Lack of service

I bought a cellphone at Ackermans(Ndofaya mall) the following day I tried to go exchange the phone at my nearest Ackerman's and that was at Ackerman's Connect ( Jabulani mall). I was told by the rude manager that they can't exchange the phone because they don't have an IMEI number on their system I have to go the Ackerman's I bought it at. Are they not using the same system? What was so difficult helping a customer to their request. And if I bought the hone at a different province, you telling me I have to go to that province to exchange a phone worth R1300. How ridiculous!