the job during the posted store hours, why don't they do themselves and AT&T customers a favor and find a different job that they hate less?
Also, is there a way to file a proper complaint with AT&T corporate?
[Edited for privacy-please do not post personal or unique information such as but not limited to full names, employee ID numbers, email addresses, phone numbers, account numbers, etc.]
formerlyknownas
ACE - Sage
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118.4K Messages
8 years ago
Ever worked retail? I'm thinking not, or you forgot what it was like. How about ever been 2 minutes before quitting time, and been asked to work an extra hour?
Unless you were picking up a phone case and knew exactly the one you wanted, you were going to hold up the entire store for at least 30 minutes if not more like an hour I order to serve you. Most lock the door 15-20 minutes before closing time and let customers out only.
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ATTTimCS
Employee
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420 Messages
8 years ago
@cheema33
Thank you so much for taking the time to post to the forums regarding your concern. I want to apologize for the frustration caused by this. I've had a similar situation where I wasn't able to get service even though it was within business hours, so I definitely understand.
With all that said, I have engaged the store manager and the leadership team to share your feedback. Ideally, no one is ever turned away, and we will do what we can to help drive for that result.
I hope all future experiences with us are much better, and you are able to share a great experience instead of a poor one.
Thanks
Tim, Community Specialist
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cheema33
Tutor
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3 Messages
8 years ago
> Ever worked retail? I'm thinking not, or you forgot what it was like.
I have. Both as ordinary employee and as an owner. We were always happy to have paying customers. We never, even once, closed early. Turning away a customer at the door who was there before closing time? That concept is entirely foreign to me. A similar thing did happen to me many years ago, at the post office where the employees had locked the door before it was time. I was able to reason with them. They opened the door after I showed them through the glass door, what time it was. No such luck with the AT&T store employee last night though.
> Most lock the door 15-20 minutes before closing time and let customers out only.
Why not change the posted hours so that they close the doors when they say they will? The store has the option to change advertised closing time to be 6:30pm instead of 7pm. They would be serving themselves and their customers better if they did just that.
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cheema33
Tutor
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3 Messages
8 years ago
> I have engaged the store manager and the leadership team to share your feedback. Ideally, no one is ever turned away, and we will do what we can to help drive for that result.
I believe it was the store manager that told me they were closing early. My intention is not to get anybody in trouble. My only interest is to make sure that the staff at the store continues to leave the door open during advertised business hours. And if the manager wants to leave early, then change the advertised hours. Asking the paying customers to go away because you feel like going home early on a whim, is no way to win customers.
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