H&M customer service in SA is absolutely shocking!

<p>H&M customer service in SA is absolutely shocking! I bought a dress on sale and threw away the slip. The price tag, however, was still on the item. I took it to the store this past Sunday and was informed that the policy did not allow for returns without the slip. I then asked to speak to the store manager. A short while later a lady comes up to me, does not introduce herself and tells me the same thing that the person at the counter told me. I explained that I did not have the slip but the tag was still on the dress. She reiterated the policy and told me that she was not able to do anything. She further advised that I could call customer care. She then gave me the phone number and email address. Only later does she mention that she is a department manager and the store manager. She also says that the policy is such because sometimes people "take things" and come back at a later stage to swop it out. I then asked what she meant by "take things" as it definitely came across as I could ***** something only to return it later. I asked how I would "take something" without paying and asked whether she was implying that I was a *****! I again asked to talk to the branch manager who she then called - his name is Sabelo. He did not answer as it was "his day off". My question is: How do you treat a client as if they are a *****, to the point where you state that they may "take things". Secondly, seen as I no longer have the receipt why could I not provide my bank statement which will clearly show all my H&M purchases over the past 2 -3 months. I am by now means a *****, the don't-care-attitude advising me to call a call centre and send a mail is nothing short of appalling. The insinuation of me *****ing is very insulting. The staff do not have an inkling of customer service and I am now stuck with an item that I cannot change in case I "took it!!!!!!"</p>