Rude and intimidating manager

Pick n Pay Clothing Modimolle

I have waited a long while to write the report and thought it would get better, but the situation is worsening and I believe Pick n Pay should be made aware of the issue.

I know that losing one customer (me!) does not make a dent in their profit margins, but if they really condone the behaviour and attitude from their management staff, they are sitting on a ticking time bomb.

I have had numerous unpleasant experiences at this particular branch – even before the lockdown and all the extra rules.

On 18 October I went there with my elderly mom. Going through the doors the lady (who later insisted that she is in fact the manager as well) sprayed the sanitiser on my mom's hands. When she wanted to spray the sanitiser on my hands I showed her my reduced alcohol (CERTIFIED!) sanitising wipes and explained that I get severe allergic reactions to the type of sanitisers most stores use and thus carry my own. She said I cannot enter if she does not sanitise my hands. I then asked if I can explain my situation to her manager as I know that by law I need to sanitise my hands, but that the law does not state the store MUST do it. Just that my hands need to be sanitised. She raised her voice and said that she is the manager and that her word is final. I again explained to her that I have my wipes and that I can sanitise my hands again with a new wipe in front of her if that will put her mind at ease. She agreed and I sanitised my hands in front of her (really humiliating!) but she then said that she is still not satisfied, and I need to do it again.

At the point where she raised her voice and spoke with such a rude attitude in front of my mother, I lost my temper. I demanded her name and surname, which she refused to give me numerous times. The rest of the staff looked terrified of her. I then wanted to take a picture of her to send to your head office as no one would give me her name. She started to say insulting words and I changed my phone’s camera from picture mode to video mode. She refused to have her picture taken.

I eventually took my mom and left to go to Checkers. What was interesting about that is that she actually followed us there! When we would turn into an isle, she would be there. Buying nothing. Just hovering where we were. I do not know if she was trying to intimidate us or if she wanted to take pictures of me – for whatever reason!

We have not shopped at this particular store again. I have had NO issues at your Kolonnade branch in Pretoria, but you can speak to almost any second shopper who will be able to relay a horror story about the treatment of customers at this particular branch.

I still have the pictures and video if Pick n Pay will go through the effort to look into the issue and be able to tell me what they will be doing to address this issue as this is NOT an isolated incident.

The town has limited options for shopping and we would like to go there without fear of being victimised or treated badly in future and this will only be possible if the horrid attitude of their management gets eradicated.