How it works is, When you walk in, you grab a piece of pottery you want to paint off the shelves on the wall, find a table and grab your brushes and other stuff.
Usually by that time the workers come up and ask how many are painting, take the price stickers and will give you a spiel about the basics of how the paints work and such. It's not uncommon that it takes them a while to get to you if the store is busy or they are in the middle of helping another customer with some lettering or something tricky.
So Saturday night, we walk in and the place is pretty crowded. Not to big of a deal. I think there was only two workers in the place. So we went right to the wall and had her pick out the ornament she wanted to paint. It was a simple small wreath.
As we looked around, there was an empty table so we sat down. My daughter then went off to get the paint and brushes.
She sat down and we started to paint. We've been there several times before, so we didn't need the explanation on how to get good coverage with the paints and such.
About half way through painting, a worker FINALLY shows up. She looks at me and says "You weren't seated by us?!?! You can't just sit down without talking to us first! THERE IS A WAITING LINE!
(note: there was NO "reserved" cards on the tables or anything to tell a walk in customer that there was a line. Yes the place was crowded, but it didn't look like anyone was standing around waiting for a place to sit)
So I asked her what she wanted me to do. She started on this circular conversation with herself "Well I can't ask you to leave cause SHE'S already started painting and it would be a waste! But you CAN'T just sit down anywhere if there is a WAITING LIST"
Over and over, round and round. My daughter is beetred from embarassment. I just kept asking the girl what she wanted us to do. Finally she just said..."HURRY UP". and then walked off.
It took us only about 10 more minutes to finish the ornament (total time in store...MAYBE a half hour)
As we got up, I noticed they WERE finally putting "Reserved" cards on tables, but there were also probably 2-3 other tables that were clean and empty.
Just made me so mad, and my daughter who LOVES to go to this place was embarrassed cause this girl was screeching at us. Ugh.