ROCHESTER KLERKSDORP ******* SERVICE

On 19 December 2017, I purchased 6 pieces of furniture from ROCHESTER ( of the JD GROUP) in Klerksdorp and for which I paid cash. Salesman Vincent Mokgatle and store manager Jonathan Davids ensured me that all stock purchased and paid for was available and that they will make the necessary arrangements to deliver on time. The delivery policy according to ROCHESTER's website is 7 to 9 days. When after 2 weeks I did not receive the goods, Mokgatle said that ROCHESTER did not have all the goods that I had ordered and that a full truck was needed for the delivery even after having pointed out to him that I had paid an individual delivery fee and that I should receive delivery irrespective of whether the truck was full or not. Mokgatle informed me that they will contact me as soon as the stock is on hand. After a month on 26 January 2018, and when I had not yet received delivery, I again called the store and this time Mogkatle said that their system had crashed and that they could not process the order. Matters were thus not resolved. Of-course they wont. Mokgatle and the manager had received their commissions after lying to me. So I called regional manager Marius who said that their computers had a problem and many customers had not received delivery of their purchases. I said to him that the systems could not have "been down" since December 2017. He gave me the usual " get back to you when the systems are fixed he will process the order". I then contacted ROCHESTER Customer Service (sic) Centre and registered my complaint. Monwabisi informed me that he is escalating the matter and that he will revert to me in due course.

On 29 January 2018, manager Jonathan Davids contacted me and said the goods will be delivered at 5pm but upon delivery at 9-30 pm, I found that two of the 6 pieces of furniture were badly damaged in that two pedestals were badly scratched and dented; and the drawers in these could not open and close properly. No wonder about the night delivery!!. The driver Oliver Hlope refused to take the damaged pieces with him but he noted in writing that the two pieces were damaged. On the very next day, I sent an email to Jonathan Davids informing him that the goods were damaged with pictures of the damaged goods, each of which was R3000. Jonathan Davids informed me that he had sourced new items at their Witbank ROCHESTER branch and that he will arrange simultaneous collection of the damaged furniture items as well delivery of the new furniture items. Since then, I have contacted the store several times to enquire about the progress of the collection and delivery of the furniture items. What was noted was that the store manager was "not available" and that the sales or other staff could not assist. When I finally did speak to Jonathan, he could only tell me that he was with the regional manager to try and get the items delivered. He also mentioned that he was waiting for money for fuel from his employers in order to get the items from Witbank !!! A JD GROUP company doesn't have money for fuel.!! What did they do with my upfront payment for delivery?

On 27 March 2018, when I got hold of Jonathan Davids, he said that they were moving premises and that he is awaiting feedback from his new regional manager. His, or his regional manager's ridiculous suggestion was that I am refunded for the two pieces of a set. I am constrained to believe that either of these two persons have no qualms about putting mismatched pieces in their own homes. I had made it clear to Jonathan that either the two pieces are replaced with new pieces or that the entire set of four pieces are retrieved by ROCHESTER in lieu of a full refund. Jonathan said that he will revert the next day, but he didn't.

On 28 March 2018, Jonathan was again not available when I called the store and according to Busi, Jonathan was busy but that Jonathan wanted one more day!! Yes, after four months, he still wanted another day!! When I requested details of ROCHESTER head office, Busi said she will revert after ten minutes, which she did not do.

On 29 March 2018, I spoke to Busi who said that Jonathan was "out". When I spoke to Jonathan, he said he was going for training in Johannesburg and that he will arrange for the collection from Witbank if this was approved by the "new" regional manager, and that he will revert to me by close of business. He did not. I have to date made over 50 phone calls to ROCHESTER without any success. Their staff are nothing but a bunch of *****, who deceive unknowing customers into purchases. ROCHESTER should never be approached for anything even as a last resort, lest you be beguiled into a sale from these ******. I hope all ROCHESTER branches close down and all their staff die of an incurable disease. I am now left with no option but to litigate and to make each of these persons a party to the proceedings.