Ola means Hello but to me it means GOODBYE

I just arrived home from rushing to the Ola outlet in Edenvale (just off van Riebeeck Avenue – 8th Avenue). I was rushing to get the Gino Ginelli special (3 for R120). I’d even taken orders for my kids cos they are at work and I dashed there. Only to find that there is nobody in the shop. The door is open but the gate is locked and nobody is in the shop. After shouting and banging my key on the gate, the cashier comes out of the shop next door. She was visiting next door!!

Get in the shop cash in hand, cooler boxes to make sure that they get home safely in this heat, only to be told that there is no stock. But the owner has run out to get more stock and I should came back at 12. Ok, so I know Gino Ginelli is a tasty, delicious brand but day 2 has hardly started and there is no stock. Either they did not order enough, did not have money to buy enough stock or they really made great sales in day 1.

So I’m upset cos I now have to waste petrol driving all the way back and possibly no stock available again. I’m telling my son the situation on the phone and I said I’m so upset I’d like to know who to complain to. He offers to find out who, where and what.

I get off the phone, it is now 11:30 and ask the lady to phone the owner to make sure of the time that he would return. She phones him and tells me he will be back in an hour. So I say, “Just as well I asked you to phone again cos I would have come back at 12 and there would still be not stock.” She lets rip at me, saying it is not her fault and now I’m gonna report her. Of course I’m now really upset and say “I’m upset at the Boss and pleased that I asked her to phone again” but she does not hear me and goes on to say it is not her fault. Now I’m angry cos she is not listening and I say “Don’t take that tone with me, I’m the customer who pays her salary.” And she has the audacity to tell me I’m not their only client.

Is this the customer Service that we must expect in Ola shop / outlets?

Is this Customer Service at all?

Why have specials at all, if this is how you treat customers? How many other customers have had this same experience and just don’t bother to report it.

Ola is the most popular name in Ice Cream and a person / outlet like this can ruin it in a very short period of time.

I’m now gonna miss out on this special because a cashier does not know how to treat customers – this is not fair.

To add insult to injury - I go back at about 3pm and they tell me they don't want to sell to me. Cool - goodbye Ola. My business is not needed so I will gladly take it elsewhere.