Got called fat, complained then got called a liar!

[Alison421e]

I was just browsing my local boutique shops online looking for outfits and came across a review I wrote around Xmas time. During that visit I had tried on an outfit for New Years and I thought I looked nice, considering I had a baby at the time literally few months ago. The shop assistant was a nasty bi**ch she told me I had a HUGE tummy and it doesn’t look nice on me, maybe I should buy when I’ve lost the baby weight. I was obviously upset and embarrassed so left and later that day wrote a review. I didn’t expect much, I just wanted the management to speak to her and just write sorry for bad service you received. I had literally forgotten about it till I just read their response!

He’s basically called me a liar and said that CCTV was checked and the assistant did not in any way say this. They also said I seemed very “jolly” on the cctv and I left the store smiling and happily!

I was so angry that I just responded back! I know I shouldn’t have but it’s made me really angry. I told them on review your assistant could see I had a baby in pram and insensitive remarks like this can really affect a persons self esteem. I said a few other things too! I’m a little embarrassed but I’m not going to delete my review as it’s 100% true account of what happened. I accidentally over-wrote my initial review so that is replaced by the review I wrote today. I’m so angry - did I over-react at their response? All they had to do was say they will investigate and apologise for the way she spoke to me and it would be the end of the matter! But they called me a liar and denied this happened. I feel I can’t step foot in that place again now

I think OP means they edited their first review with the new review.
I don't think the ability to leave online reviews has added to the happiness of the world.

I have a thread about an unfair review a customer left for us - and there's no way I would a) employ staff that would say that and b) respond by calling the customer a liar!

Absolutely terrible. Totally unprofessional, and I very much doubt it's the first time this girl has had a problem, which the manager would know!!!

The only response to this would be a fulsome apology, possibly saying there 'might' have been crossed wires (if you're not sure) and something to say that you have investigated and will get ensuring that all staff have the appropriate training to ensure there are no more misunderstandings of this nature.

Ending with a second apology. That's shit OP. Who do these girls think they are?

It was a horrible experience, but the more you focus on it the worse you will feel. Put it behind you and look forwards now. They aren't worth your emotional energy.

@BottomOfMyPencilCase when I edited the review the previous review text got highlighted so I unknowingly wrote over it. I should have I clicked to unhighlight it then left couple of spaces then typed so my edited review would be at the top (so what I wrote today) and previous review would have been below (what I wrote in December). I didn’t realise I over-wrote it until I posted. I could have clicked undo if I did but was too late as I posted.

Serious PP why do I need to write fake reviews 9 months ago then get upset about it today?

Enough with the reviews. Just don’t go in again. Don’t give them any more of your head space or time.

This won’t help much, but you would have been better off challenging the shop assistant when she addressed the remark to you at Christmas. Something like, “I can’t believe that you think that is an appropriate thing to say to a customer. When I want your opinion on my body, I’ll ask for it, thanks.”

If you want a business to take specific action in relation to a case, it’s best to ask to speak to the manager or owner there and then, rather than leaving a review on a public site. You can leave a review, of course, but it’s not the best way to have your complaint addressed. It tends to put the other party on the defensive.

I’d leave it now. Be dignified.

Although my instinct is that it would have been better to complain verbally at the time, it remains the case that your review is out there , and people might just take the manager’s reply with a pinch of salt given that it’s not really in your interests to make this sort of thing up.

I would update the review again with a picture of myself looking bloody awesome holding tons of shopping bags with the caption "Big mistake. Huge."

Arseholes.

I would think very little of a company that responded to you in the way they did. And I wouldn't need to know the truth or the details. You as a customer are entitled to give feedback. They are not entitled to say it didn't happen. I seriously doubt the CCTV had sound - why would it!?

Are you sure the sales assistant wasnt being sensible?
did you lose the baby weight?

sensible

It was nearly a year ago. Just let it go and never go there again.

That assistant probably doesn't work there anymore and they might not be in business after the covid shutdowns.

This is a bit of a mountain out of a molehill.

One person made an insensitive comment. Perhaps it wasn’t the ideal outfit for your shape at that time.

