Ragamuffin

Write a Review209-522-1999

CLOSED NOW - Opens at 10:00am

Supporting local businesses is very important to me. I am willing to spend more on a quality item from a quality store because I believe in sustaining community treasures. If a local store can provide good customer service and quality products, they have a loyal customer in me, even if I can get the same items for less somewhere else. That's how strongly I believe in shopping local. That said...



I've only been in the store a couple of times since moving to the area but have never bought anything because I personally did not find the clothing to be that interesting or high end compared to other stores I've shopped at. However, I was open to stopping by occasionally to see if there was something that I did like *because* it was local and inventory changes. That's what I did today when I went in with my son while running other errands.



When I walked in, there were three staff persons in the store, sorting and pricing objects while chatting. Not one of them acknowledged that we had walked in. They continued to have a very loud conversation that, to me, was in poor taste for someone working in a public business. But that didn't bother me much, they were young and seemed immature (based on what I heard of the conversation), I was more bothered by being completely ignored.



As I continued to look around, my son was drawn to some toys that were in a box, they were not for sale but rather looked like they were going to be tossed out or there was some cleaning going on. A woman, who I can only presume was the owner or manager by the way she was referenced by the other staff, looked down at my son, sighed and made a look of disgust. Here was another staff person, who upon seeing me, did not bother to greet or acknowledge our presence-- and then had the audacity to make a face at my son! We left the store.



I will not be going back to this store again and will encourage others to avoid it as well. To me, a good local business treats customers (and potential customers) with the kind of personal treatment they can't expect from a big box store. They make the shopping experience personal, they engage people in such a way that one thinks twice before shopping online because you want the business to succeed. I can find these clothes online or at other stores if I really wanted them- so what's the draw for someone like me if not good customer service?



And if you are running a children's boutique, the very least that I expect from you is courtesy and friendliness towards children who enter the store. If I had gone into a women's boutique and had this experience, I understand that a child could be considered inappropriate- but in this case the only justification for their behavior is very poor customer service. No thank you.