I’ve been coming to this UPS Store for approx. 7–8 years and have generally had pretty good experiences. Until today, I can’t recall having a negative experience here.
Today, unusually, I had multiple Amazon returns (7-8 maybe) due to an unsuccessful shopping spree before a vacation. As always, I try to be as prepared and considerate as possible so for most of the returns, I had already taken screenshots of the QR codes so I could simply swipe & keep it all moving. And, I maximized screen brightness as this is a common issue delaying scanning.
2-3 remaining of my return items were similar to one another, so I preferred to open the Amazon app and verify that I was matching each item with the correct QR code. Unfortunately, cell service inside the store is not great, so pulling up each of those last 2-3 codes took about a minute or so for each (3-4 minutes total at most).
While I was in the middle of my transaction, another customer came in behind me. Within 1-2 minutes, she asked the employee who was helping me if he could take care of her items as I was looking for my next QR code.
To be clear, there was also another register open. Someone else was being helped at that register at the time, and once one of the two transactions was completed, another register would become available in short order.
My only feedback for the store is how that situation was handled. The employee hesitated likely given the woman's critical and aggressive tone, and then said something along the lines of, “If she’s okay with it,” essentially putting the decision on me. That put me in an uncomfortable position and unfortunately opened the door for the other customer to criticize me for taking too long, being unprepared, etc.
What she didn’t know, but the employee did know, was that I HAD prepared as much as possible specifically to avoid holding anyone up. Also, I had also waited on line approx. ten minutes for my turn without interrupting the customer ahead of me. These days I am in pain due to a painful wrist condition, I am consequently wearing a wrist brace. I had been holding my returns while waiting, even though my wrist was hurting, because I didn’t want to even interrupt someone else’s transaction simply to put my things on the counter while I wait. I try very hard to extend that level of courtesy to everyone, despite my own personal problems, aches, and pains. I waited my turn even while I was in pain, and I believe someone else should be able to wait their turn as well without criticizing or judging me.
I initially agreed to let the other customer go, but once her request turned into undue personal criticism and judgment, I decided to finish the transaction I was already in the middle of. The employee should also realize, interrupting several returns already in process also creates the possibility of mixing up an item or QR code, and those errors can be difficult to resolve afterward. I had every right to take the very little time necessary to make sure those final 2-3 items were matched correctly.
In situations like this, I would have appreciated the employee simply saying something neutral such as, “We’re finishing this transaction and will be with you shortly,” rather than placing one customer in the position of having to negotiate with another customer while already being assisted.
Again, this was one uncomfortable experience after many years, and I will continue to use this location. I’m sharing it only as constructive feedback because a little more direction from the staff in situations like this could prevent an unnecessary customer-to-customer confrontation.
The woman gave me the middle finger in the parking lot, to boot. Seriously, she had a very terribly entitled and aggressive attitude. If someone asked me nicely to get ahead of me with even minimal courtesy or at least without criticism and an entitled attitude, I'd have agreed without issue. But don't ask me for a favor and then go on to criticize, insult, and embarrass me because you cant wait 3-4 minutes for your turn.