I’ve been seeing a lot of these types of posts about Local Guides being retaliated against with verbal abuse, threats and stalking by business owners and I just want to say that you’re not alone in this. I had a terrifying experience with a business owner before I had left a review, which as of today I’ve received no response. One of his employees tried to price gouge me without the owner’s knowledge and on top of that his employee damaged my product. Before I had approached the business owner about my dilemma, I had thought that a rational business owner would have responded with paying for my damaged product. I was very wrong. Despite approaching the business owner in the most courteous manner one could imagine regarding my concern, his employee said I was lying about the fact that he was price gouging me without the owner’s knowledge and, from what was about to come next, I presume the owner didn’t believe what I was saying. The unthinkable happened: he chased me out of his business while threatening me, getting right up in my face all the way to my car, then slapped his hand against the hood of my car before I managed to get into my car. I thought he was going to physically assault me. In Canada, the law states that if a person has reasonable grounds to believe that someone can deliver on the threats being given, whether or not there was any physical contact, it is therefore deemed to be an assault. I was assaulted, if we want to get technical. I was so shook up by the experience as I drove away I counted my blessings I was not physically hurt. I didn’t bother reporting it to the police. I knew it would have been low on their list of priorities because I was not physically assaulted. I just counted my blessings that I wasn’t physically hurt and went home, in awe and disbelief to what had happened, still shaking from the incident. It’s a day I can remember like it was just yesterday. Like a movie being played over and over in my mind of what happened, reliving the nightmare each and every time. I just wanted to share my experience with the good people at Local Guides Connect. Thankfully we know this is not an ordinary occurrence, but it goes to show that just because someone owns a business doesn’t automatically make them rational people. I put a lot of thought into whether I should post a Google Review about this business and what I experienced. The decision was not made lightly. I came to the realization that the community is more important than just myself. The community is what needs to be informed about these things so that we can protect ourselves and our loved ones. Please stay safe, friends!
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Your story is heart touching. I admire your courage that even after so much, you are doing as local guide. Every Local Guide is proud of you