The Olive Branch — Local services in Ruidoso

Will not be returning. Stopped in to paton this business (and also looking for places to hold events of our out of town meetings and incentives we're planning with the city) and wanted to see how this business treated others...and this is exactly why I do. I went in a few days before Thanksgiving to essentially rate this shop for my clients and guests coming in and the person behind the counter just eyeballed be intensely for all of 5 minutes while I walked around and tasted the oils. She finally asked me what I was looking for (not can she help, be of service, assist me, but "what are you looking for" almost like I was not allowed to be in there. I told her I was there looking for some specific flavors as I have bought in other destinations from other oil places and I like to shop local/small on purpose. She was very hesitant to help, or offer suggestions and when I went to grab about a half dozen bottles from the shelves, she came over...not to help, but to observe what I was pulling off the shelf. At this point, I already knew how the rest of the transaction would go, so I just bit my lip and went to check out. The other dozen or so shops on the main strip offered discounts for both military and travel professionals, which I had ID for. This lay did not, so I asked if she offered any, the she scoffed at my request and stated, "This is Ruidoso, we don't do that." I simply stated that 100% of the other businesses offered, obliged and honored such discounts and told her why I asked. She literally made it sound like I was offending her by asking such a rude question. Part of me just wanted to walk out the door and let her put back that $100 worth of olive oil and stick it to her, but figured this method would be better to discuss how rude she was and set a negative tone for not just Ruidoso, but the hospitality/travel industry. As someone in the industry that places events in destinations which attract millions in economic impact...she screwed not just herself, but this business out of about $40,000 in potential revenue (in one week) as I was there to place such business. It was probably one of the most rude and egotistical encounters I've had in a long time in my almost 3 decades planning events...and the Ruidoso CVB will also be hearing of this when I see them in the near future at the next tourism conference. This business does not deserve our group business...and I'd highly suggest the ownership revisit their policy or their training, because this sales clerk acted like her $hit don't stink...and it may not, but it sure did impact their additional potential revenue for the peak season. Glad to say, found another establishment a few steps away...they not only had oils, but wine too! Signed the contract and placed deposits hours later at the other establishment next door. Definitely won't be suggesting, stopping or giving this business another dime, nor putting it on our travel/tourism/hospitality suggestions for...

walked in the first time with my wife and our SERVICE dog who is very well behaved and groomed better than most humans. when we walked in the owner asks if he is a servivce animal and i said yes would you like to see his card. i showed her his service card and my disabled veteran ID and told her he is as legal to be in here as the constitution and she then said i don't do dogs and he's going to make the store smell. I then said he smells better than your store. she then asked us to leave, which wasn't a difficult decision at all considering she had nothing spectacular to offer including her personality and attitude. i walked out and reminded her than turning away a service animal with legal papers is against the law. luckily for her i don't give a crap enough about her to file a lawsuit which i should anyways bc i can, but karma will serve her one or something similar in the future. cheers, don't buy a thing from this anti-american grinch. every other store had a great attitude and welcomed our service dog with open...

I really hate that you can’t leave 0 stars. Rating a nasty experience a 1 out of 5 seems too nice. Called this place about a month ago to explain we were driving over 3hrs to come to a handful of Ruidoso shops. I mentioned that we have a small well-behaved dog who sits in his backpack and if it would be okay to bring him (he doesn’t smell, bark, and always gets mistaken for a stuffed animal until you see him blink). The person who answered said it was okay to bring him . When we showed up two weeks later, all we heard the moment we walked in was “uh uh! No dogs of any kind in here”.. not even a “I’m sorry, we have a strict no pets rule”. My husband and I would’ve taken turns standing outside with the backpack while the other shopped, but ultimately decided we didn’t want to give the nasty old woman our money. We did the right thing and called ahead. We also respect when ppl change their mind for whatever reason, but I’m not going to be spoken to rudely by a grandma...