After the shocking incident that quickly went
viral on social media, consumers have raised concerns about how the "family" retailer handled the matter.
Parents and caregivers are also raising
concerns about whether it's "safe" to still go to Pick n Pay, fearful and
scared over what will now happen if they or minors break or damage something in
a Pick n Pay and are held liable.
A distraught Lentegeur grandmother was
captured on the Pick n Pay tiles, holding her crying grandson in her arms, surrounded
by Pick n Pay security in Mitchells Plain after the youngster broke a Dairy
Milk slab.
After her grandson initially took the
chocolate and asked his grandmother if he could have it, she told him to put it
back. The child did put it back but also broke the chocolate.
Pick n Pay security then demanded that she
pay for the damaged product.
The grandmother became emotional and said she
doesn't have the money with the situation that quickly escalated because Pick n Pay didn't handle it properly.
With a growing number of bystanders, security and store
management, emotions kept building up and a disastrous scene ensued that Pick n
Pay managed badly and reflected negatively on the retailer.
Pick n Pay admits that the incident was
unacceptable and that the retailer is very sorry for any distress caused.
"We have now met with our customer from the
store in Mitchells Plain," Jarrett van Vuuren, general manager of Pick n Pay in
the Western Cape told TVwithThinus on Monday.
"We have apologised and stressed that our
franchise should have handled the situation better," he said.
"Our customer is happy with our response and
considers the matter to be resolved. We are pleased that she will continue to
shop in our store."
The traumatised grandmother who feels highly embarrassed over the incident doesn't want to talk to the media.
