********** introduction to the HD world due to GAME ***ard

If ever there was a time that a lovely Sunday transcended into a tiring and downright distasteful morning today was the day.

My father set out early morning to purchase a TV set from Paarl Game stores. He had selected a Samsung LED TV and I was quite excited as its the first time this 68 year old man decided to step into the 21st century and join the HD revolution.

The TV was tested in the designated testing area and the TV appeared clear. The salesman then repacked the TV at which point my father pointed out to him that he was exerting too much pressure on the TV as the box will not close. After manipulating the box he had finally managed to repack the TV.

We left the store paying for the goods in good faith and signing the release form that we are leaving with the goods.

Upon arrival at home about 45min after purchase he excitedly unpacked the TV and set up the cabling surprisingly he knew what a HDMI cable was. Yet when the TV was switched on his smile completely sunk and I realized that the LCD had in fact cracked.

We immediately went back to Game stores Paarl and we were met with an initial wait as if it was anticipated a problem was to ensue from the salesman which was suspicious in the least. He had discovered the TV was useless. He become instantaneously defensive claiming this is not how the TV left the store. My father pointed out that he actually told the salesman that he was forcing the TV in and may at that point have broken the TV. The salesman ***ardly denied any forcing when repacking the TV and informed us he will be calling his manager Mr Keagan Botha.

I must say my dad was infuriating at the salesman's denial of the fact and the truth and I tried to calm him down. The manager Mr Keagan Botha then approached the situation and his stance was that the policy states that if you have signed for the goods you have accepted liability. I am a CA(SA) myself and without portraying any condescending to the store manager I am quite fami**** with procedures, management override and handling exceptions. After convincing the manager of the incident he agreed to privately view footage to ascertain any signs of a struggle when repacking the TV. He then came back after another 45 mins only to state no footage was available. I asked the question whether the testing was performed in the designated testing area which he rep**** yes and then followed up with why would there be surveillance specifically set up in areas of the store yet not a designated testing area this appears really odd.

Needless to say they decided to stick with the "we do not accept any liability" view and their other manager Constance () had pointed out that there is no one who can review the case and nothing they can do.

It is completely disgusting to admit that our economic climate has been met with people having to expose their ********* and dark sides. I am sure that if the salesman was merely honest in how he handled the TV upon repack this could have been cleared up in a friendly manner.

No evidence on the box or TV or anything shows any signs of a accident post packing and yet the liability was merely shifted based on the acknowledgement of receipt of goods.

I did not expect this at all from a enterprise such as GAME stores their repute is completely unquestionable and I always held their name in good esteem. I would like management of Game to review this case and seriously consider implementing some form of implementing adequate soft s****s training throughout the organisation so that we could potentially see some change in accountability and handling situation specific complaints with the required level of empathy.