TUS, The Uniform Shop

While doing reviews, I got reminded of the worst shop I had the misfortune of visiting in Colombo. The Uniform Shop or TUS as they like to call themselves. Situated on Galle Road, just opposite Barefoot, this shop has a monopoly over uniform supply in a lot of the schools in Colombo. In fact they are the sole supplier of uniforms in the school my daughter attends.

On the day I visited recently, I took along some current samples of Daughter's uniforms as I can never remember the size when I would go to buy it from the school (the school stocks limited uniform supplies). In fact, it was only because the school did not have any stock at the beginning of the academic year that I had to visit the shop. I was accosted at the door way by the guard and told that I had to leave the plastic bag with the uniforms at the door in his care. Ofcourse, I was a possible thief, but not this dude. There was no possibility that he'd help himself to some of my things when I left it with him. I explained that I had brought samples to compare sizes. That is when dragon lady, who seemed to be one of the managers told me coolly that in this shop this was the rule, and I had to abide by it. Bags had to be left at the door. If I wanted to I could bring the samples in. Dumbfounded I said, "you want me to leave this empty plastic bag at the door!?" To which she again rattled off her silly rule.

I complied only because I needed the uniforms. Needless to say, the rest of the experience was just as acrid. I wanted one skirt to be tailor made as the ready made sizes did not fit Daughter properly. The tailor refused to make most of the adjustments I wanted. What's the point of having something custom made! They also didn't have most sizes available so I couldn't buy the t-shirts I wanted.

I hope they continue to behave incredibly ridiculously and rudely with their customers so that eventually there are enough complaints to put them out of business.