Okay Loomis, So I Was Late.
Before I get on this rant I should, and will be the first to, admit that I was late. I didn’t make it on time. I know. That’s not the point.
So I got a job interview. I wasn’t prepared and I needed to get my portfolio together. After a full day of getting all my files together I realize “Crap! I don’t have a portfolio case to hold all this stuff.” Run down to Grand & Toy.
“Do you sell portfolio cases?”
“No. Sorry, we have to special order them.”
Okay. That was a bust but my interview is tomorrow. “What am I going to do?”
At that point I remember about the Loomis Art Store near Yonge and Eglinton. Thankfully I’m right on the subway so it’s an easy trip down to Eglinton. In fact, it’s only three stations away.
Jet down to the subway. Smack the token into the stall and run to catch the train that just pulled in. “No problem.” I think. “I should make it down there with time to spare.”
At that moment the sound that all TTC commuters have learned to fear comes on. It begins with a crackle of the antiquated speaker system.
“Attentichhhh all passengeerschhh on the chhhh Bloor chhh line. There is a chhh ….. chhh. TTC employees are chhhh. We’re sorry chhhhh chhhhh delay.”
Okay. This shouldn’t take long. I don’t really know what’s wrong but this type of thing happens. It’s only three stations after all. Now only two. It should still be fine. Yeah… 40 minutes of staring at the inside of an underground tunnel later, I get off at at Eglinton station.
Maybe I can still make it. I rush over to the Loomis which is about a block and a half from the intersection. I get there. Lights are on. “Phew… I might be in luck.” I reach for the door only to be met with firm resistance. “Is it closed?” I look for the sign. Open till 7:00. I quickly pull the cell phone out of my pocket. 7:03.
I look inside and see that the employees are serving someone at the counter. They see me and quickly turn their eyes away. I wait hoping to ask them to let me in.
Finally someone comes to let the customer out of the locked door.
“Excuse me. I was wondering if I could just buy one thing quickly.” The last few words of that sentence being cut off by the shrew in front of me.
She looks up at me and throws me a well practised phoney smile. “No. I’m sorry that was the last customer.” At that moment I look over her shoulder and see that there is another customer walking through the isles.
I think that I can appeal to her humanity. I begin my plea: “I just need to get one thing quickly. I have a job interview tomorrow and…” She cuts me off again with the same line.
Thought bubble: “What the f%$*k? Is this cow even listening to me?” End bubble. I decided that she was not and walked away.
Once again, I admit I was late. Fine. Three minutes late. But where are people’s humanity? This person could have let me in. It wouldn’t have changed her life much at all. I knew exactly what I wanted. She would have closed the store 5 minutes later and made some money. And I could have gone to my interview. A situation which for some people can mean the difference between paying the rent or eating. But no. Closing the store was more important than showing a little human empathy.
Truthfully, I am not going to be on the street if I don’t get the job and my interview was not till 2 o’clock the next day. I got up early and went down to Curry’s the next day. They have a few locations in Toronto. I went to the location on Yonge near College. They had what I needed and the employees were very polite. The best part was not having to give my money to Loomis.
I suppose that if I had to end this article with a question it would be this. Why have people become so bent on doing everything by the book? Are three minutes really that important?
If people are becoming sheep, then employees truly are little more than trained monkeys. That is the point of this blog. I guess that they could at least train their monkeys in proper customer service. Maybe one day they’ll figure that out like they have in other countries. But it’s up to you as a customer to vote with your wallet. It’s really the only power you have as a consumer.
Thanks for reading and please send us your experiences.
September 26th, 2005 at 11:08 pm
I used to work at Loomis and Toles and let me tell you it was a joke. We got a 25 cent raise per year and I was a recent college graduate at the time. The head office has their employees by the balls because they are mostly graduates from art programs and everyone knows its next to impossible to get their foot in the door somewhere after school so they hire these people who have no other option. Everytime I have gone to Loomis since working there (different locations) they never have what I need and the majority of employees are absolute assholes. The worst part is that L&T says they hire professionals to help their customers. Since when do professionals make 8 dollars an hour and get a quarter raise every year. It starts from the head office in Montreal and trickles down to the employees. The suits don’t care if their employees are happy as long as their product is being sold. (things were marked up ridiculously high) I hope that sheds some light on that company from a former digruntled employee and an outraged shopper.
November 22nd, 2005 at 12:58 pm
Loomis is the bane of my existance. I run an eco-friendly bath/beauty company. I get some of my packaging materials from them. The staff is ALWAYS, rude, insolent, slow, condescending, late…. To boot they have over two years never once gotten any of my orders in on time or correctly. Finally, my company has grown enough to meet the minimums from the suppliers to buy directly. Good bye and good riddance to Loomis Art Supply Store.
May I never have any reason to go there again.
November 25th, 2005 at 5:09 pm
I really don’t know what’s up with people these days. I used to work in a used bookstore and the official policy was that if someone wanted to come in as the store was closing, so long as they knew roughly what they wanted and would be reasonably quick, we were to let them in. Who wants to miss the store closing by 30 seconds?
