Hanks Fine Furniture Customer service? Company policy is customer first? Fort Smith Arkansas

I placed a loveseat on layaway at Hanks Fine Furniture in Fort Smith, AR earlier this year. I was not ready for the loveseat until late May, I was assured by the saleslady that the loveseat would not even be ordered until mid April. I returned to the store on March 15 to cancel the layaway since I would not have room for the loveseat in the moving van. I was told that the loveseat had already been ordered and would be in April 4th, and that there was no way that it could be held until the end of May.

I was told that there was a 25% non-refundable deposit, so I would not be receiving any money back. I informed the manager that I had not been told anything about this charge by the saleslady, he informed me "that is not my fault". When I asked about finishing the payments on the furniture and then returning it for a full refund I was told that the 25% non-refundable deposit would still apply. We had a fairly unpleasant conversation about customer service, no profanity, no threats, no names were used. The manager told me that there was nothing he could do, I said who can, I was told no one that he was right under Hank himself and that I would not be allowed to speak to Hank.

I left the store only to return about 5 minutes later to ask for the phone number to the corporate office. I asked very politely for the number and was told to go to the web site and send them an email. The manager became very belligerent during the conversation, I told him that I would be happy to advertise for Hanks and I would be sure to help the customers out on my way. He promptly told one of the ladies behind the desk to call the police! He said he would have me arrested! When I asked what for I was told because he had told me to leave several times, which he had not. I was also told that I was not to speak to anyone in the store on my way out.

I have worked in retail for years and have never treated a customer no matter how unpleasant they were the way I was treated. I do not believe that Hanks Fine Furniture is about customer service in any way shape or form. So in the end I am ripped out of my deposit, totaling $100 and the migraine medicine required to ease the headache from the conversation with the manager of the Fort Smith, AR store.

Phyllis
Muldrow, Oklahoma
U.S.A.