I have no problem with people, companies, and Websites using "ancient" instead of "old" as a synonym, but she definitely saw a difference between the two, informing us with great contempt when we asked whether she meant old garden roses from before 1862: "No! Not old! Ancient!"
Ironically, she was supposed to be selling us the roses offered at this modern rose nursery. I wonder if the owners ever heard any of her rants. Can you imagine a barrista at Starbucks treating you with contempt because you're not drinking authentic Turkish coffee straight from the ibrik into a demitasse (and mispronouncing every word)? So, on top of being a rude human being, she was also a bad employee.
