THESE. PEOPLE. ARE. SO. RUDE. If I could give them zero stars, I would... in fact, I would give…read morethem negative stars! Let's start a couple weeks back, shall we?
Here I am, a lonely college student in search of a job, wandering the Glenbrook Mall in Fort Wayne, Indiana when I come across a Build-A-Bear workshop. Flashbacks from my childhood flooded my mind and a smile came to my face. 'Of course I should apply here!' I thought. Little did I know, the warm memories from my early years would be destroyed over the next couple weeks.
I walked into the store, looking around with the same amazement I had as a child, & I made my way to the counter. Here I was 'welcomed' by an unfriendly face, & no verbal greeting. I felt a little awkward & started off by saying "Hi, how are you today?" After I long pause and a confused look, the only response I received was "I'm sorry, I don't recognize you, do I know you?"........ 'K', I thought, 'whatever, laugh it off'. I politely did just that and told this gracious employee "no I'm sorry, I'm looking for an application". In response, she laughed obnoxiously in my face & looked at me as though I were the stupidest person she'd ever come across in her life (maybe I was... but is that any way to treat a customer?) & she followed up by saying "most places use online applications now". I simply smiled and said, "Thanks so much, it was nice to meet you." & was given a simple "yeah" before I left the store in disappointment.
One week later, with hopes still high, I submitted my application online. As is expected, I followed up two days later with a phone call to ask if they received my application, & silently beg for an interview. A happy & sweet sounding girl answered the phone & greeted me kindly (what a relief). I told her I received a confirmation email and just wanted to follow up. The mood changed in seconds! After an angry sigh, she told me she did not have time for my call, she was too busy to "deal with me right now", Saturday is the busiest day, and I "Literally picked the worst time to call". Mind you, these rude comments weren't even covered up by her fake peppy voice anymore. She hung up without giving me a chance to apologize or ask for a better time.
Sunday rolls around & I decide I might as well call one more time, so I did. Sure enough I heard a happy voice belonging to a different than before girl on the other line... THANK GOD! I explained the situation without the details of my previous encounters with their employees, & asked again to follow up on my application. She said sure and put me on hold. A good ten minutes later, the seemingly nice girl returned to the phone, laughing as though I were on hold for a VERY important social interaction that had just finished up, and told me, (or, judging by her tone of voice, asked me) "Uhhhmmm...we don't really have openings haha. We are NOT hiring right now & our positions are pretty much always full soooooooooooooooo.... I don't think I can help you hahaha". I had, by now, accepted the fact that these people were not interested in hiring respectable employees. I simply said "Okay, thank you for your time, have a good day!" and before I hung up, I was given an annoyed "bye bye now."
Wedneday rolls around, and I've completely forgotten about my unfortunate incident with the ever-so-loving employees of Build-a-bear workshop. not 20 minutes ago I missed a call from Build-a-bear & was left a message inviting me to a group interview. THE NERVE OF THESE PEOPLE!... I called back immediately, very prepared to have a civil and polite discussion about my disappointment in the way I had been treated. I explained to the manager (who I had not yet spoken to) that I no longer needed the job, but wished to inform her that I was treated very poorly by several of her employees. I explained that they came off as rude and unprofessional. Naturally, she asked me what happened, I began to tell her that I was told they 'didn't have time for my phone call' and before I could explain the rest, she said told me "Usually only managers speak on the phone & I don't think that happened, but thanks for the advice' and she hung up.
I have nothing against build-a-bear... but I am thoroughly convinced that EVERY employee at the Glenbrook Mall location in Fort Wayne, Indiana is rude & cannot communicate well or have a decent interaction.