Disappointed Paying Customer

I have been a customer at ****mo furniture since 2016, but never have I experience such bad service like I did today. My whole bedroom and study furniture is from there. Last year November I decided to purchase a lounge suite and 2 Ottomans on lay-by. Yesterday I walked in the shop at Pritchard Street in JHB and I found a new guy working at the till by the name of Steve Donfack, there was also a fami**** face, a lady who is always there but name is unknown to me. I finished paying off my lay-by and told them I wanted to collect. They told me that the items were ready for collection so I told them I would return today as their transport fee was expensive (R400). Mind you I live in the south of Johannesburg which is 20mins away from the CBD... I don't even put that much petrol in my car for a trip to JHB.

Whilst at the shop, I was advised that they have the incorrect colours for the Ottoman and that I should come back 2 weeks later for the correct colour. So I had to decide on 2 different colours right there and then as this was initially a purchase from last year. No one apologised even though every thing including the colours of the furniture were know since last year November. Today I get to the shop with my own transport, then I'm advised that I have to go to a warehouse somewhere around Faraday... Which was never explained to me from get go. I told them this was not agreed upon but got the answer that the shop was a showroom and they don't keep furniture there unless I wanted the dirty items on display in the shop. This was done with the utmost disrespect and side eyeing from Steve.

I told him this was unacceptable, I am a paying customer who doesn't we them anything so why the need for me to run around. I told him I was not going anywhere and he should call the warehouse and tell them to bring the items to the shop since I was already there. He argued with me for a good 10 mins and yelled at me in front of other customers. When he saw I wasn't budging he called the warehouse and told them to bring the items in a different language. 15 mins after sitting there not knowing what was going on, I asked him (me following him again as if I owed him), he gave me more attitude and called. When I saw he had hung up the call, I waited 5mins and asked why he was not filling me in... He then told me they were on the way from Faraday and that they were stuck in traffic. Where have you seen traffic in the CBD at 2:30 pm.

I spoke to the lady who is always at the shop and instead of handling the matter well she also said this was just a show room. So I asked why this was not communicated from the time of first purchase or when I finished payment yesterday, she shrug her shoulders at me. At 3:30 the lady tells me my items are outside with even more attitude. So I asked who is suppose to assist me to load the items, she said the guys were outside.

I went outside only to find the driver unwinding the rope, he himself went back inside after that so I stood there for another 10mins because to them I'm a stupid South African woman and do not have rights in my own country. I went back inside to ask the lady what was happening and she said she'd call the guys. When the items were eventually loaded I noticed the coushins bought were short. I again had to go back inside and get coushins for myself from the items on display. This all while Steve and the lady just continued attending other customers who were more valuable to them.

I eventually got home only to discover that the 1 Ottoman does not have legs. I called the shop 3 times with no answer then whatsApped them. To my surprise Steve answered and said I should call his personal mobile. He advised that I should bring the Ottoman on Manday so they can fit the legs on the ottoman. Again as a paid up customer I need to run after them. Steve was unapologetic even on the phone when I explained to him who I was. My fellow South Africans tell me how this is fair, I have spent thousands at that shop, I'd understand if I only spend less then R100 but that is not the case. They took advantage of me because I am a female but what they didn't know is I am a female who will always stand up to what is right.

Disappointed customer