Okay, that sounds like a pretty strange and somewhat unsettling experience. Let's break down what you've described and consider some possibilities

What's Strange:
Empty Front Office

A deserted reception area, especially during business hours, is unusual. Usually, there's at least one receptionist or someone managing the front desk.

Lights Off

Turning off lights to save money is understandable, but in a customer-facing area, it sends a strange message.

No one to greet you

Especially after stating you had an appointment with an engineer it would be expected someone would be there to guide you or let the engineer know of your arrival.

Engineer Let You In

This is less strange since you said you had an appointment with them, but the fact that they had to let you in at all and no one was present to do so is weird.

Possible Explanations (ranging from benign to more concerning)



Scheduled Meeting Out of Office

The entire front office staff might have been in a meeting, training, or off-site event. This is less likely if the engineer you met with didn't say anything.

Reduced Staffing/Hybrid Work

Post-pandemic, many companies have embraced hybrid work models. It's possible that most of the front office staff were working from home that day. However, usually there is one person on site.

Lunch Break En Masse

While unlikely for an entire department, it's possible everyone was on lunch at the same time. This is bad business practice, though.

Unannounced Power Outage/System Issue

A brief power flicker or computer system problem could temporarily disrupt operations.

Company Restructuring/Layoffs

A more concerning possibility is recent layoffs or restructuring that has left the front office understaffed.

Financial Difficulties

While jumping to conclusions is not a good idea, the combination of cost-cutting measures and deserted offices could indicate financial problems within the company. This is less likely if it's a large POCO.

Scam/Misdirection

A less probable but still conceivable scenario is that the "office" you visited wasn't a legitimate operation.

Things to Consider



Time of Day

Was it close to lunch, the end of the day, or a holiday?

Day of the Week

Is it Friday? This might have had an effect on staffing.

Company Culture

Is the company known for being unconventional or having a laid-back culture?

What Did the Engineer Say?

Did the engineer seem surprised by the situation or offer any explanation? Their reaction is key.

What you should do



Contact the Person You Had the Appointment With

Reach out to the engineer directly (phone or email) and ask them about the experience and what happened at the front. This is your best source of information.

Contact the Company (Official Channels)

If you don't get a satisfactory answer from the engineer, contact the company through their official website or main phone number. Express your concerns about the state of the office and lack of reception.

Trust Your Gut: If something felt really wrong or suspicious, consider if you want to do business with this company.Without more information, it's hard to say exactly what happened. But your experience definitely warrants further investigation. Good luck! Flag for review