Edgars Bedfordview

I know I’m just an ******** customer, whose business clearly means nothing to you, but please could you enlighten me as to when exactly did Edgars stop being a national business? I was never made aware that each branch was now a standalone business and operated as such? For all these years I was under the misguided impression that Edgars was a national business with a national foot print, with branches nationally to service customers? Have I been mistaken all these years? The reason I ask is that I was very RUDELY refused a credit at the Bedfordview branch because the damaged item I was trying to exchange was purchased at Eastgate! I was told in a very DISRESPECTFUL way that I need to go return the damaged item to Eastgate (as if I had all the time in the world to run from one Edgars store to another)! Is this a new policy? Has this been communicated to your customers? Are these terms and conditions stated anywhere in store? I personally was never made aware of the fact that your returns policy had changed to state that damaged items need to be returned to the store where they were purchased from? I was just wondering (again, pardon my ignorance), but if I purchased a damaged item in Cape Town, while on holiday, would Edgars expect me to fly back to Cape Town to return the damaged item to the store where I originally purchased it from? If so, I wonder if this is in line with the CPA? I have been a loyal, on time paying customer for years. I have worked in retail myself, and I can honestly say I have NEVER EVER been treated with such disrespect by any staff member at any store. To say that I’m FURIOUS at the way I was spoken to by the so called “manager” at your Bedfordview branch is the understatement of the year! He was not only rude and disrespectful, but he was ****y and had a ‘**** YOU” attitude, because what HE say goes! When I asked him his name, he said “they know my name”. So when I asked SEVERAL employees none of them could tell me his surname. All they knew was his name is Ayanda. According to him, he is THE store manager. According to another staff member, he is only the assistant store manager. Strange how the staff don’t even know who they report to! This so called “manager” has no business being in management! He has no concept of what a national business is about, and clearly no concept of business in general. He is SMUG and ARROGANT and has no clue of what customer service is! As he was walking away from me, while I was in mid sentence, I said that they should phone head office to get someone else to approve the credit............his response (while walking away, back turned to me........because I’m such a “VALUED” Edgars customer”), was, “call head office, I don’t care! IM NOT CREDITING IT!” Of course the staff at Bedfordview didn’t know the head office number. Eventually I got the head office number, which for some strange reason the store couldn’t dial! I was also told by the staff that customer services was closed because it was a public holiday. So being determined to have the matter resolved, I used my cell, with my talk time to call! Someone eventually answered and I told them the urgency of the matter. They said they would put me through to the complaints department. After waiting on hold for what seemed like eternity (once again, using MY airtime), I got cut off. Tried again. Was told there was no one at customer services. Not surprised! This is the epitome of Edgars “CUSTOMER SERVICE”! I think it’s very obvious that I will be closing my account and NEVER purchasing from Edgars again (not that I think you care anyway). I have taken to social media on this matter, and have received several comments on how, other customers have received shocking service from the Bedfordview branch, and who too refuse to shop there again. I also noticed how Edgars doesn’t seem to reply to peoples comments on their facebook page. On principal, I will not let this matter go! In the grand scheme of things, I’m sure you don’t need my business. However, the way the economy is at the moment, I’m sure other retailers will appreciate and welcome my spend in their stores. I know I’m probably asking too much, but I would like a response to this complaint. I would also like to know what action will be taken against Ayanda for such unnecessary, DISGUSTING behaviour towards a customer (unless this type of behaviour is condoned by Edcon).