********* behaviour

I recently had a very bad experience at a laundromat in Observatory that I would like to share.

I took in a black parka jacket of mine to be cleaned as it had white glitter down the front panel. I had specifically asked the staff member behind the till to make note of that and I watched her do so. I wasn't aware that they were a cash only store and required upfront payment so when she asked for the R150, I asked whether I could pay when picking up the jacket which she agreed to. I thought that was great.

A day or two later when I went to pick up my jacket, before leaving the store I looked to see if the glitter had been removed and it hadn't. So I explained this to a now different staff member and he understood completely. I said that I couldn't pay for a service not rendered to which they phoned the manager / owner who didn't want me to leave without paying. He decided to rather come to the store where I waited to chat in person. I was at this point impressed that he was willing to come in to see me.

When he arrived, I explained the situation and showed him to which he said he would speak to the dry cleaners and let me know. He phoned me back an hour later explaining that they had already washed it twice and this was the best I was going to get. I said that I understood but still was not willing to pay full price as my jacket was still dirty. So he agreed to me paying the half price of R75 instead of the full R150. I again was very impressed.

When I visited the store the next day to collect, he was there but the staff member behind the till assisted me. I only had a R100 and no change so gave this to her to which she closed the till. I looked at the manager and reminded him that he had agreed to half price to which he said I should understand and that R100 was his best offer. I was shocked that he was going back on his word.

It honestly is not about the R25 but about the principle of not rendering a service and then blatantly going back on your word as someone in the service industry. I was quite upset and as I exited the store I said that I would have to spread the word to which he said I can gladly go ahead.