When customers dont come first.

One of the best attributes of a Hypermarket is to ensure a good on sale position. By doing that they meet the needs of customers; a customer only goes to shop as they have a need. Unfortunately, my need as a smoker is to go and buy cigarettes, I have a brand which is called Marlborough Gold. The Steeldale Hypermarket, which consists of both entities namely the store and a bottlestore has not had my brand on sale for the last three weeks; one of the best selling brands of British American Tabacco group.

The lady Ethel (very nice), has taken me to the front help desk on two occassions. She knows me well by this stage and has helped me purely because of her own embarrasment. The help desk gentleman Sissipo has referred me to a manager on two occassions a gentleman named Gary Swaggert. I have explained this situation to him and asked him to kindly look in to the matter as every time (4 times over 3 weeks) they have not had my brand on sale. He in turn could not suppress his arrogance by giving me a long story about "automatic replenishment" and it was impossible!

If only Mr. Swaggert you had the slightest empathy for your customers needs, you would at least have looked into the situation. You did nothing and until today you dont have my brand on sale. I have gone to the garage on 4 occassions and paid R 11 more (but at least they always have my brand). It makes one think a huge hyper versus a little 60 m garage? It only boils down to one thing, the garage has the needs of the customer in their minds eye; the PNP executive a person of considerable responsibility does not care about the very person who makes it possible to earn his executive salary. In any case, time for a smoke, thank you to the garage I really appreciate your care.