HOW NOT TO TREAT YOUR CUSTOMERS

THE following complaints were received by the Consumer Goods and Service Ombudsman.

A woman who sat on a bed to test its softness was ordered off. She refused, took off her sandals and lay down. The manager threatened to have her forcibly removed by “big boys”. When the customer continued to recline on the bed, she was taken out of the shop, receiving a few punches along the way. The complainant laid a charge of assault.

When a complainant’s new wall extension cracked after a few months, the supplier told the customer that the crack had been caused by her “fat dog” (a pit bull terrier) leaning against the wall. In tears, she wailed: “How could he say that about my baby? He only weighs 70kg.” The matter was successfully resolved by the ombudsman in the complainant’s favour within the required period of 15 working days.

A divorced mother of two joined a high-class dating service. When she did not get any dates, she contacted the owner. He told her it was because she had children and was overweight.

A hefty man went to a store to buy a bed. He heard the salespeople discussing, within earshot, how a bed ought to be selected for him that is capable of holding his weight.

A customer who returned a garment to a Chinese store was given a credit note, but not told it was valid only for a month. She complained, but the store owner could not speak English and would not co-operate. When ombudsman staff called the owner, he said: “I only speak English to important people.” He co-operated fully with the ombudsman after that — in perfect English.