RUDE and CONDESCENDING treatment towards clients

<p>Today I called Vodashop Mmabatho, located in the Mega City Mall, Mmabatho, North West Province.<br />I was calling on behalf of my own boss as he requested that I obtain a price for the battery in his cellphone which is a Samsung S6 Edge device.<br />The phone rang without answer until it reached the point where I was told that the following number was currently unavailable, as per usual if a telephone is not answered.<br />It must have taken four tries with the same result before the phone was answered. <br />After submitting my request to the first woman who answered the phone I was transferred to a male consultant who was meant to assist me, whose name is unknown to me as he did not have the etiquette to introduce himself (nor at the very least use the words "how can I help you?") at any point.<br />He answered the call from his client with only a "hello".<br />(I later called back to find out the name of the person I was previously transferred to from the woman who answered the phone when I was informed by her that his name is "Ona" short for "Onalerona" - bear in mind that my spelling my be incorrect, however I did try spell it as close to pronounciation thereof)<br />I introduced myself by name and made my request for the price on the battery as mentioned earlier.<br />He promptly informed me that it would be imposible to give me a price without sending the phone in as it is only them that can replace the battery.<br />Let us bear in mind that this device does not belong to me and that I also do not own a Samsung S6 Edge and am therefore naive to the specs of the device and how it works.<br />I then (being unsure if we were talking about the same device) requested whether that was the only way to get it done and whether he was sure that the cover or battery could not be removed without sending the phone in to repairs.<br />Instead of politely using the correct work etiquette to inform and reassure me that this was the only way it could be done, or even explaining how it works as I do not know myself as his client, I received a rather rude and condescending response.<br />He (sounding very pleased with himself) rep****: "Why don't you go fetch the phone and try to remove the cover yourself so that I can laugh at you over the phone?"<br />I work with people as well and I know that this is no way to be treated or to treat others, let alone a client who is willing to bring you business and pay for it.<br />I answered: "Wow, that is very rude."<br />Quickly, much like a child realising they just *****ed up big time, he hastily rep****: "Joke, its a joke mam!" (probably in hopes that I would not complain about him).<br />I put the phone down as I could not find the humour in insulting your clientelle and degrading them so easily instead of explaining something (as any normal consultant or sales person may do) knowing that your client does not have the same amount of knowledge over the product as you (the person selling or repairing it) would have, especially considering that I have not used or owned said device before.<br />This is not the first time I, or my boss, or anyone I know that uses this shop, has had problems here.<br />I feel insulted and mistreated.<br />This is truly the worst kind of customer experience I have ever had in my entire life, and it is also the FIRST TIME IN MY ENTIRE LIFE that I am INSULTED by a 'professional' or business representative, as their client.<br />I am disgusted that someone who does not know from a bar of soap would treat me this way when I was polite the whole way through, let alone that it was someone of whom I am client, who should be representing Vodacom to the best of his abilities.<br />I would be horrified to find out how many other clients have been insulted by this shop or this "Ona" character.</p>