I LOVE Ballard and supporting local businesses, but there are a couple that need to work on their attitude. To the few no-so-friendly shops, I say: "if you want us to shop with you, act like you want us in your store rather than ignoring us or half-heartedly helping us when we need it. thanks."

as i have said before, improve on customer service and i will. i spend my money where i am treated as a customer.

This West Seattlian will be there on Tuesday! Especially to my Ballard favorite: Ballard Home Comforts!!

Out of curiosity, can folks post to this thread with the names of the stores that have that not-so-friendly attitude?

i just returned to ask the same question as torture.. if we are going to hate on a store you best speak up! that way they can at least have an opportunity to change.

I had friendly buying and shopping around experiences today in Market Street Shoes, Ballard Home Comforts, Lucca, Chameleon, Venue, Olsens Scandanavian Shoppe and Kitchens 'n Things.

I love Ballard, and would enjoy shopping here more...but I echo the same sentiments as others. If you actually utilize the methodolgy of customer service, it helps...look up from chatting with one of your friends who stopped in to ask me if you can help...and mean it. If you are reading a magazine, please bother to look up and notice me as a customer...and if you just got a big shipment in, please stop going through your inventory list long enough to help me...ALL THES THINGS HELP!!! The biggest offenders are also store that carry some of the most beautiful things....I have money to spend, don't let me walk out because I feel ignored, nd that you ae too busy doing something else o help me...

For those looking for a specific negative: Tableau. I was one of 2 customers the other day, took my time looking at everything and left without either of the 2 employees even acknowledging my presence. I actually saw a few things I was interested in but will not spend my money under those circumstances. Romanza staff was helpful though and the staff at Bella's Boutique are very friendly.

The folks at Market Street Shoes have always been helpful plus they have a shoe club for frequent shoppers.

SMS= I didn't want to mention names, but Tableau was high on my list. Everytime I go in there I am ignored, and often times feel it is not worth thweir time to even acknowlege my presaence. I love their things and their window display always catches my eye. I work in a field where I make a good salary and live in a beautiful home...but they do not seem interested in my business...they are cold, a bit snobbish, and always act aloof..not a good combo for a retail owner or a store! On a good ote, Lucca is awlays friendly and hepful, so is Ballard Home Comforts, Romanza, haapy and cheerful (wish I loved their merchandise more...) and all the shops down old Ballard ave are great, so is the farmers market folks. Shop local, but a note to retailers....love your locals too!

Probably the worst offender for me is Sonic Boom. I love the store and shop there quite often to support local biz, but the staff is surly and never helpful. They seem put out if I ever have questions or need to buy tickets to an event.

The other places I was thinking of are the newer boutiques on Ballard Ave. They are so new, I can't recall their names, but I've gone to browse when they first opened, then to help a girlfriend pick out a dress for her birthday party, and I've never had anyone say so much as hello to me. And, they weren't busy.

The folks at Ballard Home Comforts are super nice, as are the peeps at Velouria and Lucca. Both Market Street Shoe and Athlete are awesome.

I love the Ballard shops and shop locally as much as I can. As far as cust. service goes:

LOVE:
The Quilting Loft
Market Street Shoes
Clover
Cookies
Ocho
The jewelery store on Market St. (name?)
The very cool card shop on Ballard Ave. (love their window displays!)

TERRIBLE SERVICE:
Dandelion Botanical Co. (was too busy writing a letter to even speak a word to me, I was the ONLY one in the store!)
Don't know the name, or even if it is still there, but a retro clothing store on the east side of Ballard Ave. (Talking to a friend the entire time I was there, never once said anything to me)

No other major complaints. Please people.... is it really that hard to make eye contact and ask me if you can help in any way??? From the sounds of it, that is really all any of us are looking for. Good service = repeat customers, quite simply!

Oops... forgot 2 more that I like:
Venue (Great service!)
Great Harvest Bread

Recession or not, customer service is everything. I have always loved the shops in Ballard, but more often than not disappointed in the customer service, or even the neighborly friendliness you would expect in our little neck of the woods. I hope the merchants are listening. I too would love to shop in Tableau more often if they felt like they even cared! It's a give and take we shop...you act like you care we are your commiunity and customers! Pretty simple!