Loomis is… bad. I went there to try to get my fiance some basics for starting to learn how to paint. They didn’t have some of the stuff I was looking for and everything else was waaay too expensive without any cheaper alternative! I was looking for better than dollar store quality obviously, but I’m sorry, if $4.50 is the best you can do for one measly paintbrush…
December 1st, 2005 at 2:01 am
umm…I just got hired by L&T. is that bad lol. like can this job actually lead me anywhere in the art and media field. be honest.
August 30th, 2006 at 9:08 pm
A couple of years ago I had a Curry’s in my city and then they left.
So I started going to Loomis. Very expensive but closest place to go. Tonight I drove over to Loomis to be told by the store next door that they just shut their doors and left. No letter in the mail stating they were closing or anything in the newspaper. I traveled 10 miles to go there. Well I was directed to the next closest Loomis and also told that there was a Currie’s about the same distance. Well I guess my decision is to go to Curry’s tomorrow since my own Loomis store did not even have the decency to give notice that they were closing their doors.
January 1st, 2007 at 8:45 pm
I presently am employed with the company and would like to make some clarifications, speaking from the experience of a retail employee in general and not just a Loomis employee.
I like working where I do. I’m lucky because the majority of the people I work with are intelligent, empathetic, and have the customer’s satisfaction in their best interests. We have recieved an abundance of credit and customer appreciation for our service at the store, and most employees feel that they are treated far better at Loomis than they would be at many other retail jobs.
For the poster, many of us are tired by the end of the day. Yes, I, on an individual basis, would have let you run and get what you would have needed, but please understand that situations differ, based on what is happening to the particular employee. We have to act on an insurance policy that does not cover customers past the closing time of the building, cash boxes that have to be shut down, alarm systems that have to be activated immediately, busses and trains that have to be caught to get home safely, and many other reasons.
The one thing that irks me? When I’m about to go on break, and a customer has a very lengthy question to ask, usually wanting me to race up and down getting their items for them and presented by the cash when they are perfectly capable of doing so. I will never leave them stranded in this position: if it is just an inquiry about one or two products, I help them. If not, I will lead them to another employee, explain the question to them and ensure that the customer will have their needs met.
When I get criticism for saying “I’m going on break right now, I cannot unfortunately help you at the time, but I’d be pleased to direct you to…”, I get frustrated because some people become extremely rude and critical. I do need to eat, and the longer I take to go get my lunch, the longer others have to wait, and it becomes an inconvenience.
I was on the verge of having an asthma attack the other night and a customer grabbed me by the arm when I tried to tell her that I had to run to the back, insisting that it was just a ‘little thing’ she needed.
I ask that customers do not blame the employees unless a specific one has been directly rude or unhelpful. If you want to criticise the practices of the company, that is another issue.
I’m not defending the company because I don’t feel I am in a position to do so. However, being a retail employee, I do think that I have the experience to justify some behaviour. Bad customer service exists, I acknowledge that, but bad customers happen as well.
Take the time to understand that the customer-employee relationship is one that is dependant on mutual understanding and respect.
January 8th, 2007 at 1:13 pm
I like Loomis! The service has always been great for me. My children like the store too.
Sorry to here you were late, but people who are making their own plans want to get out punctually. Why should they be responsible for accomodating your lack of preparedness. Frankly, if worked in retail – I don’t – I wouldn’t want to stay open a minute past closing.
February 28th, 2007 at 5:40 pm
Obviously you haven’t worked in retail… Its a safety risk to let anyone in after hours, no matter the reason or excuse. I was assaulted after hours once but trying to provide the “good” customer service that you think you are entitled to.
February 28th, 2007 at 7:18 pm
actually I have. But thanks for your ignorant assumption. I was alone. There were 5 employees in the store in total. I also wasn’t packing. I’m sorry that you got assaulted but that has nothing to do with this situation.
March 12th, 2007 at 12:22 am
Hookay, you know what- shit happens and it wasn’t the loomis workers fault that the subway broke down and you waited for 40 minutes staring at the side of a tunnel. Crap buddy, those 5 people have lives and responsibilities outside of taking care of you and your needs. Once the doors are locked, your outta luck.
If you expect someone to open back up so you can “spend your money”, instead being able to pack up and go home after 8hrs of minimum wage, customer service “its all about me” bull, then maybe you could exercise your spending power at a local small business (who depend on your money- whereas loomis really doesn’t miss your little purchase). At any rate quit your crying, you should have ended this one after the first sentence…
July 6th, 2007 at 10:01 am
I occasionally attend art classes at the Avenue Road school. There is one clerk in the Eglinton Loomis store that is infamous among the student for being rude, condescending, etc etc.
Someone in an art class just has to say “You know that older short male clerk at Loomis…” and everyone around in the class will finish the sentence..”…yea, isn’t he rude!”
In a shop not known for its polite staff it’s good to see individual staff are given the ability to excell in rudeness.