DAMN, Dischem!! You buy new but get get Sloppy-seconds on refunds

After Menlyn Branch messing up my online fragrance order #*** only 50% fulfilled for two each of newly released fragrances, I easily bought the remainder at Irene. However, after a week, the remainder arrived and I collected from Menlyn after returning the Irene purchase; but the first (of four) bottled sprayers was faulty and and unsprayable so I tried to return it at Menlyn today 14th Mar. The lady agreed that it was faulty (blocked nozzle) and issued a new one as requested but, rather strangely (despite my refusal), insisted on opening it there and then!! I explained that the order of four, was two of a kind and that the first bottle was messed up; probably from a dud batch ie. implying the the unopened unit at home probably also has the same fault. Hence, I wanted an unopened unit to be sure then to return home and use the initial unit (that way only ONE is opened). If faulty the remaining unit was then ALSO to be returned. Sounded reasonable enough to me; think again.

I was told to either accept the new tester or to take a refund. I refused both and insisted to see the manager. Hennie(salty manager) arrived and concurred that it was those my only options. Annoyed, I then insisted on a refund BUT to first have have the preposterous matter reported to Hennies manager first!

Once his even saltier manager arrived, I then explained my suspicion of a faulty batch and was shockingly told to return home and open both units in their presence AND that I would only receive two newly opened tester:, *** right??!! They BOTH mentioned "How were they to know whether that was in fact the actual unit purchased?" I was told to wait an hour until the JPG rep could 'verify' this claim (no help for possible second dud at home!!)... After an altercation, Hennie's manager rudely declared that even a refund would be granted! What did I miss? How humiliating!!

You'd think that if you'd bought an expensive, "unusually" UNOPENED bottle of wine online (yes, Dischem; we now have the technology) and returned it due to an agreed upon fault, say soured corkage, that the shop wouldn't first agree on the defect, open your refund, and take a giant sloppy swig or two at it and burp out to you: "This one tastes just fine to me; take or leave it (free(backwash included at no cost)!!

Needless to say, I'd immediately left and reported to Dischem HQ emails are abounding, but don't hold your breath, I'm not!!