I need help from YT members
 

This may be a bit long,because part of it is going to be a rant.
Went to BlockBuster with DH & DD,took 5lb Mina yorkie,7lb Amigo Chihuahua. We walk in like we have a 100 times with dogs and the manager,that I have never laid eyes on before,yells across the store that we can not bring our dogs in. I said that I had brought my dogs in that store alot over many years and she smiled,not really caring,and stated that she was sorry but we could not bring them in. I told her that this was total "B#!! S%!^".I asked if it was posted,she said yes. There is a new sign posted in the window that states "service animals welcome".
I ran into an employee outside that apologized several times for his manager, he gave me the district managers number and yes I did call. I explained to the district manager that if my dogs,that would never be allowed to touch their floor,were not welcome in the store,then my family of 8 people and 6 dogs would become Netflix customers and that I would also contact every dog owner that I knew,including the group that I belong to, that is world wide and ask them to do the same. She said that it was because they sell food,I told her that those laws were for open food not candy bars that were sealed. I also told her that the truth was that corporate was covering their ASSests because they were afraid that a dog would bite someone. I explained that a dog can NOT be properly socialized if they can not go in public places and therefore are more likely to bite someone if they are only seen and handled by their owners.
So for starters if you feel so inclined would you please write BlockBuster a complaint email about not letting small dogs into their stores.
The district manager said that she would try to talk to corporate and state our case. That is very nice of her,but will probably go nowhere. We will still be looking into another movie company this weekend. If we change I will be writing a letter to BlockBuster and explain why.
My grandmother,who owned a store,told me once that "word of mouth" advertising was the best or worst and it was up to us to keep it good.

Count me in, I am the queen of skipping the average employee and shooting straight to the owner of the company. I stop going to blockbuster because the prices got to high and I like Netflix better. However I am in Texas as well and use to go to the Seagoville Blockbuster ''Always with my baby' safe and secure in his carrier. I have never had anyone ask me to leave the store.

So you have my full support and I shall draft a letter and make a phone call to corporate as well. Do you have that store number or just shoot me the location.


Cynthia:yeahthat::thumbs_up

Blockbuster is a sinking ship. You'd think they'd welcome all the customers they can get.

My wife works at Blockbuster. I've brought my dogs in to the store many times....never a problem. Many of her customers bring their little ones in, too.

I don't think there's any official policy in most places that don't serve food except that service dogs are welcome. Really, we toy breed owners do get to take our dogs into many places where a big dog wouldn't be allowed. It's usually an informal thing. But, if someone were to push the point, most stores would adopt a 'no dogs allowed' policy. It's really all they can do if pushed to respond. Recently, I was asked to leave our local water dept. office because I had my little 4 pound Heidi tucked under my arm. There's no sign saying 'no dogs' but I just left, knowing not to go there again with a dog.

Sounds like you ran across a manager with a burr in her butt. I understand your frustration, but think yours is an isolated case and most Blockbusters don't make a fuss about small dogs in someone's arms. I believe it's an informal policy and all any complaining will do is make them adopt a 'no dogs' (except service) policy. Then there's just another place I can't take mine to.

I agree about it being an informal policy. My CU has a clear sign that says "no pets allowed" on the door. They let me in with Kaji when I opened my account and every time after. My older brother has seen a well behaved golden retriever in the bank. It's an informal policy, and when a misbehaved dog walks in, they can politely point to the door and ask them to leave.

The same thing happened to me last week when I went to FedEx. I just took my business elsewhere. The manager said the exact SAME thing as that manager!! C'mmon, they sell candy! She was telling me that they could get sued because they sell "food". :rolleyes:

Op I feel you. It's well known that Ross has a corporate policy to allow small dogs into the store. I went in to a new one with Kaji to kill time and see what kind of dog stuff they had. I've been to many, MANY, Ross stores before without an issue. But as soon as the security at this new store saw Kaji, he kicked me out. He used a very mean tone, and told me "that thing" was not welcome in the store. I told him he needed to be better informed of the store policy before openin his mouth. He said, "F**k it, do whatever you want." I walked out humiliated. Good thing I have a gutsy friend who immediately called the store manager. They apologized to her over the phone, but the damage was done. I've never been to that store ever again.

You are correct the manager did have a burr under her saddle. Yes the rule is imformal. No she shouldn't of cause a stink over it. If I am not happy with service in a store I am going to say something. That is why I spoke to the district manager.
Not speaking up can cause as many problems as speaking out.

