Loyal customer treated like a criminal
Went to the Weymouth store today to buy a gas cannister. I usually buy the £8.99 one but they had a larger one for £9.99 so checked and was told they both would fit my stove, so purchased the £9.99 one
It turned out when I got home the fittings are not the same the £8.99 has a thread on the valve.
I went back to the store and pointed out the problem. The lady was very rude and said they only sold one type. She insisted I was wrong and they were all the same, I pointed out I had been buying the correct one from the store for ages but she refused to believe me. I then was forced to go to the display and get the correct type myself and returned to the counter. There was no apology she just asked me what I expected her to do about it, I said I wanted to exchange the cannisters and produced the receipt.
She then refused to exchange stating it was company policy. I said the item had miss sold as being suitable and it was my right as a consumer to get a refund. She insisted it was company policy and continued to refuse to exchange. I said I was going to exchange them and she could keep the extra £1. Her colleague then called the police on the shop link radio.
I said I would wait as she was the one in the wrong. She then waved the receipt at me saying the policy was on the receipt. I pointed out that the receipt is given after purchase so I could not have agreed to the policy before purchase but she failed to understand basic consumer law.
Eventually the original staff member who sold me the item arrived and admitted he had made a mistake which I agreed was an honest mistake but I was unwilling to lose £9.99 because of the stores mistake. He then agreed to exchange the item and the town centre security who had arrived let me go on my way.
I have rarely met such incompetent, ignorant and rude staff as the two staff who dealt with the complaint. Added to which the humiliation of having the town centre security called on me and treated as a criminal due to the incompetence of the staff.
The staff member who sold me the item and sorted the exchange was great the other two would be sacked if it were my business
I've been a customer for years but will never step foot in the shop again.
Svar fra Mountain Warehouse