I've stopped into Hobby Lobby a few times when I'm looking for something specific, such as a mat for a picture frame, a lamp (they have a bunch, surprisingly), or a wreath for the front door (nice selection--they are about $100 but you can always use the weekly $40% coupon).\r
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The store is usually very empty, and although there are generally two cashiers, check-out always seems to take a long time. The staff is generally friendly, although some of the younger staff can be a bit unprofessional, e.g., talking to each other about their social lives while one of them is waiting on a customer.\r
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I am reviewing the Laurel store location based on the rude comments and unprofessional behavior exhibited by the manager (male, of Indian descent) today.\r
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Recently, I bought curtains at Hobby Lobby for about $65, took them home, found that the colors didn't work with our wall color, immediately folded them exactly how they had been folded, put them back in the packaging, and took them back to the store 16 days later. Hobby Lobby has a 90-day return policy with receipt, so I was well within the return period.\r
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It's important to note here that, like many curtains and linens, these were in a plastic pouch with a resealable side. When I folded the curtains, they didn't go back into the pouches quite as easily, but fit completely. However, the plastic flap wouldn't stick to the side of the pouch because the curtains weren't as flat as they had previously been. So they were in the pouches, folded nicely with the cardboard wrapped around them, but the sticky flap was open.\r
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When I returned the curtains, the young female cashier who rang me up was very nice. She asked if anything was wrong with them, as most stores do, and I told her no, and that I liked them, but the colors didn't work with my decor. We exchanged brief small talk about the curtains being pretty. She finished the transaction and told me how much would be refunded to my credit card, etc. Then she apologized and said that a manager needed to approve the transaction, and there would be a brief wait. She was very polite throughout the conversation, and apologetic about the wait.\r
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After paging a manager on the overhead speaker THREE times and clearly being embarrassed about the several-minute wait, a man of Indian descent slowly approached from the side of the store. The cashier waved to him, clearly wanting to help me out and get me out of there faster.\r
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The manager approached, looking irritated, mumbled something to her, and typed a few things on the register. He pointed to the two curtain panels and said, ""It's for those?"" and she nodded. He then looked at me, irritated, and said, ""Is there anything wrong with them?"" I said ""No, I put them on the rod and didn't like them, so I brought them back."" He picked them up and looked at me accusingly, saying, ""They're open."" I said, ""Yes--as I just said, I put them on the rod and didn't like them. I just bought them two weeks ago."" He stared at me and then looked at the receipt, as if he didn't believe me that I just bought them, saying, ""Well, they're open now."" Then...I couldn't believe it...he passive aggressively scoffed to the cashier, ""Well, I guess we just have to tape the packaging closed, as if anyone will buy them like this."" The curtains were nicely folded in their original packaging with ALL parts included. All they had to do was take a piece of tape to reseal the top flap to the side. They looked NO different than the brand new ones, I'm sure. The manager then whispered something to the employee, as she finished the transaction, handed me my receipt, thanked me for my patience, and wished me a nice day. I started at the manager for some sort of reaction or (gasp) apology, and he would not make eye contact with me.\r
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I cannot believe the unprofessional, accusatory, rude behavior of the manager. The young employee looked embarrassed by his behavior. I will not be returning to Hobby Lobby.
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