TFS Genesis. That happened to me not too long ago, and my companions insisted that they were violating the law. I didn't believe them, offered to pay it myself. What a stooge I am!
To the OP: This is a country with a great deal of disposable income (both that of locals and prosperous expats), but consumers still accept third-world quality and service. I have often pondered why this is. The franchises in Qatar are routinely far worse in terms of selection and service than the same stores elsewhere, so it must be a management issue. They play inappropriate music in stores, ignore customers based on race, make the return or exchange of merchandise a nightmare, seem to have no clue when something will become available, know next to nothing about what they are selling, etc.
I left my sports watch at a friend's home in Europe. Because I have a sentimental attachment to it, I did not want to risk posting it; and knew I would be back there in six months. Meanwhile I needed a temporary replacement. I went a store that had the exclusive rights to the the watch a wanted, and I was amazed at how unknowledgeable the sales staff were about the watch range--arguably the best-known of the mid-tier range of luxury watches.
There are, of course, some exceptions, and these tend to be the small businesses in which the local owner takes an interest. Unfortunately, most of the Western products I want are tied to franchises here or to stores with exclusive sales rights.
TFS Genesis. That happened to me not too long ago, and my companions insisted that they were violating the law. I didn't believe them, offered to pay it myself. What a stooge I am!
To the OP: This is a country with a great deal of disposable income (both that of locals and prosperous expats), but consumers still accept third-world quality and service. I have often pondered why this is. The franchises in Qatar are routinely far worse in terms of selection and service than the same stores elsewhere, so it must be a management issue. They play inappropriate music in stores, ignore customers based on race, make the return or exchange of merchandise a nightmare, seem to have no clue when something will become available, know next to nothing about what they are selling, etc.
I left my sports watch at a friend's home in Europe. Because I have a sentimental attachment to it, I did not want to risk posting it; and knew I would be back there in six months. Meanwhile I needed a temporary replacement. I went a store that had the exclusive rights to the the watch a wanted, and I was amazed at how unknowledgeable the sales staff were about the watch range--arguably the best-known of the mid-tier range of luxury watches.
There are, of course, some exceptions, and these tend to be the small businesses in which the local owner takes an interest. Unfortunately, most of the Western products I want are tied to franchises here or to stores with exclusive sales rights.