Customer service (in my experience) is usually pretty lousy everywhere, not just Ballard. Retail employees don't usually get paid enough, and when the owner or manager is doing the customer service they are usually too busy to help. There's always the option of asking for help too, by the way.

I can only think of one time that I wasn't completely ignored at Tableau. Otherwise I might as well have been invisible. And as a result I haven't been there in ages. It's been a mixed bag at Gifted. The folks at Market Street Shoes are friendly and helpful and I have no complaints about Sonic Boom. I've consistently received great service at Annie's Art and Bark. I've always been impressed with the customer service at Archie McPhee's. They're friendly and really know their inventory, especially when you consider how much stuff they have.
I think Aaron has a point though. I get better help just about anywhere when I make it clear that I'm looking for help. Seems like plenty of places would just as soon not bug you until you make it apparent that you're looking for assistance. I also work a retail job and pride myself on providing excellent customer service, but people can also make it pretty clear that they'd like to be left alone. So it never hurts to speak up. I'd also just as soon not have every place I shop be like Lush, for example, where you're swarmed by employees as soon as you walk through the door and for the entire time you're in there. Though maybe some people like that sort of treatment. . .

Mr. Spot's Chai House - we used to go there at least once a week, and the service wasn't the greatest, but was at least friendly. Now, every time we go in, we are treated like a burden. I can handle waiting, I can handle an "off" day, and I can handle mistakes (I work in a restaurant myself, so know how it goes sometimes), but I can't handle consistantly bad attitudes. I'd rather do a smaller place than Starbucks, but will go where I get a smile rather than a scowl.

Mr. Spots place is always filled with hipsters chain smoking out in front (nothing wrong with smoking), who are obnoxious if you ask them to move 1 foot so you can enter. I've noticed that most of the 20-something troublemakers who hang out at 7/11 at night and are aggressive about panhandling hang out in front of Mr. Spots in the evenings.

Bad places:

Ballard Brothers: Everything is great there except when the one (busty) white woman is working the counter. She frequently screws up the order then blames you and says you made the mistake.

Bank of America: I don't know whats with this place, but everyone in there just seems grumpy and if you ask for anything non-routine, expect a hassle. Its like they're still grumpy about being acquired by BoA.

Zak's: I know everyone raves about it, but every time I go in it seems like I'm treated as a burden/hassle to them. Like I'm interrupting some conversation between the staff and the cooks that I'm asking for an order. I'm going at non-peak hours like 2-3pm too during a work day, so I don't see the fuss.

Radio Shack: You've got questions? They've got blank stares. What is up with them having an in-store DJ? Huh?

Here is a chance to get your shop Ballard/local message out to the wider community

http://www.komonews.com/news/35262109.html#idc-...

Market Street Shoes has been nice to me.
Sonic Boom treats me well.
Archie McPhees treated me nicely too.
I don't live in Ballard, yet, but I plan on moving there in March. I enjoy spending time in Ballard and would like to continue to help support the local businesses there.
Oh, and great pizza and people at Snoose Jct Pizza

At Mr. Spots, the prevailing attitude is that the staff will put up with your presence, but that they don't welcome you. The place is dirty, the staff slow and unhelpful, and they've recently replaced their long absent piano, and that means that everyone and anyone who wants to come in and slam on those keys is free to do so. The "baristas" just turn up their music to deafening levels to drown it out. I've stood waiting to order while a stoned looking mess of a girl behind the counter programs a playlist into her Ipod to play in the shop. Long minutes went by, with her standing not five feet from me, intent on her little project.

Also, they seem to encourage unbathed street kids to sleep on their sofas, and as a result the place usually has a hint of body odor about it. Nice.

Get all your plastic knick knack online shopping out in the next two years. Soon you wont even be able to afford much more than local food unless you are prepared.

Is Fred Meyer considered local?

I agree with Vic - sometimes I just want to take my time and enjoy looking without pressure or too much hovering. Yes, a "hello" or "welcome" is important, but I can ask for help if I need it.

I was shopping out and about this weekend in Ballard. Hereis what came of it

Ballard Home Comforts- nice, friendly, helpful

Clover- no one asked to help me, girl at counter was talking rather loudly to her fellow employee across the room about the wine she bought for a dinner she went to, and was laughing abut her weekend on a sotre full of kids and parents...


