Does getting to a store 9 minutes before closing justify denial of service.?

Question

When I got to the store 9 minutes before closing, the doors were locked. I knocked on the front windows. The owner was parked in the parking lot. I waited for him to come out. He came out after closing time. When I tried to say I was there with sufficient time before closing time, he said that he heard me knock, and was ignoring me.

The next day I wanted to see if he would apologize. Absolutely no remourse from him. He said he goes by his clock. I can get the exact time from the radio on the hour. My gps calibrates to the exact time from the satelites. My cell phone calibrates to the exact time automatically as well. This isn't a matter of claiming to be there 5 seconds before closing time. I was there 9 minutes before. I think that is enough time to purchase one item and complete the transaction before closing time.
1 second ago - 3 days left to answer.
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Answer 1

Well, I would not want to do business with that store anymore. And I would tell your friends that you have a problem with that store.

But, I don't think you are going to get any coupons/discounts/apologies, if you haven't already.

Remember this the next time it is you having to stay late at work - that someone needs your services.

Answer 2

Next time I would go a little earlier. No one appreciates customers who come in at the last minute an then dally around and make the salesman stay after closing time. It probably would have taken more than 9 minutes for you to choose an item and get it paid for. Then they still have to close up for the night. The owner can do as he pleases. If he wanted to close up early for some reason its his prerogative. If you don't like the way they do business, don't shop there in the future.

Answer 3

Depends, I used to work at Circuit City as my second job nights and weekends and any big store has to let customers in even up to a minute before closing time. We weren't even allowed to close the gates and lock the doors until 2 minutes after closing time.
A small "ma and pa" store can do whatever they want-it's their store.

I personally would not shop at that store ever again. I wouldn't give my money to someone who doesn't have good customer service skills. It doesn't matter if the customer is right or wrong-the customer is always right he should have apologized anyway.

Answer 4

No shop keeper should close early or deny a customer service during business hours. Although, it is always courteous as a customer to give sufficient shopping time, and depending on the type of store, 9 minutes just doesn't seem sufficient to me. If you were running into a convenience store for a bottle of milk, that seems like plenty of time. But if you wanted to peruse the racks of a clothing shop, it doesn't.

Answer 5

If I were you and there was another store in the vicinity I would stop supporting him and let him know and the reason why too. No it definitely doesn't justify denial of service, as long as you are in the store before the closing time stated on the entrance as business hours they are supposed to grant you service and 9 minutes is not like you arrived there exactly at closing time.

Answer 6

I would say that you were there in more than enough time to make a purchase. That man was wrong. If you know for sure whether he's not the owner, then report him to the owner. Otherwise there's not much you can do.

But your service shouldn't have been denied. If that isn't the only store in your neighborhood that is open during the time you went, then don't go there anymore.

Answer 7

No, 9 minutes really isn't enough time, IMO. But it would depend on the store, what you were buying and how many other customers were in the store (if any). It was probably not a good business practice to ignore you, however. I am sure the owner has lost a customer.

Answer 8

People do as much work as they are willing to do, and no more. If the store owner decided he was done for the day, and locked up early, the only thing you can do is to notify other customers that he doesn't keep the hours he advertises.

That might be the basis for an argument that he is untrustworthy, or someone no one wants to do business with. However, it's his store, and he can do as he pleases.

Answer 9

I bet you have never worked at a store, have you?

If so, you would see that every night 5 mins until close, someone walks in the last minute. Takes their time and you end up getting out of the store 10 -20 mins late. Every night. So go during the day, you have all day.

Answer 10

Yeah that is a bit bad of him. But yeah, give him a break I worked in a shop for a while and it ain't easy work like people seem to think. Not that it justifies him in any way for closing early. We used to have idiots show up a minute before we close and then grab a trolley and walk at a snails pace through the store. THAT was annoying...don't do it people have a thought for the poor foold who are stuck there for whatever reason. yeah we could get a new job but took me ages to get out of there.......off topic hehe. He should never have shut so early, also he was a fool for admitting he was ignoring you. In fact, just to annoy him be one of the people who turns up at the last mintue and wanders through at their leisure!!!!!