QB World Books: No discount?

On March 25, 2004 I bought three hardcover fiction books at QB World Books on Jl. Thamrin, one of Jakarta's major book retailers, when it offered a 30 percent discount to customers who purchased fiction titles worth Rp 200,000.

The books I bought cost Rp 88,000, Rp 175,000 and Rp 274,000 respectively, which means I was entitled to the discount for the third item in line with the promotion as stated on a poster hanging in the shop.

As I examined my receipt, I was surprised to find no discount for the third book, which cost Rp 274,000. When I asked the cashiers why I did not get 30 percent off, they breezily claimed to have no knowledge of the promotion, and said they could not correct the bill, even though I showed them the discount notice.

No response has been forthcoming so far to the complaint I made to QB World Books at Senayan.

I think this is indicative of how retailers operate in Indonesia, with cashiers not being informed of promotion programs and no proper training being given to them in customer service. Instead of helping solve problems, they only disappoint the customers.

SINTHA YASIN, Jakarta