Hypothetical Question....

[Kim&Chris]

Here's a story that I'm hoping you'll give me an honest opinion to. It really happened, but I just inserted myself into the story so I could explain it more easily (lol, it didn't really happen to "me"). Hoping to hear some honest opinions....

Let's say I walked into a store and found a pair of pants that fit me perfectly. I really liked them, and immediately decided I wanted to wear them for the rest of the day. I walked up to the cash register and explain this to the cashier. She then tells me that she must remove the ink tag that is attached to the bottom of one of the legs, and asks me to go back into the fitting room to remove the pants so she can do so. I tell her I'd rather not. Instead, I offer to "swing" my leg up & onto the counter, hoping my leg will be close enough to the little machine that takes the pins off, thus enabling her to remove the pin while the pants are still on me. I know that swinging my leg up will be a little tough because I'm a bit overweight, and well into my 50's.

So, I swing my leg up and it lands on the table, relatively close to the machine. The girl moves the machine closer to my leg and begins to remove the ink tag. However, in the meantime, I began to lose my balance. Another salesgirl moved quickly to help me regain my balance and prevent me from falling, but failed. I fell onto my side, hitting my hip on the tile.

Ouch!! It took a few minutes for me to be able to stand up. The salesgirls offered to call 911, but I refused. I asked the salesgirl when I'd be hearing from someone from their Home Office regarding my injuries, because I'm pretty sure I'll need to see a doctor. I believe they should pay my bills and offer me a settlement for what happened.

OK, opinions please. Should "I" take responsibility for my own actions, or should the store be liable because, after all, it happened on their property.

 

[Magic Mom]

"You" (hypothetical you) sound like a scam artist. Where did you get this story from?

 

[Kim&Chris]

"You" (hypothetical you) sound like a scam artist. Where did you get this story from?

I work for a large retailer, and this happened a few days ago in one of the stores

 

[LadyZolt]

Yes, the "you" who did such a moronic move should be responsible for any injuries that resulted from that act. I also think that the whole thing is likely on video somewhere -- either the store's video camera or another customer's cell phone camera. No way should the store be liable.

-Dorothy (LadyZolt)

 

[chell]

Sounds to me like she had it planned from the time she walked in the store.

 

[Buckalew11]

Surely to God above this person wouldn't be able to get away with this. That is just absolutely nutty and stupid.

However, I know a lady who flung her foot up to a kitchen counter level sink to wash her foot (feet) after work (cutting hair in sandals) and fell backwards to the floor catching herself on her left hand/wrist and had her injuries and time off paid for. What she did was stupid too but I guess since it happened at work workman's comp paid for it.

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

I agree with Michelle! Total scam!

OT, have a great time on your trip Michelle!!!

 

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

the only bad thing I see is that the clerk allowed the "customer" to control the situation to the point of 'injury"

It does, sound like a scam, and if he immediately wanted to know about medical bills, then the customer should not have been given the option but have the ems called. because its the stores liability they would help rather than the customer.

 

[quentina]

I work in HR.....it happens all the time. Our lawyers would fight it like mad and the employee would be reprimanded for not following procedure (yep....that is what would happen whether we agree with it or not). All associates would have to attend a re-training and sign a document acknowledging such training.

Life is fun in a large retail organization.

 

[Kim&Chris]

I work in HR.....it happens all the time. Our lawyers would fight it like mad and the employee would be reprimanded for not following procedure (yep....that is what would happen whether we agree with it or not). All associates would have to attend a re-training and sign a document acknowledging such training.

Life is fun in a large retail organization.

Amen

 

[PebblesMK]

What happened to taking responsibility for one's own actions? People need to get a grip and stop being so sue-happy. If you want/need money that badly, get your butt to McDonalds and fill out an application.

 

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

What happened to taking responsibility for one's own actions? People need to get a grip and stop being so sue-happy. If you want/need money that badly, get your butt to McDonalds and fill out an application.

while I agree, the sad fact is that we have become a litigious society, and when then number of law school graduates out pace the number of engineers, scientists, and doctors graduating, we will continue to be lawsuit happy!

 

[kaytieeldr]

OK, opinions please. Should "I" take responsibility for my own actions, or should the store be liable because, after all, it happened on their property.

Because "you" failed to follow the cashier's instructions, and because "you", despite your physical/chronological situation, insisted on swinging your leg up on the counter - "YOU" are responsible. The store is not responsible in any way.

The cashier could have refused to remove the ink tag while the customer was wearing the slacks, but the store maintains no responsibility for "your" stupidity.

 

[Wall-E1]

Because "you" failed to follow the cashier's instructions, and because "you", despite your physical/chronological situation, insisted on swinging your leg up on the counter - "YOU" are responsible. The store is not responsible in any way.

The cashier could have refused to remove the ink tag while the customer was wearing the slacks, but the store maintains no responsibility for "your" stupidity.

I agree!

 

[Scurvy]

Yikes. The person sounds like a total scam artist, and hopefully they won't be able to get away with it. However, the clerk really should have refused to attempt to remove the tag while the pants were being worn. Then there would have been no question at all of the store being at fault. I still think the customer is the one who is really at fault, but the fact that the clerk was willing to go along with it does complicate the situation somewhat.

 

[Disneylover79]

I think "you" should be responsible for your own actions....the sales person asked you nicely to go and take them off in the fitting room so she can remove the tag, and "you" refused therefore you are responsible for your injuries...

 

[Stacerita]

Agree with it being a scam.

 

[FireDancer]

The customer is a dummy who has no one to blame but themselves. At the same time the cashier should have just backed away from the counter and not even attempted to get the ink tag off. There was no reason for the cashier to get involved in the stupidity of the customer.

I would have just backed up and gotten my camera out because even without the fall the description of the customer means the attempt would have been both laugh and cringe inducing. Watching people give evidence of natural selection is one of my favorite things to do.

 

[momof1princess]

i'm with the PPs...total scam. said person was asked to remove jeans so ink tag could be taken off, and said person refused, preferring instead to swing her leg up on the counter, while being pretty darn sure her leg wouldn't make it (i'm nowhere close to 50, and i couldn't do that), then falls as a result. yes, the salesperson should have refused to handle the purchase while the jeans were being worn, but the store shouldn't be held responsible for the customer's lack of brains, IMHO.

 

[Kim&Chris]

The customer is a dummy who has no one to blame but themselves. At the same time the cashier should have just backed away from the counter and not even attempted to get the ink tag off. There was no reason for the cashier to get involved in the stupidity of the customer.

I would have just backed up and gotten my camera out because even without the fall the description of the customer means the attempt would have been both laugh and cringe inducing. Watching people give evidence of natural selection is one of my favorite things to do.