Very poor customer service

<p>This is my third experience of ordering online and not finding stock at Boardmans-Online.</p> <p> </p> <p>I can understand the retail challenge but the way your staff handled the issue thereafter simply elevated my mood from irritated to just plain angry.</p> <p> </p> <p>The order (# ********** 28) was placed by me for delivery to my partner.</p> <p> </p> <p>My partner (NOT ME) gets a phone call(from Athabulele) saying two items are out of stock and would she like a refund. No other alternative offered. </p> <p>She really wants the item so asked Athabulele to find stock at a store.</p> <p>Two days later, no call.</p> <p> </p> <p>I then called Boardmans 086 and found Steve who says stock was found. Great! Partner happy.</p> <p> </p> <p>Athabulele phones my partner a day later(today) to say no stock found. My partner asked her to phone me.</p> <p> </p> <p>I get called by Athabulele and tell her that I don’t want a refund. She offers to assist me on the phone to find other items online. Call gets cut. She never calls me back and her number on caller id is invalid.</p> <p> </p> <p>I phone Steve again. Steve says no person called Athabulele works there but Mpumelele can be called on 011....</p> <p>Tried that number a few times; it just rings.</p> <p> </p> <p>Phone Steve again. He offers to give me another number to try. I got upset. How dare he give me a runaround when someone at Boardmans should be phoning me instead. Apparently he can't make outgoing calls with his line. Argh! He agrees to phone Mpumelel/Athabulele and ask them to phone me or else he would call me... somehow.</p> <p>Half a day passes, no phone call.</p> <p> </p> <p>I get my receptionist to repeatedly call the 011 number and presto... Athabulele.</p> <p>Her system is slow and she can’t really help me with online selection now.</p> <p>I ask her to check in my absence for a similar or better sheet and base cover. I also tell her that I should get the replacement item at the same deal even if it’s not the same price. I can't be expected to wait 1 month for new stock when its clearly not my fault. </p> <p>I also ask her to discuss the issue with her manager.</p> <p>(Even a higher priced item would be about R100-R200. That’s nothing to ensure customer satisfaction.)</p> <p> </p> <p>I get a call a few hours later from Athabulele: “No stock Sir. My supervisor suggested we give you a gift card.”</p> <p>Me: Isn’t that the same thing as a refund?</p> <p>A: No not really…</p> <p>Me: Wouldn’t you be taking the value of the two missing items and giving me the same value as a gift card?</p> <p>A: Oh yes…</p> <p>Me: Did you not find anything else on the website?</p> <p>A: I didn’t check. I didn’t know you would accept an item of a higher price.</p> <p> </p> <p>I’m now well and truly upset.</p> <p>Talk about dumb service from both Athabulele and her supervisor.</p> <p> </p> <p>I then simply told her to refund my edcon card for the two items, deliver the rest and await me complaints to Hellopeter, facebook and her CEO.</p> <p> </p> <p>Boardmans-Online customer service sucks!</p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p>