That was NOT easy

The letter I've just sent to Staples customer service:

To Whom it May Concern:

I'm writing to express my extreme displeasure at the service I received at your [hometown] location this afternoon. I'd been in earlier to purchase a new monitor for my mother's office computer, and subsequently had to return it, based on it's incompatibility with her CPU.

After leaving the monitor at customer service, I selected a new one that would work with her system. She went to find a salesperson and when she returned with him (Al), he asked her if I was an engineer. She said no, and he informed her that he was and that HE knew what monitor she needed and I clearly had no idea.

From here, things went downhill. I told him the model I wanted and he put his hand up and told me we'd have to discuss this first before he'd get me the monitor. From the on, he proceeded to interrogate me on the make, model, technical stats, programs, and a variety of other things completely irrelevant to the purchase. I told him several times I wasn't interested in talking about it, I just wanted to buy a monitor, and he cut me off, put himself physically between myself and the display and said he wouldn't get me what I wanted until I let HIM decide the right piece of equipment. He flat-out refused to give me what I wanted to purchase, saying he'd make that decision for me, as I didn't know what I was talking about.

At this point, I decided I was no longer comfortable dealing with Al, and thanked him for his time, but I'd be taking my exchange to another location. He followed me out of the department, and told check my manual for the information and then said "Oh wait, nevermind. You people always throw them away. Nevermind." I have witnesses to this statement. I told him I didn't appreciate his rude, condescending, insulting attitude and to leave me alone.

At the register, seeing my displeasure, two salespeople asked what the problem was. I told them what had happened, and they offered to get a manager for me, telling me Al was just a salesperson (he told us he was a manager.) I declined, wanting to now return the monitor (rather than exchange, my original plan.) As the return was being processed, Al approached the register, demanding to make sure my box had all the parts and maybe he should check it, since I didn't know what I was looking for. I told him once again to go away and leave me alone. My return was processed and I left the store.

Never have I been treated so poorly at a store. I find it shocking and disappointing that Staples has employees that not only assume all their customers are idiots, but that this is a fair and nice way to do business. Al was rude, inappropriate, patronizing and obviously has a problem with no only women, but women that are knowledgeable about computers. I can't even believe I had to argue with a salesperson (one impersonating a manager, no less), about wanting to make a purchase.

I purchased a new monitor at Best Buy five minutes down the same road. Until Staples can demonstrate they train their employees to assist their customers and not treat them like children, I'll be getting my office supplies at Office Depot.

Regards:
Me