I am really not a big fan of writing bad reviews but aside of being a disappointed customer, I now have a bad perception on the management and ownership of this store. I recently was hired as the Manager in training. The current manager was moving to Prague in one week and they need a replacement fast. After interviewing, both the owners told me we should all sleep on a decision if were interested in becoming a team. Two hours later I receive a call from Deboroah Meyer telling me how much she enjoyed talking to me and thought I was  a great fit and that she wanted me to come in and ” try out ” for the job for a few hours. Tuesday morning I arrive early and meet the young lady I would potentially be replacing. I thought I would meet the owner that morning for direction, but no dice. The young lady walks me in and attempts to show me her morning opening duties. ” turn off alarm, put signs out, no counting of registers, turn lights on, and ya that’s it” She informs me she is off Sundays and Mondays and the assistant manager was working,so she too is surprised at how dirty the store is and how the to do list she left was missing and when found, none of it was done. I didn’t understand a store closing at 6pm and the employees not having time to make sure the store is left tidy for the next crew opening. As the day goes on I put my merchandising degree into play and clean and stock the entire store, while also making sure to greet and help every customer that came in, (something corporate retail as instilled in me) even with very very little knowledge of the product and its placement in the store. Keep in mind I did all of this while thinking this is only an audition to work here. I did this because I felt the store needed my help weather I was there for a few hours or forever. While doing all the this the manager is informing of personality quirks of everyone that works there, including the owners. She informs me of the shortcomings of the assistant manager and how there is discussion of her being replaced as well. She shows me her time card from the past two months ( which I didn’t think was proper) and infroms me she is constantly late and even opens the store late on days. She tells me everyone is aware that this young lady dislikes her job and is looking for something else, and unfortunately brings her bad attitude into work every day. I found all this very off putting to think that if I do work here that is someone who is on my team, as well as the person who will be training me. Later that day she informs me that she thought I was awesome and gave the owner a great review of me, and that I had gotten the job. Moments later I receive a call from the owner and she asks me how I like it, and that she would like me to join the team, she informs me that she would like to start me out at $12 dollars and hour. A little unfair considering minimum wage in SF is $10.24 an hour, my last job as an assistant manager I was getting $15. Seems like allot of responsibilty for this amount. But I had alot of great ideas for the store and I knew they really needed someone fast, so I was obliged to help. I worked the next day with the manager and she teaches me allot about operations mostly. She later asks me what time I would like to come in the next day, and I tell her I think its best if I come in for an evening shift so I can learn closing duties, since were running short on time, she responds ” oh ya, that’s a good idea”. I return the next day, where I arrive 35 minutes early because I was in the area running errands. And early is on time in my book. I meet the assistant manager, she immediately tells me I am early, I tell her I know i’m just gonna kill some time. She then tells me I can clock in if  I want, I inform her that I don’t want to just yet. I begin to walk around the store, while im waiting for a call back from my mother. The reason i didn’t want to clock in, because I knew I was going to need to pop back out any minute. As i’m walking around i’m taking this time to also learn the product in the store and pick up little messes I see. The assistant again informs me that I can clock in if I want. This time she is telling me directly in front of a customer. I once again inform her that I don’t need to i’m waiting for a call. She continues by telling me the owner wouldnt like me working off the clock. I attempt to tell her i’m not working this is just extra education i’m doing on my own time and its ok i dont mind. The customer looks at me, a little uncomfortable and walks out the store. I’m left astonished by this behavior. When its my time to clock in I do so, and begin helping and practicing everything. A few hours later, both girls approach me as i’m in the midst of cleaning up the board game area and tell me they both want to go through the store and teach me about the product. I agree that’s a great idea, and to just let me finish this task, i’m almost done and ill be there in two minutes. The manager walks off with nothing said and the assistant remains standing there for a moment and then says ” we need to do this now” I once again just say, I understand, I just need to finish. I didn’t want to leave a task half done and the area a mess. She then gets frustrated and says ” do you know what a rush is? we get rushes of people” I nicely inform her that I do know and that i’m almost dont. She walks off upset. I approach the manager and ask her if she thinks its OK if I try talking to the assistant. She asks me why and I inform her that the way she was addressing me in front of customers didn’t seem right and I just wanted to make sure were on the same page so things can run smoother. The manager responds with, well you kept doing that to me, when I asked you to do something you wouldn’t stop what you were doing. ( mind you, none of these things were customer assistance) I attempted to inform her that leaving a mess on the floor or a task half done didn’t seem right, and I wasnt trying to be an insubordinate. She then just walked off with no response. a few customers come in we help them and then the store clears out and they begin the product knowledge. After that they inform me that the owner will be in the store tomorrow and they needed to do the boxes of shipment that they hadnt done in the slower morning hours. I’m a little appauled by this because as several customers come in, neither of the girls dropped what they were doing to assist the customers, unless they are asked or to ring someone up. As the day closes i’m curious why I haven’t heard from the owner, while the girls have talked to her several times on the phone and in a personal space behind a closed door. At six o clock the manager says, well you can go, its gonna take us a while to close out. In confusion I say, but I thought that’s why I worked till close, so I can learn this. She says, oh ya. She attempts to show me how to close but is very messy with it. We close up and leave. Two hours later I receive this email from the owner :

Courtney,

We spoke with Samantha today and she informed us that it was not going well with you. Specifically, you were resistant to being instructed about various protocols about running the store, to the point of being disrespectful to the other employees who are very knowledgeable about our business. Both girls felt that you were very difficult to work with. That being said, it’s obvious that you are not qualified for this position, so this was your last day. We will send your check for the pay period that ended on Wednesday, and an additional check for Thursday’s hours

I didnt recieve a phone call to ask me what had happened, I simply recieved this email. I was and still am completly astonished at this ownership behavoir. Mainly because I was told that the owners knew about the assistants bad attitude and lack of ambition for her job and that they were looking to replace her, and that the manager training me was leaving in less than a week, and yet they still believed what ever exaggerated story they told. I responded to the owners email with this:

 I am very surprised at this, mainly because only one side of this situation was discussed with you.  I was put in a few bad positions today and still tried to run your business accordingly. I would like the opportunity to talk to you both regarding the situation because I don’t believe that this should be handled without hearing the whole story.  I feel as if the things you heard were one sided and possibly grossly exaggerated. I can come in tomorrow when your in the store and we can discuss this if possible.    

And still no response from the owners. I just want it to be known that I am a very courteous and capable young lady, and had only the best of intentions to help this couple with their store. And that I turned down two other great opportunities at other companies to help them. Im more hurt as a person to know that this kind of behavoir goes on, even amongst our eldest of peers.