Perhaps in an attempt to live up to its name, Gasp defended a rude salesperson who insulted customer Keara O'Neil about her weight.
O'Neil, a retail assistant herself, stepped into Gasp store on Sept. 24 to find bridesmaid dresses and a frock for her wedding.
A shop assistant Chris was helpful in finding her size 12 frame only until O'Neil didn't seem to purchase the dress. He began mocking at her weight, saying that he knew she and her friends "were a joke the minute you walked in."
In response to O'Neil's complaint to the customer service center, Gasp clothing's area manager Matthew Chidgey was even more stunning, as he described Chris as a "superstar" too good at what he does.
The email exchange then went viral, and made the infamous boutique known to the world.
Refusing to back down, Gasp has further vowed to ban O'Neil and all her friends from stepping into the stores, while thanking her for initiating free promotion.
"GASP's official statement to the young lady who started this tremendous publicity stunt for our company is that, we would like to thank you from the bottom of our hearts for putting our business on the national and international stage," Chidgey wrote in an email to the Herald Sun.
"Notwithstanding your ill intentions, our business has experienced unprecedented sales volume, and we would like to thank you for all your assistance in helping to achieving this."
"To all the rude and obnoxious clowns, we respectfully ask that you get out and stay out, we don't want you or your business. We ask that (you) share your misconceived and unfounded remarks amongst yourselves. Have a nice day and good luck," added Chidgey, ending th eemail.
Below is the explosive email exchange in full between Keara O'Neil and Gasp area manager Matthew Chidgey, released by the Herald Sun.
From O'Neil to Gasp:
I had the privilege of shopping at your brand new Chapel St store on Saturday 24th September with my three bridesmaids in tow. On the hunt for bridesmaids dresses and a hens dress for myself we walked into the store and were automatically pounced on by a male staff member, I understand that this is protocol for many retail outlets and ours is no different.
The staff member was initially funny and extremely helpful with sizes etc. I chose a bright pink dress to try on but was unable to do the zip up so asked for the size up, when I eventually got the correct size and came out of the change room I was unable to discuss the likes or dislikes of the dress with my bridesmaids as the sales assistant kept saying "you should just get it", when I told him I would think about it, he pulled me aside and whispered "Is it the price your worried about". By now I was extremely frustrated, and again told him I'd think about it, I walked back into the change room and closed the door behind me, only to have it pushed open with the sales assistant half standing in my change room, again whispering "I think you should just get it", when I gave him attitude and said rudely, "I already told you I would think about it", he then replied, "With your figure I really think you should buy it".
GASP area manager Matthew Chidgey said Ms O'Neil will be vetoed until she formally apologises.
"She is ... banned from attending any of our stores, unless she formally apologises for her rude behaviour and promises to behave in a civilised manner," he said
In an email to the Herald Sun, Mr Chidgey said the coverage was the "best thing that has ever happened to our business".
"We are getting so busy that we had to postponed (sic) staff leave days.
"To all the rude and obnoxious clowns, we respectfully ask that you get out and stay out, we don't want you or your business."
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