Today I went to your Downingtown, PA store to return a piece of fabric I purchased last week because it had been cut incorrectly. The following incident occurred and I am extremely upset!
I took the fabric I wanted to return to the cutting desk and explained to the salesperson that I had, on my previous visit, asked the gentleman who had cut it for me for his help in determining how much fabric I would need to remake the seat cover for a baby bouncy chair and I handed him the seat cover so he could determine the yardage I needed. He was not very kind or helpful and acted as if I was bothering him because I asked for his help instead of just TELLING HIM what I needed. At any rate, I handed him the bolt of fabric I chose to use and he cut it for me.
When I got home to use the fabric for my project, I realized that he had cut it too short because he did not take into account that the fabric print could only be placed lengthwise (up and down) and not widthwise (sideways) and therefore cut it too short. As a long time employee, He SHOULD have known that!!! (I frequent that store and know that he has been there for years). So, today, I had to drive back to the store (10 miles from my home) to return the fabric and get the correct yardage.
I went to the cutting desk and explained my situation to the salesperson, her name was ZUZANA. I told her that the gentleman who had cut it for me seemed disinterested in helping me and asked her if he was the manager, and she told me that there are four different men that are managers there (although I’ve never seen more than one male employee in that store who cuts fabric.). I said “Well, I can’t recall his name, but he was a black man”, (there was no negative tone or inflection whatsoever in my voice) I was simply identifying him. She replied “You mean African-American!” and I replied “Yes, OK, whatever term you want to use” and she said “NO, it’s NOT OK and it’s NOT whatever term I want to use, it’s African American and you are a racist!”! I said “I did not mean to sound racist and was only using that term to describe him to you” and she said “That was a very racist remark you made”. I said “I am an Italian American and do not go around calling myself an “Italian American”. She said “Well, I’m a Slavic American and I DO and I’m NOT having this conversation with you, I’m just not” and she slammed my intended fabric purchase down on the table and tried to wrap it up as if she was not going to wait on me. Then she said “I’m not waiting on you, I’m just not, you’re a racist, just leave the store!” I replied “I’m not leaving the store because I need that fabric and I told you I didn’t mean anything by my description and it’s none of your business anyway how I referred to him”. She proceeded to argue, saying “It IS my business and you are a racist!” She must have then realized she was the EMPLOYEE and I was the CUSTOMER and proceeded to cut the fabric for me. When done, she made another remark under her breath which I did not hear and I asked her to repeat it, but she would not. So, I looked at her name tag which she saw me doing and she said “Go ahead, look at it, my name is Zuzana!” I told her I surely was looking for her name and surely would contact her employer to which she said “Go ahead! You made a very racist remark and I’m not having this conversation with you, leave the store, JUST LEAVE THE STORE!!” In addition to her accusations and insults, she was very LOUD to the point that I wished I had asked her to lower her voice but figured she would just hurl more accusations and insults at me, so I didn’t bother, but I was mortified and embarrassed.
I paid for my purchases and left the store in tears with my heart beating out of my chest and my hands shaking!! I am 63 years old and Do Not need this unwarranted aggravation from an EMPLOYEE at Joann Fabric who is supposed to be providing customer service and satisfaction, not to mention minding their own damn business!
I will NOT tolerate this behavior from ANYONE and will surely make public this occurrence!
2-12-23 I returned to the same store and Zuzana was very rude to me again, I spoke with the District Manager, who assured me she would be dealt with, but as of today, 3-3-23, Zuzana is still employed at Joann Fabric!
