Do you buy from a retailer who’s rude because their business is slow

Keeping local economy in mind, if there is local competition, I'd move my business to them. If not, I'd put up with it until the pandemic hardships have resolved.

If they get rude with you for whatever reason, you can reply "I'm surprised you think customers would return after being treated like this" so they actually have a chance to reflect on why customers hate the the experience so much.

You don't owe them your money. But you don't want them to outright shut down and leave the place vacant for the next year or so while there is so little interest in starting new storefront businesses.

In my old 'hood there was a florist that we really liked. They were clearly really proud of what they stocked, and treated their customers in a way that made them glad to return. Especially when they recognize you from previous visits. They understood the value of not making big-box shopping more palatable.

As a business owner myself, I can sympathize with another business owner who is going through tough times but that doesn't justify treating customers with disrespect. I yell at myself, not my customers for my failures and shortcomings.

So No. I wouldn't buy from a business that was rude to me. Sorry.

No. Everyone has shit to deal with. Being rude doesn't make anything easier. It's a fight or flight reaction, only useful if you're going to literally destroy someone or scare them away. There's no reason to do that to a customer.

Rude people are usually irresponsible. That's not a good trait but it can be acceptable. I'd buy flowers from someone who is rude, but I've turned away accountants for this.

That sounds like an unpleasant experience. (And honestly, you'd probably be happy if everyone here just responded with sympathy for your unpleasant experience.)

But if you really sincerely want to explore this, then you should at least consider the other scenario: that you go back and buy flowers, and they're taken aback. They know they were rude to you, and they also know that you came back and gave them a second chance anyways. Theoretically, that could also be a humbling experience for them that also teaches them a lesson...

I just think about that old saying that everyone you meet is in the middle of fighting a battle. (Off the top of my head: someone they know may have just died. Or they may know that their business is doomed, and this is their last week before they have to pack up...) Er, this is assuming that the person selling the flowers is the same person who owns the business.

Another option is sort of the "anger management" technique. You go back later, at a nice neutral time when you're in a good place and hopefully they are too, and you try to have a friendly, non-confrontational conversation about it. "Hey, I wanted to talk to you. Not jumping on you, but I was in here the other day and you seemed really upset with me. Maybe we could talk about it a little...?"

But I guess the real truth is, this situation will probably take care of itself. I just remember two different people at a company where I worked who started being snippy to people out of the blue -- and it turns out they were in the midst of leaving the company. People tend to be rude when they're mentally already halfway out the door (so they know that it doesn't matter)...

No. The true test of one’s character is what they do when times are tough. Even if times are tough you’d think a retailer would be doubling down on winning people over any way they could not being a curmudgeon.

Everyone can have a bad day. They might be losing his house or whatever, why cancel someone over one bad encounter? Give them a chance. We all need a bit of kindness and empathy in this world.

> He was rude then, and he’s not happy generally

Not too long ago, people could encounter a grumpy store clerk and forget about it by the time they got home. Sometimes they'd even turn it into a joke [1]. It was a simpler, less angry time.

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Soup_Nazi

So you're saying that his way to deal with slow sales is to be rude to a potential customer?

I'd find another florist and forget about him.

(Don't find excuses to businesses that treat you badly)

I sometimes give them an extra chance, but if things aren't better then I'm gone.

I'd say yes.

Check your entitlement. The belief on the part of USians that "the customer is always right" is the reason nobody wants to work in retail any longer.

That florist doesn't owe you a smile or pleasantries. He has as much of a right to his emotions as you do.