I’ve never really had more than five positive visits in a row to the Camps Bay “Friendly” store and am surprised that I still visit the place, let alone get worked up about the shoddy service, stock take and queue times. If anything, they get an “A” for consistency.

Last Sunday was no different.

 

The Camps Bay Friendly Store

The Muse and I felt the urge for a fizzy drink and I drove down from The Safe House to buy a Coke and a Stoney. I side-swiped the bottled foods isle to see if they had re-stocked the Carmel Strong Dill gherkins which haven’t been there for nearly a week (since I tweeted about it a month ago on September 9). Obviously they weren’t there.

 

Why would we keep stock of something
that keeps selling out?

 

They were also out of stock of the other products I look for every time I visit. Products that a lot of people like and products which are only there once in a blue moon, before they get sold out again. Notables include Carmel Strong Dill Gherkins, Judy’s Pickled Onions (strong) and Goldcrest Jalapenos. What does that tell you, guys? Maybe people like these products? Maybe you should order more? Does that not make sense?

It is interesting to note that these are the very same products I chatted about a YEAR ago – an article I wrote highlighting the fact that the Friendly store was out of popular products (as well as can openers), but were sure to have stock of home TIK testing packs.

Sunday had an extra twist, however, as I gave the lady at the till R50 to pay for four cans of cooldrink (total price around R25). She asked if I had anything smaller. I said no and she told me I had to wait for someone to bring change from “the back.” She gave me the R5 coin part of the change and then said I had to wait for the final R20.

There was another man waiting in front of me for change from a previous transaction. A classic “fuckshow” was developing before my very eyes.

Surely this wasn’t happening? I gave her a R50 note, not a R200 note! How could they not have R20 change?? It was a Sunday. I had ventured out of The Safe House cocoon, driven 5km, JUST to buy a cooldrink – and now I was stuck at the fucking till.

On a SUNDAY! Are you kidding me?

I waited for what seemed like an eternity, as everyone just stared ahead of them, blankly. I didn’t want to cause a scene and said, “look, I’m a regular customer, you’ve seen me here before, how about you just make a note that you owe me R20?”

“I can’t do that,” she said.

“Why,” I asked.

“Because maybe I won’t be here when you are here again.”

“Oh, God,” I sighed, “then stick the note on the wall, I don’t care, but this is ridiculous, I would rather get the money another time than spend my Sunday in a queue.”

She looked at me with a face that says, you’re a clever dick, aren’t you?

“Can you make a little note please – I’m dying here. I just want to drink my Stoney at home,” I pleaded.

And that’s when it happened.. She gave a MASSIVE huff and a puff and banged on the till, releasing the change drawer.

She flicked up those metal things that hold down the money, pulled out two R10 notes and slammed them on the counter, PISSED OFF.

I was speechless. “You had that there the whole time?” I asked. I didn’t wait for an answer and walked out. Upon exiting, I sideswiped the neverending management meeting that takes place in the “dining” area of the shop, very near the entrance and the tills. Naturally the team at the table were blissfully unaware of the pain their customers were going through a mere 10 meters away from them.

I gave my story, but don’t know why I did – it’s never helped anything before, why would it now? And no, he didn’t apologise.

Stunning vibe. A year down the road – still no change (scuze the pun).

Keep it up, guys.

 

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