Let me share my experience at Girias, (Brigade Road, Bangalore) with you. I had read a lot, mostly negative comments, on this chain of stores. Yet, I thought of trying it out once.
I had planned to buy a semi-automatic washing machine and had decided to buy a Godrej unit because of its durability. I had also obtained its approximate price from various sellers except Girias. So, I called up their branch located on Brigade Road. I explained my requirement and gave the model number of the machine. The Salesman on the opposite end quoted a price of Rs.7300. I told him that this model is available at a far lesser price of Rs.6500 in the market and that Girias’ price is too high. He said he would call me back. He did, in fact, and agreed to sell the machine for Rs. 6500. He also told me that there is an assured gift with the machine.
As I was busy I was able to visit the store only after a week. While I was parking my two wheeler, an old and rickety watchman whose expiry date was over atleast a decade ago, suddenly woke up from his slumber and asked me to park on the other side. I had parked where I was supposed to and so I asked him what was wrong with it. He insisted that I should park wherever he directs. Fearing some damage to my vehicle in my absence, I followed his “order” and entered the store.
Washing Machines are stored on the first floor. The salesman was busy on his cellphone. Eventually he freed himself and came to attend on us. Without mentioning that I had called him earlier I enquired the price of the Washing Machine which I was interested in. He took me downstairs and pretended to check the price on the computer. Of course, he quoted the same figure.Rs.7300. I asked him if I would get a free gift with it. He replied in the negative. When I pointed out that the offer of ‘free gift’ was displayed on the machine itself, he had no reply. I, then, informed him that I had called him up before and was given a price of Rs.6500 with a gift. He did not lose much time in defending himself. He agreed that he had offered the unit at Rs. 6500 but that was ‘one week’ ago. I was shocked and asked him if the prices had gone up by as much as Rs.800 during the past week, his answer was an emphatic “Yes.” He generously offered to buy my old machine but in running condition for a princely sum of Rs.250 which would be deducted from their selling price.
His stupid reply got my goat. I was quite displeased and told the staff in a loud and clear voice that they were just joking around and not serious in selling their stuff. I couldn’t find any supervisory or managerial staff, nor anyone present there was keen to know what was happening around him. Indeed, they are a set of inefficient jokers.
Let me reiterate, I had come across more than enough discouraging material on their pathetic service and shoddy behavior on the net. I also had seen messages which warned that these guys were delivering home, used and damaged goods other than what was shown in the stores. Well, all this needs to be experienced to be believed. These guys are masters in ineptitude, lies and abject indifference towards their customers. Whether, management(if there is any), is hand in glove with these dumb head salesmen is not clear. The owner seems to have given his miserable staff a long rope which, ultimately, may go against his business interests. No wonder, let alone customers, there are no flies even to swat in the store. At the end of the day, sufferers are the public who get lured by their bombastic advertisements and rush to their stores. If this is their attitude before selling a product, what would it be after the sale in case of any problem! Pl. Keep Off Girias. They don’t deserve your patronage.