Courts’ action border on fraud; consumers deserve better

Dear Editor,
Guyanese consumers continue to face exploitation by large corporations, with limited recourse for resolving issues. It is time for something to be done to address this ongoing problem.
On November 28, I purchased a sectional sofa from Courts on Main Street, Georgetown, with the earliest available pickup date scheduled for Monday, December 9 at 10:20 AM. I received two confirmation emails and a phone call on Sunday, December 8 at 2:56 PM confirming the pickup at the company’s bond in Eccles, East Bank Demerara.
Upon arriving at the bond to collect my item, I spent nearly an hour waiting, only to be told that they could not locate the full sofa—only half of it was available. I was instructed to contact a manager (name withheld) at the Main Street location for further assistance. However, despite multiple calls, I was unable to reach her.
Determined to resolve the issue, I went to the Main Street office, hoping to speak directly with her. Instead, I was informed by staff that she was not at that location and was instead at the bond.
I was then redirected to another department, where I waited further. Eventually, I was told that my only options were to either accept a refund or select another item of similar value from the store.
This situation is completely unacceptable, particularly from a multi-billion-dollar company that should have the resources to maintain proper inventory tracking systems. Courts’ actions border on fraud, as they are selling items they are unable to deliver.
I have wasted over a week waiting for this product and an entire day of running around trying to resolve this issue, only to end up frustrated, disappointed, and empty-handed—without the sofa I was hoping to have in my home for Christmas.
This is not an isolated incident. I am aware of many other Guyanese consumers who have faced similar issues with Courts and its sister company, Ashleys.
I am writing this letter not only to express my frustrations but also to highlight the poor customer service and inadequate systems in place at these companies. Courts and Ashleys can certainly afford to make the necessary investments to improve their services and better meet the needs of the Guyanese public.
Guyanese consumers deserve better!

Sincerely,
Shashri Naraine