Tedi Hot Water Bottle Leaked, Customer Treated Rudely When Requesting Refund

On Tuesday, September 22, at around 12:30 p.m., I experienced a highly unpleasant situation at the Tedi branch in Ankara. The day before, I had purchased a hot water bottle for 109.99 TL and a gift package for 127.96 TL in total, paying by credit card. I bought the product for my elderly mother; however, the hot water bottle leaked twice and cooled very quickly.

When I went back to the store with the receipt to return the item, the female cashier told me that returns were not possible since the product had been used. Yet, when I purchased the item the previous day, the younger cashier had clearly told me that I could return it with the receipt if there was any issue. Today, they told me that the previous employee no longer worked there and that they would not assist me in any way. I felt that they were deliberately putting up barriers and using a harsh tone, saying that even if that employee were present, the store would still refuse the return.

When I asked how I was supposed to know whether the product was defective without trying it first, the employee continued to speak to me in a rude and disrespectful manner. When I told her she should not speak that way, she replied, “That’s how I talk,” and claimed to be the store manager. Other customers in the store witnessed this exchange. She then told me, “Don’t be rude—leave the store,” effectively throwing me out.

As a 63-year-old customer, I believe I did not deserve such treatment, especially over a 100 TL product. The incident should also be clearly visible in the store’s camera recordings.

I expect an apology from Tedi and request that appropriate action be taken regarding the employee who claimed to be the store manager and behaved so unprofessionally. This is the first time I have experienced such an incident, and I wanted to share my deep disappointment.