This is why the high street is dying

Well where do you start. Found a good deal (so I thought) on an in-stock 4k tv in Curry's. Loaded a gift card with the money (additional discount) and headed off to the shop to buy the TV. After listening to the store staff's sales pitch (Very superficial, please do you research before you go in as their knowledge based on price and Mhz), I finally got to purchase the TV I wanted. Then the problems started...

Half way through the transaction the computer system crashes. We then moved to a different terminal, only to discover that the gift card has been processed and can't be re-used (this is a fundamental issue in their system as gift cards are processed before the transaction is completed). Spoke to "manager" who tried to contact their head office, but as it was a bank holiday nothing could be done. I was told that the "hold" should be released in 24 hours and to return Monday to complete the transaction. Also, promised a phone call to update me on the progress of my case (never received).

Come Monday off I trot to the store to get my TV, only to be told by the "Manager" that I should have received a phone call informing me not to come to the store as the money had not been released (no call received). After a heated debate about the level of incompetency, their lack of knowledge of their systems (normally it does take 24 hours, again I was unlucky - really?) and the complete lack of failure with communication, I was basically informed that I would need to come back another day, or arrange a delivery in order to get this issue resolved.

To be honest I can now see why companies like amazon are doing so well. Curry's, and the rest of the high street, only have customer service (and very occasionally price) to distinguish themselves from their online counterparts, but if this is the level of service we can expect then the high street is doomed. Staff are lack-luster and management are ineffectual and rude. in my opinion stick with Amazon, they are far superior in the way they operate.

One other tip, if you are going to buy a TV from Curry's DO NOT buy their HDMI cables, they are overpriced and the sales pitch is not accurate. At short lengths the quality of the HDMI is not that important.....