Alternative Therapies Group — Local services in Salem

Today I arrived at the store and was greeted by a gentleman behind the counter who asked me if I have a pre-fill order. "Yes" I said, as I proceeded to the counter and showed the clerk my identification. The gentleman was able to find my order by the last name on my ID. He reaches for a black resealable bag containing the two items I pre-ordered from the cabinet behind him.

"So you have the two 'Durban Poison' carts, right?, comes out to [total]", he says.

"Can I possibly add one more item to this order?", I asked, as I scanned the counter for the menu.

Before the gentlemen could even begin to make sense of his words, he was interrupted by the women next to him who had been verifying the contents of my pre-order in the bag. Mind you, I have a slight disability in my right ear, so the distance of the counter and the plastic sound barrier between us didn't help me realize that she was actually speaking, let alone to me. What sounded like a faint voice, was affirmed once the gentleman was given an uninterrupted moment to finish his sentence.

To be fair, I don't know what her exact words were, but it wasn't really what she said that made me uncomfortable to begin with. As someone who relies heavily on non-verbal behavior, when lip reading is impaired, the interaction felt very passive aggressive. I brushed it off, completed my order, picked up my black baggie and proceed to make the line in the next counter.

After a surprisingly quick wait time, I was greeted by the same women; "Yah - can I just see your id please?", she blurts.

I approach with a few steps and attempt to place my black baggie on the counter, and as I reach into my pocket, I hear the women speak in a familiar tone. "Nothing should be on the counter please?”, she said, as she looked away. The tone was in the form of a question. The issue here is not what she said, it’s how she said it. I chuckled inside because the experience felt a lot like what I had originally picked up - and avoiding eye contact only confirmed my suspicions. I acknowledged her by placing my baggie on the counter, pulling out my identification, pressing it gently against the transparent barrier and reaching for my black baggie. I did it this way because I am a customer and at the very least, I expect to be treated with the same dignity I receive from my morning Dunkin Donut run.

As she scans for my birthdate, I clutch my face mask and begin to ask a question, but was suddenly interrupted with “Yah - nothing on the counters due to covid! You can stand behind the line please! How can I help you!”, she stated.

Let me stop you, the reader, here for just one moment. This is extremely dismissive. It’s very frustrating as a customer to be acknowledged this way. Being spoken to this way causes unnecessary friction in communication and being in a setting, where largely, you are left unattended and on your own to problem solve the business process of purchasing marijuana products on the other side of the counter does not make it anymore helpful for this interaction.

“Do you have batteries for vape cartridges in stock?”, I asked,

“….”,

“I’m sorry?” I said, as I cupped my ear as if I could listen harder,

The women began to motion her hands in an anti-pattern, as she spoke in her familiar tone. Her body language suggested that she did not take kindly to repeating her self. In a dismissive and mildly aggressive manner, she leaves in search behind the counter, comes back and shouts “Yep - here it is, it’ll be $20”.

I gave her the $20 and waited. “Can you please stay behind the line, please?”, she asked. “Sure”, I responded. A few seconds went by; “Here you go, next person please!” she said, as she makes a signal that my bag is ready. Couldn’t say thank you or good bye because in her mind, I’d already left the building. As I walked out, I was reminded of that feeling I get each time I leave this establishment. I really hate it here. I hate the toxic and high pressure culture and if it weren’t for you competitor having low inventory today, I would...

Other recreational dispensaries made sure customers had umbrellas on opening day and the days after. They opened on Saturday and I went on Sunday, see receipt. Verilife in Wareham even had coffee and pizza, and when it rained they gave us umbrellas for the hour wait next to the dispensary.

This Salem dispensary let people smoke cigarettes in line and in front of the door. I did really like the woman working outside and she provided menus to the line. She was answering lots of questions, was so nice and kept the line happy with her enthusiasm even though it was bitter cold.

It was pouring and freezing on the 16th, and they had no warming tent. Their tent was small with open sides, not enclosed and everyone was crowding underneath this tiny covering that could only fit the start of the line. A lot of people are scheduled for one appointment, making the line go only 8 at time and a total wait over 3 hours. I arrived at 4 pm because I was warned about the line being long and I had a 5:00 p.m. appointment and did not get out until 7 p.m. after the dispensary was supposed to close. They only had four budtenders total for recreational. But, Verilife only had two and the line moved so quickly with the staff constantly asking if we had questions in line and they did a Pax Era promo that gave you a $1 smartphone enabled vape if you bought one cartridge.

The product at ATG was okay, nothing special to pay 21% tax and the budtenders could have been working at Walmart from their demeanor and unhappy attitudes. The adult menu was never released on the WEBSITE or Leafly, selections were super limited, not enough product for the wait and I was looking to buy the Bakked brand for concentrates, but it was only for medical patients.

If this is your first dispensary experience avoid this place, it feels like a prison and choose any of the others. There is a condemned building right next to the dispensary overlooking the parking lot. I don't like their plastic packaging or the atmosphere inside. The sketchy parking along a dark street was daunting if you're a female, and unfriendly police. Salem has enough tourists already. Go to Verilife or NETA, or research better places.

ATG accused me of writing a false review, so I updated my review with several photos, my receipt and more details. Obviously, they need to address their problems and...

Alternative Therapies Group should be your ABSOULTE LAST ALTERNATIVE, when it comes to finding a dispensary to do your buisness with. The flower is highly inconsistent, you will find maybe 1 or two strainds TOPS per location on any given day, that actually compare to Western cannibis, even tho they feel they have the right to charge as if they are on the same level. Not even close. Ive literally had only 2 strains from there that had a taste and pungent odor, and ive been trying them off and on for almost a year now. SECOND AND MOST IMPORTANT RED FLAG: Their staff is hands down the most unprofessional dispensary staff ive ever done buisness with. They will literally tell you like they just told me over the phone: Either like it, or don't come back! They will not show you the product before purchase, while NETA and SANCTUARY will happily display it behind the counter for you, and woft the container in your direction so you can see if its the container that is right for you. I walked into ATG Salisbury today and specifically asked them to make sure my package has big nugs, no small and flatened buds please... They keep it in storage bags that smushes the weed, instead of keeping it in plastic or glass containers like THE REST OF THE WORLD DOES!!! The bud tender smiles at me and says "Sure no problem!" I get home, and its all popcorn sized nugs smushed up and looking like I went to the Trap.... SHAME on you ATG! Please hurry up and let someone else who is professional buy you out, because your gross negligence and approach to customer service, is already giving the cannibus industry a FOUL name here in Massachusetts💯 P.S. to owners response: If you read carefully, I personally said: 1 or 2 strains tops per location that actually compare to western cannibus. Mandarin Cookies and Captains Cake are the only 2 strains out of the at least 12 different variaties that I've sampled from you guys, that had a pungent smell and taste. The rest of your strains smell and taste only earthy, which is a basic aroma and taste, that does not warrant the prices charged for it! And what?, you disagree that packing in ziplocs that it doesnt smush the cannibus? You disagree that a manager telling a customer like it or don't come back is wrong, and that it's standard practice? Ok.... I think we can respectfully agree...