An exceptionally unpleasant purchasing…
An exceptionally unpleasant purchasing experience
I cannot recall ever being spoken to in such a rude, dismissive and disrespectful manner while attempting to spend almost AED 10,000. What should have been a straightforward purchase of DJ equipment became an exceptionally unpleasant experience.
I contacted Techno Tribe about a Pioneer XDJ-RX3. I was offered an open-box unit with a case and Decksaver for AED 9,500. I questioned the price because I had seen brand-new, boxed units advertised for less elsewhere. The seller explained that the case was AED 800 and the Decksaver AED 400. Despite my reservations, I was prepared to proceed.
I requested the store's location and explained that I was at Emirates Mall and would come straight over. Only then was I told that payment had to be in cash. When I explained that I did not have cash, I was told that card payment would cost 8% extra, taking the price from AED 9,500 to AED 10,260. That is an additional AED 760 simply for paying by card. The prices and payment messages are documented in our WhatsApp conversation.
This raised a serious consumer-protection concern for me. Article 5(3) of UAE Cabinet Resolution No. 66 of 2023, the Executive Regulations of Federal Law No. 15 of 2020 on Consumer Protection, prohibits adding extra amounts to the price of goods when credit cards are used. Article 5(1) also requires prices to be clearly announced. I intend to refer the proposed 8% surcharge and the circumstances in which it was disclosed to Dubai Consumer Protection for its assessment.
But the price was only part of the problem. The manner in which I was spoken to during our conversation was, in my personal experience, extraordinarily rude and disrespectful. I have purchased equipment from many retailers and genuinely struggle to remember another occasion when a simple sales enquiry felt this unpleasant. I was ready to pay a substantial amount, had accepted a quotation despite finding alternatives elsewhere, and was trying to arrange collection. I expected a clear explanation and basic courtesy, even if the store could not accommodate my preferred payment method.
Instead, I felt dismissed throughout the interaction. I asked to speak with a manager because I hoped someone else might help resolve the situation. I was told I was speaking to the owner. That made the experience especially disappointing. As a customer, I expect the person running a business to set an example in how enquiries and disagreements are handled.
After I explained that I was unhappy with my experience and intended to leave an honest review, I received WhatsApp messages saying the conversation would be kept as evidence for Dubai Police. I found that response deeply unpleasant. I am describing my own experience and the written pricing and payment terms I was given; I am not commenting on other customers or making assumptions about the business's motives.
Ultimately, I chose not to buy the controller. I respect a retailer's right to set prices and explain its payment arrangements. I also expect transparent pricing, respectful communication and the opportunity to raise genuine concerns. This experience fell far short of those expectations. I will provide the relevant correspondence to Consumer Protection and allow the appropriate authority to consider the surcharge.