If you're going to shop at this store and anything goes slightly wrong, don't expect management, in particular Eric Breton, to deal with you fairly and respectfully. This is not a complaint from a customer who is unhappy because she didn't get what she wanted. It is a complaint about unethical (bordering on "illegal"), certainly dishonest, management practice. I am a psychologist who works with organizations on the very issues that came up here - acting on store values, building trust with the public and with customers, training and being an example to a future generation of leaders.
In our case, the unethical practice of Mr. Breton, and possibly the co-owner Mr. Anctil who appears to have backed up Mr. Breton's choice, has to do with the handling of a sales transaction for a floor model patio set. My husband and I prepaid for a new set that was to arrive in a few weeks. The understanding was that in the case that the new product did not come, that the floor model was available to us and was being held for us, Hold/Sold signage posted on the set.
When we came back to the store to follow up on the arrival of the new set, we were told the model was no longer available. We then asked to speak to the manager about how to value a set that had been on the floor at least 4 months, if not also last year. The cushions were visibly dirty, and there was no manual or guarantee. We also noticed that the signage Hold/Sold had been removed, and that the original price sign was no longer there. Mr. Breton (who makes the final decision as store manager) refused to speak with us. His management style with us as long-time Rona customers was, "If you want it, the price is still the same". His leadership style with his middle manager was, "Deal with it!"
We have never experienced a retail manager refuse to speak with a customer who was simply asking to be treated fairly, with no price bidding behind their back.
In the end, price bidding is what happened. After us having to call his own manager to explain the situation, Mr. Breton phoned and explained that he had many customers waiting to buy the set at full price and that if we didn't want it, others did and he could sell it easily. This is unethical and again, certainly dishonest, practice because : 1) He wanted full value for a product that would leave any customer with a used, no guarantee set; 2) He removed signage on a floor product that he would have known was not otherwise available and therefore already sold to us, instead encouraging potential new customers to bid up the price; 3) He did not honor the accepted practice of negotiating the sale with the original customer before advertising to other customers. He acted in an authoritative manner, unwilling to work with us toward a reasonable solution that took into consideration the store's commitment to us while also being cognizant of the need to sell what was now essentially a clearance item.
You didn't, still don't, see the big picture, Mr. Breton. You chose to protect $50 in profit at the expense of good customer service. You didn't use the power that was in your hands to the right thing. You've lost not only this sale to us, but also us as long-time customers. Is this smart business, Mr. Anctil and Mr. Breton, when it is evident this store in Magog is losing customers to competition?