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Original poster

Just burst into tears in 'costcutter'

70 replies

babyonboard · 04/08/2006 14:18

I am absolutely stunned at this..and a bit disappointed in myself for getting upset and walking out..

Yesterday DH bought some random bits from the costcutter near us on the way home, including baby wipes..only problem is he bought pampers normal wipes instead of the huggies sensitive we normally use

We have lived here for years and shop there regularly, so this afternoon I took the two packs back and asked to exchange them for the huggies..the manager launched at me in a really aggressive voice saying
'these were on half price offer two weeks ago, you bought them then and are trying to rob me now' . Cue me, looking flabbergasted...
he continued..'I know you bought baby wipes then, I remember all our customers ..etc etc'

I told him DP had gotten them yesterday and we even had the reciept but he kept denying it, and accusing me of bringing back things we bought half price wanting a full refund..fair enough we probably did buy baby wipes a fortnight ago..we have a frickin baby and get through these things at an alarming rate! Not to mention he could put these packs back on the shelf and sell them at the full price now! arghh

I was frankly stunned at such a random outlash and burst into tears (in quite a busy shop) and left, leaving the wipes on the counter..

What the f was his problem..and why am I such a wuss!?

OP posts:
yorkshirelass79 · 04/08/2006 15:23

Message withdrawn

Original poster
babyonboard · 04/08/2006 15:25

Thanks..enough pondering.I'll just go off there!

OP posts:
southeastastra · 04/08/2006 15:25

calm but firm good luck

Carmenere · 04/08/2006 15:34

Just say that you are offended at this persons attitude. You are a custtomer not a thief and expect to be treated as such when in his shop.

catsmother · 04/08/2006 15:43

B.O.B. ...... how awful for you. With a receipt there was absolutely NO reason for him to humiliate and belittle you like that. He was basically accusing you of stealing, without any proof whatsoever - and people just can't go around doing that.

I'm sure I've seen past news stories where store detectives have pounced upon exiting shoppers, frogrmarching them back into the store etc., when, in fact they were entirely innocent and it was a case of mistaken identity (or stupidity on the store's behalf). Some of these victims have then fought back legally .... some of their objections being the humiliation of it all and the negative impact upon their reputations by being so publicly accused.

I'd say that your experience amounts to pretty much the same thing. How dare he - the jumped-up arrogant little twat !

My next stop personally would have been the local paper who love stories like this, and with any luck, because it's a franchise, several other would-be customers who read the piece will also boycott that particular Costcutters and the nasty little bully will lose a lot more than just your £30 per week custom !

As for why you're such a wuss .... basically, he wrongfooted you. You went there with what you thought was a totally honest and reasonable request and hadn't been prepared for the onslaught you received. Not imagining anyone would be so nasty, you simply weren't prepared for what you'd do or say if confronted like that. It's no reflection on you and shame on him for being so revolting to a mum carrying a very young baby.

Which branch was it ?

catsmother · 04/08/2006 15:48

By the way, Colin Graves is the Chairman and Managing Director of Costcutter Supermarket Groups Ltd.

Their Head Office is at: Harvest Mills, Dunnington, York, YO19 5RY. Telephone: 01904488663.

I'd write direct to him and ask if this is how their franchisees are expected to behave to valued customers.

Original poster
babyonboard · 04/08/2006 16:06

Okay, firstly thanks so much catsmother for your advice..I won't go to the local paper etc as that seems a bit extreme but will certainly make a complaint with the details you gave..

I am even more infuriated by what happened now..I told the manager he was unnecessarily rude and aggressive towards me, and he just shrugged, I then said I would like the wipes back that I had left and he said..we will give you the half price they were last week on offer as a refund..I said no..showed him the receipt again.clearly £2.49 each for 2 johnsons wipes..and he again refused..and ofered me £2.50 cash for both them..argh!
He then said 'I will check cctv and see you bought baby wipes last week, and the week before' again I told him, we have a baby ..we buy wipes all the time!
I told him he was being unfair, asked him what his problem was, and why he thought I , as long standing customer would try to scam him out of a pound or so ( im mean ffs..he has seen me blow a tenner just on magazines and chocolate in there more often than I'd like to admit..)!),
and also, despite what he thought, they were my property and I wanted them back but he again refused..

A lot of people were around and listening and I felt soooo embarrased so just left again before I cried..I felt I needed to save my dignity and it's not worth the hassle and stress over a fiver really...

OP posts:
Carmenere · 04/08/2006 16:11

OMG!!! I would have his balls served up to me on a plate
Write the snottiest letter you can to the MD and get your dh to go with you to the shop and insist on watching the cctv footage. Cause loads of hastle and disruption for him he is an ignorant fucker and is treating you this way because you are a woman, I'm almost sure of it.

Original poster
babyonboard · 04/08/2006 16:16

lol at 'balls served up on a [plate'

catsmother..I just called them and the area manager is on holiday but will get back to me (apparantly) we shall see..I'll write a letter in the meantime anyway..
the lady on the phone was however really lovely and really apologetic...

