Overview: Closing cashier tried to close early and refuse entry to paying customers. Store hours are posted for a reason, and many of us in the community rely on that dependability.
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I don’t know her name, but I had a very negative experience with a relatively new store employee tonight (June 7, closing shift).
In short, she decided on her own personal store hours, and attempted to prevent customers from coming into the store to spend money — during open hours!
Apparently, she had taken it upon herself to disable the outer sliding door, but I thought it was just broken or being serviced, so I opened it manually; this happens sometimes, no big deal.
When I entered, however, she approached me and said “we’re closed.” I was confused, as I’d double checked the time when I arrived, and knew the store was not closed yet.
She then explained to me, in a terse and condescending tone, that this Kroger location now closes early. (It doesn’t.)
It was frustrating and humiliating. I will try to avoid her in future, but since nights are usually the only time I can shop, I might not be able to — I might have to find a new store, which would be disappointing as I love Kroger and buy almost all of my groceries here. But no matter how much I like your items, prices, and other associates, it doesn’t make up for being treated that way by an employee.
Further, it’s so inappropriate for a Kroger employee to flagrantly work against both company and customer interests by intentionally closing the door before closing time. Who did that help? Only herself.
And to then aggressively approach customers, to shoo them away? Even worse. And all of this while still on the clock and getting paid. Employees should not be able to invent their own store hours.
I submitted this feedback to corporate as well. Life is hard enough right now for so many of us; I’d appreciate this associate — the only one closing out self checkout Thurs, 7/7 — receiving coaching on closing protocol, as well as basic customer relations. ~Ma
grocery store
propane supplier