I'll write...

Blockbuster is going under, I agree that they should accept people coming in with their little pets to drum up some business if need be. How rude of the manager to yell towards you...lack of manners on her part.

I run my own company here in UK and I insist that all employees are trained in "customer Satisfaction".
As part of this training each employee is instructed that there is a good way and a bad way to tell a customer that something is not allowed.
They are taught that approaching a customer in a friendly and polite manner will often achieve the result required but above all they are also taught that without a customer they are without a job.

Each and every store or company has rules and regulations to abide by often laid down by either government or local authority and if in breach of those rules the company may face legal action.

If a customer is spoken to in a polite civil and friendly manner then the target is often achieved but we also see the customer who has no intention of co-operating with anyone other than themselves.
This type of customer will tell their story to all and often only as seen by them, there is no point in entering into an argument with them all we can do is demand the rules are adhered to and take the abuse on the chin.

I have also seen many companies who do not have any form of customer satisfaction training and Block Busters, in my opinion, is one of them, yes even in UK we have them,

Bye Bye BlockBuster...send them the link to this thread...
Netflix is cheaper anyways, more $ to spend on YT!

I LOVE Target after years of taking dogs in I was told not to bring my dog in when leaving literally walking out the door-I was irritated too, but at least I understand-Target has a cafe & coffee shop it's the law.

Why does your dog need to be able to go in the blockbuster store can you tell me? Can you tell me one reason besides its convenient for you because there are other paying customers there some IM sure that have allergies to animals and its not convenient to them so what makes your needs more important than theirs. Yes a candy bar isnt open food but it is consumed by humans so it is considered a food item. How do you know someone else may bring a dog and it chew on a candy bar. When these places make rules they have to make them for everyone. It is unfair for you to take out your frustrations towards blockbuster and try to affect them financially. You chose to have a dog it is your responsibility not blockbusters be responsible and respectful

I rarely take my dogs in any store unless I know it's allowed, like pet stores. My son has asthma and he doesn't want to meet a dog in a store where he is shopping, like Blockbuster. Blockbuster might lose his business the first time he went in there and someone had a dog with them. I love my dogs just as much as anyone, but don't think it's my "right" to take them in stores and force other people to deal with them. They're safer at home. Some children are afraid of dogs, some people are allergic, some people just don't like dogs. No matter how careful you are, something can always happen. The dog gets scared and barks, leaps out of your arms and gets out the door, bites someone who tries to catch it, pees on the merchandise, causes a big commotion. There are plenty of places we can take our dogs where they are expected to be. I'm happy with those places.

Jeanette

I was thinking the same thing and I totally agree! However, I think the manager could have approached her in more polite way.

I agree with you on this point. In my post above I have said that it all depends on how a customer is approached as to the satisfaction of the end result. Whilst Blockbuster is a major company they do lack training in how to deal with customers.

Once you go Netflix, you'll never go back.

My complaint is that if the rules had been changed and obviously they have sense the sticker on the window was new. Yelling at me infront of other people was not a good way to handle the problem. My dog has been welcome in that particular store for years. As for taking my dogs into public, they cause less of a rucus than a screaming child that isnt being attended to. As for the asthma/allergy question,I am asthmatic and have been all of my life and have a whole host of allergies. I find that yorkies and a few other small breed dogs do not bother my allergies or asthma.
I happen to think that taking a SCREAMING child into a store and not removing them is putting your needs over others,noone says anything about that. I have seen children take fruit and candy at a store and just eat it or only half of it and put it back,I find this offensive.
I do not allow strangers to pet my dog nor did I allow stangers to hold or touch my small children.
My intent is and was NEVER to put a company out of business but to let them know that there are people out there that dont appreciate rude employees that have risen to the status of manager. You were not there to see the smirk on her face when she was yelling at me from across the store,nor were you there when her own employee gave me the district managers information because they even thought that the store manager was rude and is apparently this way to everyone,nor were you there when the store FULL of people thought that the dogs should stay.
I also stated that if you were "so inclinded" to write BB and tell them how you feel about a small dog being in a store. If you do not agree then you are more than welcome to write them and tell them so. I did not ask for anyone to come on the forum and rant at me personally. I will do what I feel is right for the situation and you are welcome to do the same.

That is what I have been told,but the situation is still sad.