OP posts:
southeastastra · 04/08/2006 16:19

well done for going back though, maybe he'll get a good telling off. i can't imagine he would go through the whole cctv to look for you though. plank

Freckle · 04/08/2006 16:26

If he refused to give you your wipes back, it's theft. He clearly acknowledged that they were yours and refused to let you have them. I'd go back in and threaten him with the police. See how much of a bully he is then.

joelallie · 04/08/2006 16:27

God! You left him alive!!!!! What a tosser! I am so angry for you. I can't beleive the attitude of someone who wants the publics money. Mind you I don't know how I'd have actually reacted if faced with that - not used to people being so blatantly rude.

I hope they make life hell for him. Might be a good idea to write down exactly what happened whils you remember it clearly as it may take a while to get the result you want...obviously his head and balls on a platter!

Grrrrrr.....

joelallie · 04/08/2006 16:29

And as for the plaintive' you're just trying to rob me'...pathetic! If people are doing that he needs to review his procedures or stop offering bogofs etc. Not whinge about it to a customer.

catsmother · 04/08/2006 16:29

B.O.B. please please consider going to the press.

This man has accused you, in public, and in the earshot of others, of trying to defraud him, despite clear evidence to the contrary (the receipt).

Furthermore, he is now refusing to hand back your property (as proven by the receipt) which you left behind by accident because he'd upset you ....... so, he has stolen something from you !!

He has behaved in an appallingly unprofessional and buyllying manner and should be dragged over the coals one way or another. I bet you're not the only customer he's behaved badly to.

Getting your story in print will, at the very least, ensure that other shoppers are made aware of his disgusting attitude. It will also vindicate you and tell anyone who witnessed this that you were the victim of a crass bully, rather than a would-be thief. It will also probably come to the attention of Head Office - or, you can cut the story out and post it to them.

And I would do all that, as well what Carmenere suggests. Where the F* does he get off on such ridiculous and intimidating behaviour ? We all have our regular shopping haunts and we all buy regular items, week after week ..... does that mean we shouldn't expect courtesy and reasonableness if we need to swap an item picked up in error, just because we bought the same thing 12 weeks running previously ??

The receipt says all you need to know - end of.

Let us know what branch it is ..... if it were anywhere near me, I've a good mind to go in there and remonstrate with him myself. I can't stand arrogant little bullies.

beckybrastraps · 04/08/2006 16:30

Did you phone the head office number? Because there should be someone available to talk to you there. I would be SPITTING if it were me. Grrrr!

kimi · 04/08/2006 16:33

So if he has not given you the wipes that you paid for and have a rescipt for then surly HE has stolen from YOU.
I never go in to these type of shops as they are always run by arseholes.

Original poster
babyonboard · 04/08/2006 16:37

well cctv would show..almost certainly... me / dp bought baby wipes on several occasion in the last fortnight ( and probably £100's worth of bits and bobs) , not to mention yesterday, which our friggin reciept clearly shows....

but then it would also show him taking them behind the counter and not refunding/exchanging (and hopefully) him yelling at me, with tot in sling for no reason..and then yelling again...

His issue is , he thinks we bought them whilst the 'offer was on' and he acted like we stowed them away and came back to get an exchange later..lmao..as if I would bother,who would!?..I had a miscarriage a fortnight ago and all I f_ing wanted to do was exchange some baby wipes..why would it lead to all this stress for me!?

I darent even mention it to dp as I know he will go over and cause all hell to break loose and I'd rather forget it..not shop there again and write a long letter to them in the meantime...

OP posts:
redbull · 04/08/2006 16:39

get your DH to go their and sort him out !!!

Original poster
babyonboard · 04/08/2006 16:39

sorry .the m.c is irrelevant to this I know, but it's part of the reason why I'm so upset over it...

OP posts:
Carmenere · 04/08/2006 16:39

Dp(who is a policeman) has just said go into the shop, take the wipes off the shelf and tell him to call the police if he has a problem with it.

beckybrastraps · 04/08/2006 16:40

Phone their head office. SO cross for you. I AM spitting! I cannot bear this kind of behaviour. And people staring while a man rants at a woman with a baby in a sling, who then starts to cry. Honestly!

Carmenere · 04/08/2006 16:40

Dp says he won't have the cctv footage from two weeks ago.

yorkshirelass79 · 04/08/2006 16:44

Message withdrawn

shhhh · 04/08/2006 16:46

what an arse. I would complain. Obviously the bloke is either:

  1. Got a bad case of pmt

OR

  1. Is sex deprived

Why else would he act like an idiot..!!! Huh and they say women are the worse sex..!!!

catsmother · 04/08/2006 16:55

B.O.B. ..... I am really sorry to hear about your miscarriage. I know from experience how fragile it can make you feel for a long time after, never mind 2 weeks. The smallest thing can make you tearful, let alone a major confrontation.

All the more reason you should let DH help you out with this. So what if he makes a scene - this scumbag deserves to be shown up. I'm sure he'd be horrified if he knew about this, so you shouldn't hide it from him and let him deal with it.

I know I keep asking, but where is this shop ???