Dollar Tree

I am making a formal complaint regarding the Dollar Tree Store - Store# 974 (3908 S. Dale Mabry Hwy. Tampa, FL 33611 at Britton Plaza Shopping Center). I and many other regular customers were standing outside the store on Sunday, March 12th waiting for the store to open at 8 a.m. EDT. It was very apparent there were no employees inside the store because the Sunday edition of the Tampa Bay Times was placed outside where anyone could pick up a copy. Usually, these newspapers are already inside the store before it opens at 8 a.m. (EDT).

Yes, I'm aware people make mistakes but we are talking about a corporate store, not a mom & pop establishment or a franchise that is individually owned and operated. There is ABSOLUTELY NO excuse! There should be a backup system in place if the store is not going to open on time. There was no way I or the other regular customers were going to wait for someone to show up which was likely to be at 9 a.m. (EDT). Then the employee would have to do other things inside the store first before opening which could take another 10-15 minutes.

I have had problems with this store last year that I complained about. Now, this complaint did not affect just me but other loyal customers too. I will certainly make an effort to avoid this Dollar Tree store as much as possible because it is poorly stocked, messy, dirty, lazy employees, and horrifically managed!

I went to the Dollar Tree store in Tampa, Florida at the Britton Plaza location on Thursday, March 24th between 8:45 a.m. and 9 a.m. As I was approaching the aisle where they sell office and school supplies there was a Dollar Tree Sales Associate, Dee, standing right in the middle of the aisle. Unfortunately I was not able to get around as the aisle was entirely cluttered and there was someone else on the other side (either another employee or a customer). However, I waited a minute or two hoping Dee, the sale associate, would see me in the corner of her eye. She did not make any move whatsoever so I politely and respectfully said "excuse me." Let me tell you she gave me the dirtiest side glance and very begrudgingly moved like she was doing me a huge favor.

Thankfully what I was looking for was available in that aisle so I was at least happy for that. Then to add further insult to injury I went to pay for my items and there was no cashier. Again, I waited for someone to show up. When no one did I said out loud very politely "Can someone please help me." It was the same rude Dollar Tree employee, Dee, who would not move when I came down that aisle earlier. Now she was copping an attitude with me at the register because I had to break her away from whatever she was doing beforehand. After getting my receipt and change I asked Dee if I could have a bigger bag since it was raining outside and I did not want my items to get wet.

Once again, she gives me this ugly facial expression with the response "No, we don't have any." I did not believe her whatsoever. Now this all happened once again in front of a customer. Of course Dee was as sweet as honey to the other customer. However, I was treated with utter disdain the whole time I was in the store. What is truly sad about this whole incident is sometime last year I complimented Dee on the music she was listening to in the store while she works. I said to her it is very inspirational and puts me in a good mood. I guess she didn't remember that.

I've complained in the past about their unprofessional store manager and certain other employees to the corporate office. Obviously it has been worthless. I have been curtailing doing business with Dollar Tree since my complaint to their corporate office back in February 2021. Now with their price increase of $1.25 it has gone from bad to worse. This store has literally gone to pot and so have some of the employees such as Dee sadly enough.