INSIDE-OUT HOME FURNISHINGS

I am sixty-five years old and have just been victimized by the absolute worst retail experience of my life. I am truly stunned. We purchased a set of patio furniture in 2004. At that time, we received a certificate for replacement slings. We have been very happy with the furniture and this year, the fabric ripped and reminded us that we had free replacement. I visited the manufacturer's website to learn how to proceed in claiming our replacement slings. The retailer from whom we originally purchased the furniture had a recent name change and the contact information was not clear to me. I contacted the manufacturer's facility in Huntsville, Alabama and talked with one of the sales representatives. He was very nice and very helpful. He referred me to Inside Out Home Furnishings in Brentwood, TN. I contacted the store and was told that I needed to select the fabric and bring the original sales receipt with the certificate to the store. In addition, I was told there would be a $25.00 charge for shipping. This morning I presented myself at the store as instructed with the appropriate information. I was somewhat taken aback in that I did not receive a greeting of any sort even though they had just opened for the day. After a couple of attempts at pleasant conversation, I gave up and stood quietly while the owner?s wife Mrs. Stroupe completed the paper work. Her first words to me were to tell me the certificate did not cover the chaise lounge and it would cost $150.00. I said ?OK? if that was the situation. While she continued with the paperwork, I read the certificate and it clearly states the chaise lounge is included. I pointed that out to her and she begrudgingly responded by correcting the paperwork ? no comment, no apology. When she completed the paperwork, she said I would have to pay $35.00 for shipping. While not the amount she had previously quoted, I said nothing and happily paid with the expectation that I would soon be out of that toxic environment. When all was completed and I was literally heading to the door, she asked why I had not gone to the store where I had purchased the furniture. I told her the manufacturer had referred me to them and asked if there was a problem. With tremendous condescension she said, ?Well yes, why should we have to deal with this?? I asked if she felt that way, why she did it and her husband, Jerry Stroupe jumped into the conversation by yelling that I should shut my mouth; ?This is my store and I do not have to listen to you!? Excuse me? Can?t we have a conversation? ?No, now get out of my store before I call the police.? What?! The scene was so surreal I was literally speechless. I could not believe what was unfolding. I said nothing nor did I behave in any way to provoke this rude and inappropriate outburst from an individual one would expect to be friendly and helpful as a retail business. I responded with my offer to withdraw the transaction; an offer that was readily accepted. While she was processing the paperwork, I said that I was stunned by their attitude and behavior to which I was again verbally assaulted by Mr. Stroupe and he actually rushed toward me in a physically threatening manner. ?Shut up.? Get out of my store!? Excuse me, I am waiting get my money back?and then my comment, ?Jesus H. Christ, you should calm down.? To which he is back in my face, physically threatening and yelling, ?Don?t you talk like that in here; we are Christians and we do not have to listen to that.? At which time he proceeded to pick up the phone ? again ? and supposedly was calling the police. My only response was to say their Christianity was obvious and that I was sure Jesus would be proud of them. I took my paperwork and left. I have reported this episode to the manufacturer; No way would I allow these people to represent me, my products, or services, I am very satisfied with the furniture, but if the only place I could purchase it was Inside Out Home Furnishings, they would loose a customer. I have gone on line and read many reviews from customers who experienced the same rudeness and outburst of temper that I did. I also know that I was polite and appropriate throughout the ordeal only to be insulted, threatened, and belittled while my expectation had been to be welcomed and helped with a retail issue.

I called Inside Out to inquire about the price of a patio furniture table/chair set. I thought this was a pretty simple question and even described where it was located in their showroom. The person that answered my call told me that they didn't know the price, didn't have the time to check and that I was being rude for calling. To top if off, they started yelling at me over the phone . . .Maybe they were having a bad day but that was the absolute worst customer service experience I have ever had. It left me speechless. Needless to say, I purchased my outdoor furniture elsewhere!