Business ProfileforExpressions of Time

I went into Expressions of Time in Vernon BC on Friday April 22 2022 as I have many times before. In the past two years I've spent thousands of dollars in that store on little crystal angels as gifts for people. Being a book store as well I figured, " Hey I'm * ***** ******, been working in the community for decades, this store would be happy to carry my book, *** ** **** ******** **** *** ***** *** *** ***** ******* *****   When I spoke with the woman who owned the store and asked if she would take two copies of my book for free, just to have them in the store she said " NO, I'm not interested." I replied " Well, the topic is relevant as ******** ** ***** ** *** *** *** **** ** ********* *** *********** ***** ** ***** ** **********. Not to mention I've spent thousands of dollars here in your store." The most heartless return from this store owner was " I have no interest in reading your book, I'm not spiritual, I don't read spiritual books. Get out of my store." I asked her to look me in the eyes and said " This is really hurtful, you understand that business is a two way street?" She again told me to " Get out of her Store." I'm wondering two things - does this woman have a business license for her store? Does she know she offended a customer, practiced bad business and **** **** * ***** ** **** * ****** ** *** ******* **** **** **** ******** * ***** **** ** **** * ********* *** * ***** **** ** ***** * ****** ** *** ****** ** *** ***** ***** *** ************* *** * *** ******* ** **** **** ******* **** ******* ** ********** ********** ** * ******** ****** ****** * **** ** *** * *** **** **** ************* **** *** ** *** ******** ** **** ******** ***** ** **** *** *** ** *** * * ***** **** ** ***** ***** *** *** ******** ** *** ** **** ***** *** ***** * **** ** ******* ***** ***** ******** ** *** **** ********* *** *** *** **** ** **** **** **** **** ***** *** *** ****** **** *** ****** ********** **** ********** ***** ** **** **** **** ** ****

This Customer came into my store April 22/2022 looking for some books. On her way out of the store she came to the front desk and asked me if I carried Local Author books in the store. I replied that I carried some, but that it depended on the subject matter. She proceeded to give me her pitch about the book she wrote, and during that conversation I made the business decision that it was not something I felt I could sell in my store as a new book. We have trouble selling books in that subject matter at a used price. (I am mostly second hand books 80% used 20% New) I politely declined her book, and expressed my reasons. She seemed slightly put off, but left the store. Sometime in the next ½ hour she phoned the store looking for another book. A Staff member answered, took her number and said we would call her back as we were busy. I phoned her back minutes later to let her know that we did not have the title she was looking for, and she then proceeded to tell me that she was deeply hurt after our initial conversation and felt that I had ********* her. She informed me that she would never shop at the store again, and was going to tell all her family and friends about how terribly she was treated at my hands. As the conversation continued, she explained her distaste in the choice I made, and I expressed as politely as I could that it was a business decision and that she could choose to shop with me or not. Eventually I decided to end the call as I felt that the conversation was not going anywhere (and I was getting upset over her ****** *****). Within another half hour or so she came back into the store wanting to speak to the owner. I took her to a quiet corner of the store, while another staff member took care the customer I had been helping. She proceeded to again tell me how hurt and disappointed she was in my behavior, that I was a terrible business owner, that she apparently spends thousands of dollars in my store and expected some kind of expression of gratitude on my part. I explained again that it was not personal but was a business decision. She continued on her tirade expressing to me that ** * ********* ******, that I should be ashamed of how I've treated her. Feeling that she was imposing her spiritual values on me I made my position clear about my values. After my honesty to her, trying to clear up her misconceptions, she ******ly ********** my store and the livelihood of me and my 7 staff members. She ********** to “shut me down” and “close my business”, report me to *** ****** ******** ****** and every other media outlet that would listen. I was so shocked that a person would ******** my business, in my own store that I let her go on a for a few more seconds before I decided enough was enough and told her that in no uncertain terms, she would have to leave my store, that she was no longer welcome and to never come back again. I actually had to walk away from her as she would not stop her ****** ******, and was continually invading my personal space. She eventually left, and was heard muttering by my staff that ‘I can’t believe what this store has come to” I have a no tolerance policy on any kind of ***** in the store. A person is entitled to their opinion, but not to condemn me for mine and my staff’s (which are different than my own). I thought this would be the end of it. This customer then preceded to email me the next day. This is the contents of that email “* ***** **** * ************ ********* ********* *** ***** **** ** **** ** ********** ** **** ******** ***** **** **** ******* **** ******* ** ****** ******* ******** **** **** *** *** ** * *** *** ****** *** ****** ******** ****** ******** ** ******** ********* **** ******** ** **** ***** ********* ** ******* ** **** ***** *** *** ***** ********* ** ********** ** **** ** ************* * *** ******* **** ** ***** *** ****** **** ******** **** *** ***** ***** ** ****** ********** ** *** * ********* ** **** ******** ******** **** ** ****** **** *********** ** **** ** *** ******* ** ********* ****** ***** *** ******** *** **** ******* **** ** *** ********* ** ********* ******* *** **** ** *********** ** ***** ** *** *** *** ***** ******* ** *********** ** ***** ***** **** ******** ********** *** *** ***** ****** **** **************” ***** ******* In my opinion I feel personally ********, ************* against for my beliefs, and my business subject to potential ***** from this person. I do not tolerate ********** and ******** towards either me or my staff. This will result in the customer, being called into her own accountability for her actions and being banned from my store for life. Charlene D****** Owner/CEO Expressions of Time Enterprises Ltd.