The Coven's Cottage — Local services in Salem

Came in to Salem, on a day they were opening late, website said they were open, the note didn’t say when they were to be open, waited an hr, called twice no response. yet there were people in the store clearly. Very frustrated with the lack of communication. People come from all over Mass, pay for parking and can’t get clear communication.

Update: can’t seem to respond to comment. It’s easy to say there was a family emergency and make it seem like the customer is in the wrong. You represent a company regardless who’s the owner. To be honest the store has windows, there was little girl in the store jumping around clearly visible by anyone outside which further confused anyone walking by. Which meant there was an adult also in the store because she was too young to be alone, maybe a private party of some sort i don’t know but from a customer stand point it looks bad when you have people in the store, no one’s responding to the phone, and there isn’t specific time communication, not on the website, in the voicemail or on the door. Like I said people come from all over, Im coming from Boston, I drove 45 minutes, Im paying for parking, Im walking on a messed up leg to get something specific and other than a note that’s vague, there’s no communication. Everyone has family, everyone has emergencies, someone took the time to write and tape a note, could have put a time, hell could have taken the day off, could have updated the voicemail, could have had the people in the store actually pick up the phone. If a family owned pizza shop, can tell us what days they be out on vacation, or that they are opening late or closing early with actual times, than so can any small store in Salem, the feedback isn’t outrageous. It’s easy to bank on tourism but when sales are hard it’s the people who travel in specifically who make you hit your sales goals.

Second update: I think the person responding to these reviews needs improvement on how to speak to customers, that is evident on quite a few responses written toward customers who have left bad reviews. Im giving feedback on my experience. you say I have animosity, to be honest, I just don't believe your excuse, I think it’s BS. I also think you are getting defensive. not sure how I or anyone else is a danger to you or granddaughters or what that has to do with writing a time on a sign. "opening late today, will open at 2pm" it's not hard. It's a business. Im a customer. I'm letting you know from a customer's stand point what the experience was, what I took it as, what other people who walked up took it as, take the feedback and do what you want with it. A simple "sorry about the misscommunication, we will take your feedback into consideration next time a situation like this arises. Our apologies for the inconvenience, Hope to see you soon" would have...

It’s unfortunate that I am writing this because you guys use to be the only store in Salem I would get excited to go to but I no longer want to visit the store.

The first time I visited Salem I was hoping for more Celtic, pagan, and Norse related stores, I was so thrilled to go into your store! I didn’t see the sign that said no cell phones, I received a call while in the store and I was immediately told to leave the store in the worst attitude possible.. I didn’t answer it… simply went off like phones do especially helpful for emergencies.

I tried to go back years and months later but every time I went it was closed during normal business hours, I truly did not give up on visiting the store. Finally one day I caught you guys open and asked about the hours. You stated a family member sports practice was occurring and there was no staff available. Completely understand but the hours are very misleading and un reliable.

The last time I went in to visit the store was last month. No one welcomed me in but instead two staff members ignored me and completely blew me off when I said hello. They were on the phone with a messed up order and trying to figure it out. While they were on the phone I remember my first visit getting yelled at to leave the store because my phone went off… The two staff members left to the back and a new one came out. Said nothing to me but welcomes every single other person in and continued small talk with them. I said have a good day before I left and I received no words… Unfortunately I’ve tried to hard with this store because I’m extremely studious with Norse mythology and all things Celtic, but I’ve given up and refuse to introduce tourists to the store.

Your responses to negative reviews are unprofessional as well.This store is filled with negative attitude and no other store in Salem that I have visited treats people as poorly as this on. All the stores sell the same things you do, your products are purchasable on Amazon, cracking the whip on people with cell phones doesn’t occur at any other store besides yours. It’s wrong how many people you have made feel uncomfortable...

I walked into this store with my father. My first impression was how good it smelled and how beautifully decorated it was. When we entered the two workers, both guys, greeted me nicely. I took about 3 steps into the store admiring all the beautiful things as I was told not to take any photos by the workers at the desk. My phone was only in my hand. The Lock Screen may have been turned on but at the most but that’s all. The way the guy said it was kind of rude but I brushed it off and just put my hand, that was holding the phone to my side. I haven’t even taken another step when the worker said “put it away” and “theirs a sign” with a cold and rude tone. I wouldn’t have had a problem putting it away if he was acting more professional and said it nicely. So I walked out. I never once had a bad experience in a store. Never. This was the first time. I wish I was exaggerating this story but I’m not. I have read through these reviews and have seen others that have experienced this. What really bothered me is the way you’ve respond. It is very snippy and very unprofessional. You said the reason you don’t allow phones to be out is because you don’t want people to be walking around the store knocking into things distracted by their phones. Literally in any other store I went to in Salem I did not see one person doing so. People go into stores to shop. It’s just the way your reply’s totally disregard your costumers feelings and that you don’t take their bad experience into consideration. You also don’t take into consideration that someone’s phone could be used for a medical device. Personally I don’t think any store should dictate what we do with our phones. If you don’t pay my phone bill, you don’t get to say when I go on it or not. Hope...