I went to a well known store one evening to purchase a set of garden furniture. The time was 6.30pm and the store was closing at 7.00pm.  I found there were only two chairs on display.   Two shop assistants were talking at the till point.  They were discussing what they were going to be doing that evening.  I waited approximately five minutes for them to acknowledge me. In the end I apologised for interrupting them and asked nicely if they had any more of the chairs that I wanted. The reply was that there was nothing left on the shop floor that matched the colour and style I wanted.

There was no offer from the shop assistants to see if they had others in the store so I asked if there were any in stock.  With a big ‘tut’, they told me they would have to call down to the store room to find out.  Before the call was made they finished making their evening plans.  When the call was made, they did have them in stock.  I was then asked if I REALLY wanted them or was I just wasting their time. It was also pointed out to me that it would be over 15 minutes before they would be ready and it was very close to closing time.

I stated politely that I wished to purchase the chairs, so I would wait, and I would like them to be available for me to pick up at the collection point in the car park.

“Well, you don’t want much” was the staff member’s reply, “it will take a while for them to be ready and the shop closes shortly”.

I stated I would wait.  This message was relayed to the store room – She wants them now.

I stated, sincerely, that I hoped this was not causing them any problems.  The shop assistant took offence to this and said, abruptly, that there was no need to be sarcastic and rude.

I informed the assistant I would pay for the furniture in a minute and made my way to customer service to lodge a complaint.

My complaint was dealt with very quickly and professionally and my order was ready within 5 minutes.

Last updated 623 days ago by Madelene