davenash.com

"I'm sorry sir", said the grinning shop assistant, "Unless you can give me a call reference number I can't allow you to return it". I stared him squarely in the eyes, searching for the slightest glimmer of flexibility, in the vain hope that I he would not turn me away; but where I was searching to find hospitality and understanding, instead all I found was insensitivity and nonchalance.

I had been trying to exchange a Hard Disk, that I had bought in error from the PC World store on Tottenham Court Road the day before; and I stupidly thought, with a futile optimism that should only be the guest of new born babies and bright eyed children, that I would be able to rectify my honest mistake by taking the erroneous part back to my local branch on Kensington High Street. However, my optimism wasn't unwarranted. I had already called PC World customer services to explain my predicament and I was assured, by the friendly sounding voice on the end of the line, that taking the item to Kensington High Street would not cause an issue.

So with a spring in my step, and the wind in my hair, I made the brisk ten minute walk to the store. I entered and found a shop assistant almost immediately, not bad considering members of staff are never to be found when you need them. The assistant listened as I explained my problem, he then proceeded to open the box that contained the Hard Disk to examine it for himself. Upon finding that the item had previously been taken out of it's bag his corporate grin began to grow wider, as did his accent, "You've already opened it, we can't give you a refund", he said in in a broader accent than he was previously using. "I'm sorry? I didn't catch that", I stated, trying to decipher his voice into intelligible English. "The bag is open, how do we know that the part isn't faulty?"; I wasn't sure if he was being purposefully obstinate or simply stupid, but this guy was obviously in no mood to help me; but I still felt compelled to argue my point as the alternative, which was a trip to Tottenham Court Road, wasn't particularly palatable.

"You seem to have misunderstood", I countered "I have bought the wrong one, all I want is an exchange"; I shouldn't have wasted my breath, he simply didn't want to help me but instead appeared to find arguing with customers to be a far more appealing choice of career. "You have to take it back to the store you bought it from, how do I know that you're telling the truth?", he posed; I had never heard anything quite like it from a shop assistant before, he honestly thought I was trying to pull a fast one!

So with those words ringing in my ears and a building rage I politely packed the item away and left the store to find the nearest bus that would take me to the West End. I thought that the worst was behind me, surely PC World couldn't have anyone else working for their organisation who was as rude as that man? I was wrong... (to be continued)