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| - I opened their door today a few minutes before their 4 pm posted closing time, and the young lady who worked there made it clear that she did not want my business today. It was clear she had already closed the interior of the store--the security curtain had already been pulled over. I also own a small business, and I know not to turn away customers who arrive just before closing time, but then again, I know the value of a customer, how hard it is to get a new one, and how important retention of present customers by way of good customer service. Since I was turned away, I got in my car and drove away. I checked the time on my phone just before I pulled out into Sharon Amity, and it said "3:57pm". So much for "open until 4 pm." In fairness to the young lady, what I wanted may have kept her working until 4:05 pm, but she would have made another sale. She would not have been able to lock the front door and leave by 3:59 as she apparently hoped. If she were my employee, I would have fired her on the spot. Although I have patronized this store many times in the past, I will never, ever spend another dime with them. My transaction today would been maybe $20, and the "lifetime value" to them of keeping me as a customer would surely be measured in the hundreds of dollars. But now, one of their many competitors will get that future money. It will be a competitor that actually stays open for business until "closing time" and that values having my business.
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