You don’t bring any game!

Bought a beach/outdoor umbrella on the 10th of March and used it at a camping site for one day only for it to break. Did a return at a game store at Reds Mall today (18th March) where I originally purchased it. They created a voucher for me for a replacement only that I was unfortunate in finding the same type I had bought. I requested for assistance on the floor as to which nearby game store had stock for the same and I was told that Game at centurion mall had 7 of the same item I liked in store. I drove all the way only to discover that it was different types of umbrellas and the specific one I was after was not in stock, just lousy colours I had left at the store at Reds Mall. On enquiring with customer service, I was told that the same bar code was used to scan stock but not particularly for the same colours I was looking for. I ended up choosing another one closer to the broken one I had returned, except that it was a different price. I had bought the favourite one at R549 and the second best I settled for was R799. I was not willing to pay extra as I was told that I would be able to get the exact same type at Game centurion mall. A huge inconvenience is what I suffered just to get an item of choice and I was not keen on settling for any other colour as I would have done so at Reds mall to spare myself the trouble. How ridiculous is it to make someone wait while assistants don’t even bother to look for the same product a customer is looking for? I do purchases from other stores and if I don’t find an item of choice, I get presented with alternative stores where I can get the same item. It was not the case with Game. I ended up waking out of the store without the umbrella :-( This is by far the most outrageous experience one can have besides the inconvenience. I can’t be told about the differences in price when I specifically enquired as to where I can find the same item of choice. Game is supposed to be a brand and if prices on the shelves differ, that should be communicated to the customer so that I can make a decision whether it is worth my while to drive around looking for an item which doesn’t “exist”.. very disappointing. Or should I say, you lack empathy? You don’t live to your promise with regards to returns.. so annoyed with the time I have wasted, let alone the fuel when I could have just taken a refund altogether! I’ll happily pay more at a store that has individuals who take customer care seriously!!