I’m always a bit when people react so viscerally to the word fat, or overweight, or yes - even huge.

Some people are fat. Some are thin. Some are blonde. Some are brunette. It’s a description, not an insult!

And some body shapes don’t suit certain clothes!

I can’t imagine being this angry about it almost a year later.

@OhCaptain I’m angry at being called a liar by the manager who denied the incident happened. Yes I was upset at being called fat but I’m more annoyed at the cheek of being called a liar and the events I described did not happen.

[quote Alison421e]@OhCaptain I’m angry at being called a liar by the manager who denied the incident happened. Yes I was upset at being called fat but I’m more annoyed at the cheek of being called a liar and the events I described did not happen.[/quote]
Fair enough. But enough to argue about it online 9 months later?

And don’t forget, his staff member would have told a different tale. Plus he will be preserving the shop’s reputation.

You know what happened and you’ve said your piece. The best way to handle it is to vote with your feet and not shop there again.

You say you feel you can’t go in again. But do you really want to??

Name and shame on Facebook Twitter and the local press (well shame is the wrong world be because you have to a a fraction decent to feel any shame) and make a cunt out of him. He made a cunt out of you.

If I was spending my hard earned cash I wouldn't expect to be insulted to my face. Telling someone they have a huge stomach is an insult. You can't dress it as advice or a factual statement. It's cruel, unnecessary and unprofessional. Then to say it wasn't said in the first place... Well that's got my goat.

@Tomatoesneedtoripen

Are you sure the sales assistant wasnt being sensible? did you lose the baby weight?

Piss off.

Well I can see a couple of positives here. Firstly the assistant was presumably trying to give honest advice rather than encouraging you to spend your money on an outfit that did you no favours. It’s a shame she did it tactlessly but is it possible she had good intentions? Perhaps that’s why the manager backed her up / gave her the benefit of the doubt?

And now you can spend your money elsewhere if you want to, so if it makes you feel better, it’s their loss! Could you look at it that way?

What can the manager do they'll of asked to assistant who gave there version . The only thing he can go off is the CCTV.
Sorry if you wanted to complain it's there and then to a manager not a reiview online

OP I wasn't being mean, I genuinely didn't (and don't) understand what you meant by over wrote. I was asking to double check as I took "over wrote" as put more details than you should have i.e exaggerated. That's clearly not what you meant which is fine but I think your response to me asking for clarity was a bit OTT.

@heartsonacake

You didn’t speak to the manager at the time and it’s your word against theirs. The manager isn’t going to apologise if there’s no proof she said it.

What a ridiculous comment! How could anyone 'prove' what a shop assistant says?! So by your logic, any staff member can speak to customers like shit and management won't do a damn thing about it without actual proof (how?)

If that was how customer service worked then there would be no businesses left!!

Don't worry. Some people get very upset by even mild complaints/reviews. I gave a truthful 3-star review to a local cafe and got detailed abuse in reply and banned. Not that I would ever go there again!

I think all you can do is vote with your feet. It quite the same but I left a review of a mobile mechanic online after they were just completely useless. They had been rude in their emails and mucked me about a lot and I’d just politely ignored as I needed my car fixed. But after a while I got fed up and took the car somewhere else it was then that I found out they had done something really dangerous to my car so I left a review. They responded and pretty much called me a liar despite me having independent evidence of what they did! I just think it reflects on the business when I read responses like that as it’s unprofessional, I always read reviews now to see how they deal with complaints it they have any

There is a pub near me that has has appalling reviews, and even funnier, the manager responds!
it makes them look bad tbh to respond.

@Tomatoesneedtoripen

Are you sure the sales assistant wasnt being sensible? did you lose the baby weight?

What about you? Did you find the manners you so clearly lost?

I would add that you also have to be wise to some reviews as well as some people just love a moan when they are not always fair or justified. We have had Facebook reviews on our business that are not telling the whole story, missing important information that would make the reviewer look a little less entitled to be annoyed, like the lady that complained her chimney leaked, after we fitted a new front door (yes that really happened to us)