A Calgary man is sounding the alarm for shoppers everywhere after a shocking experience buying a new fridge left him out in the cold, both literally and figuratively.

Marko Jovanovic, who shares his home with six others, thought he was making a simple stop at Rona after work to pick up a new fridge. He opted to load it into his pickup truck instead of having it delivered—little did he know, this decision would lead to a chaotic series of events.

Upon unwrapping his new appliance, Jovanovic was stunned to discover that what he received was a filthy, used white fridge instead of the sleek grey model he had ordered. "This isn’t what I paid for!" he exclaimed.

Frustrated after a long day, he rushed back to Rona, convinced it was just a simple mistake. However, the store manager dismissed his concerns, claiming the fridge couldn't be replaced because it wasn't a Samsung model. Jovanovic was baffled—"I’m no appliance expert!" he thought.

In a desperate bid for resolution, the manager promised to call him back. But when the news came, Jovanovic couldn’t believe the audacity. The manager tried to shift blame onto Samsung, pushing Jovanovic to the edge, saying, "If you don’t make this right, I’ll take legal action!" Things escalated quickly when the manager abruptly cut off the conversation, telling him to consult with a lawyer.

Feeling out of options, Jovanovic took his plight to social media, only to discover he wasn’t alone. Many others chimed in, sharing similar nightmarish shopping experiences, not just with fridges but with various products all over.

Thanks to a suggestion from a social media responder, Jovanovic reached out to Rona's media relations team, leading to a miraculous turnaround. Just twelve hours later, he had not only secured a full refund but also received a $200 gift card as an apology.

Marko Bijvank, an associate professor at the Haskayne School of Business, weighed in on the troubling situation, explaining how logistical mix-ups like these occur—especially with foreign manufacturing processes involving numerous handoffs.

He advised consumers to always be informed about warranties and rights to ensure proper returns.

In a statement to Global News, Rona acknowledged that while they strive for high customer service standards, errors can happen. They affirmed that Jovanovic's refund had been processed promptly after his escalation, even though he felt he was treated unfairly throughout the ordeal.

Despite the resolution, Jovanovic's month-long battle left him questioning the reliability of big-box retailers and the lengths one might have to go to reclaim their hard-earned cash.