Decathlon claims it is the largest sporting goods retailer in the world, yet this means nothing when they do not have any stock!

Decathlon claims it is the largest sporting goods retailer in the world, yet this means nothing when they do not have any stock! You claim to be delighted sportspeople who have turned your passion into your job, which is to make the pleasure and benefits of sport accessible to the many. Sports passion means nothing when you don’t know how to manage a retail business and deal with customers!

I entered the Decathlon Centurion on 12/10/2019 and the first sales assistant I asked for help had to call another, and she had to call another, yet even she was totally clueless about the diving masks and gear I was enquiring about. There were only 2 of half a dozen goods on the shelf that had the price displayed and the sales assistant whom was meant to be assisting and advising me, was continually disappearing to go check prices on a nearby computer. I asked for a Blue bag complete with a Large mask and snorkel for R279. In spite of lots of stock of the small and medium Blue bags, I was told there is no stock of the Large bags. I called for the Store Manager and he opened the bag and confirmed the content was the exact snorkel sold loose on the shelf for R139 and exactly the same goggle sold loose on the shelf for R189. There were several Large masks and snorkels sold loose on the shelf. I would have expected a Decathlon Store Manager to think on his feet, and in keeping with Decathlon’s policy of making the pleasure and benefits of sport equipment accessible to the many, to offer me the loose snorkel and goggle for the same price as the bag, as it is the same product, yet R49 more for both if sold individually. He refused to entertain this suggestion and gave various excuses why he has no stock. He was not prepared to get stock and deliver it for free to my home. I asked for the number of the regional manager and after leaving a voice message expressing my dismay, Josh, the Store Manager reluctantly agreed to give me the R49 discount for the difference in prices. I spent R1 294 instore, yet had to fight and call regional management over R49 due to the largest sporting goods retailer in the world not having any stock! If this is how you treat loyal customers for your errors and poor stock planning and ordering then I should take my business elsewhere!