Camelion- very helpful and engaging!

People at Market on Saunday- All fabulous, happy friendly

Radio Shack- Yep, got the balnk stare too...employees seem uniformaed abut their products

Market Shoes- friendly helpful

Fred Meyer- cashiers at the grocery end much happier and cheerful than the ones at the other end...grumpy ,impatient and slow.

You know, Clover is a great place to window shop, but since nothing in there is remotely affordable to common shoppers, screw 'em.

Although it's not on the topic of shopping, as far as customer service, the Scream haircuts is on my never-to-return list.

I went to the front desk where they took my name. As the hairstylists were just hanging around chatting with eachother, I was left standing for quite a while without the front desk assigning me to someone or to have a seat and wait XX-minutes. After a long and awkward wait, it was finally time for a haircut. The stylist acted like I was such a burden for making get up from her seat, stop chatting, and to actually do her job. I tried doing my part in being friendly by conversing, but only got 1 word answers. When finished I never even got a "what do you think?" or "thank you".

Like Than Brothers or Sonic Boom, or anywhere else I've had issues with, I really don't care how hip or trendy you are. If you want my business, all I ask is you provide the common courtesy we learned from (or even before) kindergarten when you provide your service.

On top of my Good-List are:
Kitchen N Things (always been friendly to me when I've gone in)
Sip And Ship
Zak's
Harry's Burgers
Archie MacFees

God, people sure do whine a lot on here. I actually don't like being bombarded with customer service. A simple hello will suffice and if I need help, I'll ask. I've never had any problems with customer service in Ballard.

Many of you, it sounds, expect too much from people.

as your name implies, your method works for you.

I agree with Silence. I go to stores to look at the merchandise, and for the most part I prefer to be left alone. That being said, I have been in most of the shops mentioned and never noticed bad behavior. Do you people make eye contact and say "Hello" to the folks who work in the shops you visit, or do you skulk around avoiding eye contact waiting for an overture...yeesh

I am a say hello and then let me alone to shop person. If I need help, I will ask. That said, Damselfly could start with a hello. I will continue to go there though, as they are affordable, and their clothes are cute. Source salon was great! The first time I went in to Fiore, I wasn't impressed with the staff. I felt like a vaudevillian band was working there while not on tour. But after a few times (great coffee, though pricy) they are actually great. Mr Chai's Spot is like I am getting coffee in Olympia. I know the owner of Tableau and she is quite nice. I think they are just a very hands off staff. I can appreciate that. Market Street Shoes is usually good. Zaada Buddies has been hit and miss, but I like the bartender.

i walked in to tableau last year looking for an angel for the top of our christmas tree. the employee scoffed at me when i asked if they carried christmas angels and said "no, we don't carry that type of christmas stuff".

oh, you mean the stuff that actually has anything to do with christmas??

i guess i should have asked if they had a festivus pole

Ballard Woman..add bitter to your middle name. YES, I make eye contact, YES, I say hello, and although I agree that most of time I like to be left alone to puruse the shop, when I do have a question or need to make a purchase I like to pretend someone cares...Although you translate that to"bad behavior" what is being discussed here it is simply inadequate customer service being extended in a retail enviroment....
Silence.kit...shop online...you'll be happier there.

Bottom line, when you live in a small commuity like Ballard, and everyone is neighbors, the expectation is that the small shops who are in our town, and expect our support should also extend the courtesy of a friendly demeanor ...has nothing to do wth following you around the store asking if you want help every 5 minutes....we all know that is annoying. It's a head up when a customer enters the store, a hello, and perhaps a nice comment...anywhere from "nice day isn't it" "How bout those Mariners" ..need I go on...?obviously from all the posts there is a gap, no whining just a gap in what patrons expect from small town shops...

>>Clover- no one asked to help me.

I don't know about your kids, but my kids help themselves in there.

>>Radio Shack- Yep, got the balnk stare to

Who goes to Radio Shack anymore unless you need an 8-track and CB radio? Adorama online in NYC, plus you pay no Washington state sales tax.

>>Clover is a great place to window shop, but since nothing in there is remotely affordable to common shoppers, screw ‘em.

Well try to be less common then or go to Toys r' Us, lots of common folks in there, some may even speak english.

>>I actually don’t like being bombarded with customer service.

A grown up!