Triggers at Tommy Auto Parts

Friday 20th December 2024

Triggers at Tommy Auto Spares

I called Tommy's Auto Parts (TAP) from Nelspruit on Thursday the 19th December. I needed a spare part for a friend's vehicle and since I would be travelling through Newcastle the next day, I thought perhaps TAS may have the said part.

They did indeed, but it was more than I expected to pay so I requested a discount. They obliged and the gentleman taking the phone order said that he would have the part ready for me the next day when I passed through Newcastle at around lunch time.

I arrived outside the gate at 11.57am and as I proceeded to enter, was told by the security guard that they were closed. I explained my telephonic conversation with one of the salesmen the day before and he proceeded to go and check for me.

I followed up a few minutes later after another customer stepped through the open gate and proceeded to go the counter. On arriving at the counter there was the security guard explaining my situation whilst the other customer proceeded to get his order attended to.

The men behind the counter acknowledged my order and proceeded to send for it from somewhere yonder. Whilst waiting, another man sitting further to my left behind the counter started muttering something about KFC (there were some plates with KFC set out on them further behind the counter and then muttered something about being careful about ******** activities after hours and that they had now closed for the Christmas holidays. I presumed he was talking to the other customer who had entered before me since he seemed to be responding.

My part eventually arrived. It looked right. The salesman asked me cash or card. I said card and please remember the discount. This triggered the movement of the 'muttering' man who hopped off his chair and proceeded to tell me that he pays his VAT dues. He produced a calculator and tapped out some figures and shoved the calculator toward me showing the VAT he would have to pay at the discounted price whereas the VAT he was supposed to pay was based on the full price. I nodded and said I wasn't disputing this. He then proceeded to tell me that he came out the apartheid era of SA. I wasn't sure why he was telling me this. Next thing he told me be was a Michael House boytjie. I wasn't disputing this either. In fact, I had not asked him VAT, or about apartheid or even about what school he came from. As I was wondering about what triggered all of this information, he was again at me about his rights. Were these his rights to sell to me as a white man or not? Were these his rights to give me a discount or not? Were these his rights to close at 12pm or not? I don't know. I responded by saying that the customer also has rights. This triggered a repeat of being a Michael House boytjie and a threat of "I will sort you out!". I asked if he was now threatening me to which he again responded, 'I'll sort you out' in front of these three witnesses (being the salesmen and assistants). I thought to myself, something has triggered this man. Before the trigger of a gun becomes his next level of response, I would rather keep my life than hear this man give me any more information I did not ask for.

I left TAP without the part and with him calling after me the name of Jamooldeen, more information I didn't ask for. I presumed that either this was his name or the name of his boss.

I cannot think that this kind of behaviour is beneficial for TAP or for Newcastle or for the Jamooldeens and certainly not for apartheid.

I will get the part elsewhere, hopefully from someone who respects their customers.