I used to visit this store quite regularly in my late teens and early twenties. I’d enjoy browsing the aisles and would usually buy something, despite the sour attitude of the ladies at the front desk. Two cases of utter rudeness, however, have permanently turned me off of Marriotts. On one occasion, being an avid reader and a regular customer, I enquired if there was any work available. I didn’t expect there would be; was merely enquiring. The response I got was to be rudely told that, «We didn’t advertise any jobs» with an implied tone suggesting that I was a nuisance and should f*** off. I politely tried to explain that I wasn’t presuming they had advertised, but was merely enquiring. Again, the lady snapped that there weren’t any jobs. So I left, feeling like I’d just mortally offended her. I understand that she may get people like me quite often but, at the time, she didn’t appear to be busy with any task. Also, I work in retail and I understand that everyone who enters my store is either a potential customer or knows someone who is. The second offence occurred about a year later(yes, I continued to visit the store). I don’t know if they still do but, around that time, Marriots had a sign out front saying they buy as well as sell books. So, I took in some books I no longer wanted. However, when I told the lady behind the desk(a different one) what I was there for, she took one glance at the small pile in my hands and sneered that it was only«cheap s**t» and they wouldn’t be able to sell it. Considering the fact the books were still piled in my hands with covers hidden, I found it offensive to deride what I was offering in the way she did without even looking at them. I hadn’t even mentioned a price; I would have been happy with $ 1 for the lot. But no. Like the previous occasion, there was no genuine communication, no civility; merely derision and treating the now ex-customer like a timewaster. Incidentally, these events happened almost ten years ago when Marriotts was at their old location in Strathpine. I just want the owners of Marriots to know that they lost a customer who’s since been rubbishing their business whenever the topic comes up in conversation.
