Dear Sir Robin,
I have been a loyal customer of HMV and Waterstones for many years now. I would estimate that over the past five years I have spent circa £5000 in your stores. I would further estimate my expenditure over the next five years to be the same. It won’t be spent in any of your stores however. Instead I shall spend it in Virgin, Borders and any other stores which are not owned by your group.
The reason for this is your insistence on introducing the new gift card voucher in HMV. A gift card voucher which cannot be used in Waterstones. This is as much use to me as a chocolate teapot. I currently have in my possession a £20 gift card for HMV – I would rather spend this money in Waterstones. But I can’t.
Therefore, I will make my final purchases from HMV and then shop elsewhere unless this ridiculous idea is withdrawn or updated so that they can be used in Waterstones. It should be noted that, although I have been assured that gift vouchers, which can be used in either, are still being produced, your Glasgow shops refuse to sell them. If that is their decision, then I will refuse to buy from them.
Yours sincerely,
Alex Simpson
PS Any stock response letter sent to me will be used as toilet paper before being returned to you.