I've shopped at Silva Saddle a couple times a year, over the last ten years, having purchased dress pants, jackets, shirts, belts and buckles, boots, hats, and other miscellaneous western wear. In the past, I've always been treated professionally and been satisfied with the products and customer service. Recently, I decided to stop in there to buy a couple of pair of jeans for an upcoming trip. I was pressed for time, and called after working out at the gym one evening to see if they were still open. The person answering the phone said they were open and closing in under an hour. I said I would be right over, and rather than changing at the gym, went right over in my gym clothes. I entered the store and a man (the owner or manager) came from the office in back where two other people were conversing, and asked if he could help. I told him I wanted a pair of jeans, and asked if the type of jean ran true to size. He explained their sizing and we started to walk toward the pants section. Having purchased dress pants before from there, I started to ask him a question about pants, and he started telling me information I already knew about the dress pants. I interrupted him and asked him to allow me to ask my questions about what I was looking for, and he stopped and told me to leave the store...period. I was surprised, agreed to leave, and said I would not return. As he escorted me to the door, I tried to explain to him I already knew the information he was telling about dress pants and that I had a question about a style of jean, and he interrupted me again telling me information about dress pants that I already knew, then he turned out the "Open" sign and told me to leave. I promptly left the store, amazed at his rudeness and unprofessional behavior.
I called the store the following day, calmly giving my name and asking to speak to the owner or manager, to clear up the situation. The man didn't respond, and I asked again. Then he hung up on me. I called back and the same man answered. I again calmly identified myself and indicated we had been disconnected, and asked for the owner or manager. The man hesitated, and subsequently identified himself (first name) and I again asked for the owner or manager. He did not identify himself as the owner or manager, but then asked if I was the individual that was in the store the night before. I calmly explained that I was and he interrupted me to ask if I was recording our conversation. I said "No" and started trying to resolve the situation and he quickly interrupted me again, stating he was open today for me to come down and discuss the situation in person with him during store hours and that he didn't have time to deal with my drama. He then hung up on me again. I calmly called back a third time, to explain I was trying to resolve the misunderstanding via phone first, before I tried coming back to the store (so that he could throw me out again?), but he hung up after I calmly identified myself again.
I try to support Alaskan owned businesses over those Outside, but given the unprofessional behavior I experienced with Silva Saddle Western Wear, I will no longer patronize or recommend them. read more
