Recently, a good friend narrated his unpleasant encounter with a business outfit in Lagos with branches nationwide, where he went to purchase some electronic items.
He noted that initially, the company staff, including the manager, appeared to be nice, displaying good customer relations strategies, which later turned out to be a bait to encourage him to patronise them. After the payment was made, the company refused to release the items within the scheduled time frame as agreed. His ordeals opened my eyes to what people pass through in the hands of insincere business operators and even government agencies, parastatals, and authorities saddled with the responsibility of providing certain services.
He noted that, just like many other Nigerians, he had mastered the art of swallowing poor service. A vendor cheats you; you sigh and move on. An appliance fails after a week, you mutter “God will judge” and get on with life. “Sometimes, we put up a small scene at the shop, hoping public shame will force a refund. More often, we just hand it over to God. That had always been our way.”
He said he did not know the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission existed. The search for justice took him to the commission after the vendor decided to use their power and connection to frustrate his efforts to get the defective item replaced or to get his money refunded, even though it was within warranty and covered by insurance. Narrating his sordid experience, he stated as follows:
