JS
Jasmine Santoyo
Jul 15, 2026
I am submitting this review because my experience at the Sunglass Hut at the Citadel fell well below the level of customer service I expect from a premium retail brand.
I visited the store seeking assistance with a pair of Persol glasses that I had previously purchased. I was immediately greeted by a young sales associate who was welcoming, professional, and genuinely invested in helping me. She informed me that my particular model had been discontinued but still took the initiative to research possible options rather than simply sending me elsewhere. Her willingness to help made me feel valued as a customer.
Unfortunately, that positive experience ended the moment the store manager, Bianca, became involved.
Without taking the time to understand my situation, Bianca interrupted the conversation and abruptly stated, “We don’t sell Persol glasses. You need to go to the Persol store.” I had not even been given the opportunity to fully explain why I was there or what assistance I was seeking. The interaction immediately felt dismissive, and I left with the impression that my concerns were not worth listening to.
What was even more disappointing was that when the associate attempted to explain that she was simply trying to help me, Bianca cut her off, raised her voice, and instructed her to stop helping me because she was “missing sales.” Rather than encouraging an employee who was providing exceptional customer service, Bianca chose to publicly shut down the interaction.
As the customer standing there, this was extremely uncomfortable. Instead of feeling welcomed, I felt like I had become an inconvenience. It also gave me the impression that providing meaningful customer service was less important than immediately moving on to the next sale. That is not the experience I expect from Sunglass Hut.
The atmosphere in the store noticeably changed. Other customers looked over during the interaction, and I overheard comments about how rude the manager was. It was obvious that this was not a private coaching conversation—it unfolded in front of customers and negatively affected the overall shopping environment.
Ironically, the associate’s professionalism had made me interested in continuing to shop in the store. Bianca’s behavior completely changed that. Sunglass Hut lost a potential sale that day and, more importantly, lost a customer because of the way I was treated.
I hope this feedback is taken seriously. Managers represent your brand, and the way Bianca handled this interaction reflected a lack of professionalism, customer care, and leadership. I respectfully recommend that this incident be reviewed and that Bianca receive additional coaching in customer service, communication, and leadership. I also hope the associate who initially assisted me is recognized for demonstrating exactly the kind of service that builds customer loyalty.