It could have been said a lot differently... like the manager could have come up to you quietly and said that there are no dogs allowed.

I don't know why people get so upset about places not allowing dogs. A lot of places don't allow dogs and if that's the policy, then that's the policy. There are many reasons I can see why a store would not accept dogs, no matter what their size. I don't bring my dogs into any public place except for places that I know allow them, like pet stores or parks. My dogs are socialized just fine and don't bite anyone. As for screaming children - yes, they are annoying sometimes, believe me, one pulled a fire alarm in my office yesterday because mommy wasn't correcting him and shut down the whole hospital - BUT it is very illegal to leave a young child, whether a screaming one or a well behaved one, at home alone so of course there will be children in public places. Dogs you can leave at home. If I'm ever in a situation where I can't bring my dogs in a store and they happen to be with us, one of us (myself or DH) stays in the air conditioned car with them. No big deal.

All of our Blockbusters closed around here anyways, LOL.

But meh, I don't see the big deal. I mean, yeah, it sucks. But if someone ever tells me Jackson is not welcome, I simply say okay and walk out. Now, people certainly should not be RUDE! I don't think it's a big deal to bring my pup into a store like Blockbuster anyways, don't really see the point. *shrugs*

I just don't think it was worth the big fuss to be perfectly honest.

We don't have to worry about that at the 2 Blockbusters in my area because all of them have closed. They even tore the building down. I think this will be happening everywhere, it is hard to keep up with Netflix because of their outrageous prices. My son just downloads any movie he wants off the internet.Sorry you had a horrible experience.

I just saw your post and totally agree.

I see many of these posts about how children are worse, etc, etc, but I don't think most people understand that as annoying as kids can be, and yes, my dog probably IS more well behaved than a child... it is completely illegal to leave a young child at a home unattended. A dog CAN stay home. And even though I treat Jackson like my son... he IS a dog and NOT a human.

Well, having an employee being rude to you is a valid complaint. I hope you follow through with that. It's not what you originally posted, though. Your complaint was about not being allowed to have your dogs in the store and you were asking all YT members to complain to them, too.

For those that want to rail against Blockbuster, here's the perfect site...

I Hate Blockbuster

I have to be honest here and say that I consider this thread is in danger of getting out of hand. I am now getting confused as to what the OP is really complaining about is it the attitude of the store manager if so then the complaint should be limited to that. Is the complaint that the OP could not take dog or dogs into a store if so then limit the complaint to that. If the complaint is a combination of both above then say so and limit to complaint to same. I see no point in expanding the thread to cover children in the complaint or even to refer or use them as a comparison. I am lead to believe that children are human beings not animals and as human beings they have rights and requirements that animals do not. So dear readers why are we expanding the thread and blowing the whole thing out of proportion. Please correct me if I am wrong but I did think the OP was complaining about the attitude of the manager along with not being permitted to break rules ??????

I think Blockbuster (who formally filed for bankruptcy) has been purchased by DISH Network. Letters may not even reach anyone at this point.
I think when an employee is rude it just makes us feel so bad, and makes us want some "justice". It's also disappointing to think we can take our pups somewhere that we end up not being able to. At this same time, even thought our little yorkies are small, they are still considered dogs by most others.
I'm sorry you were treated so rudely, it was uncalled for.
BTW, Northpark Mall allows dogs, and every individual store I went in also allowed me to bring Zoe in, either in my arms or a carrer. So, if you're ever up for a shopping day in Dallas, that would be a good place to go.

There are some awesome websites on the Internet that tell you who are dog friendly and who are not. I travel with both my fur kids in tow. I literally schedule to go places they are welcome. I just wish my area was as dog friendly as Austin, TX.

I think thee real issue here is that store policy changed in between store visits, and instead of being told politely of the policy change a public display occurred instead.

Hello! Agreed and I dont think comparing children to dogs (no matter how we love and adore them) is the same!

BTW, no one is gaining up on you and your decision to write Blockbuster and complain. When you posted this thread, you opened up the floor to hear opinions from everyone regardless if they agree with you or not. There is no reason to get upset towards those who dont exactly share the same thoughts.....

I thought so.....

The OP was the one who brought children into this, not others. I replied in my response about children to basically say what you said about children and dogs being two different things. And there is no reason for the thread to get out of control. Everyone is stating their opinions nicely and I don't see why anyone should get huffy about it.