I am always amazed at how people act when they return items to a store.

[maxiesmom]

I feel like I'm kind of saying the opposite of what you are hearing. I don't expect special treatment or even that I shop a lot (I don't). I simply expect customer friendly return policies, and when a company does not meet those expectations, I go elsewhere. I think we're at the point technologically where businesses know so much about our spending and return habits that they could develop new policies that don't penalize the normal consumer who just wants to do business without being stuck with a product that they don't need. Seriously, I just got an email from Walmart saying they miss me - they know so much about my shopping habits that they realize I haven't shopped there in the last 2 weeks. They certainly know whether I am a habitual returner.

Unfortunately what you are calling customer friendly return policies are going to become fewer and fewer. Though I don't see how telling a customer they need to hang on to their receipts is unfriendly. It makes it so much easier on the customer, and ensures they get back the full amount they paid as well.

 

[anniemae]

ROFL!! The more I read this story, the funnier it gets. I'm truly trying as hard as I can to keep quiet while at my desk at work, lol.

It WAS really funny. The funniest part was how indignant he was. He really felt he was right. He felt Kmart should refund him because he bought a dvd player from a random pickle man in the parking lot at night. He was so enraged at the injustice of Kmart telling him they really couldn't do anything and he didn't see the wackiness in what he was saying. What was even funnier was all the folks in line following the story like we were watching a soap opera. All our heads were swinging back and forth like we were watching a tennis match. I dragged my feet leaving and was engrossed in the whole debacle, but I had to leave, I couldn't just stand by the door watching. I felt they should have given us popcorn and folding chairs!

 

[Dznypal]

this is actually a good return story---a few months I was just about to leave for work-- I was upstairs getting some cat food I opened a fresh bag and what do I find inside!!!!! a mouse!!!!! rather a squished one at that !!! I let out the biggest scream its 530 am talk about a way to start your day!!! I even had to take a double look thinking well maybe it was a toy WRONG!!!!! DH came upstairs stapled the bag shut and took it back to Target--we had no reciept since we bought a few weeks before I opened it--Target was really good about just giving us another bag--they didnt even want to see the "proof" DH also wrote to Friskies who sent us alot of coupons

not a fun way to start the day!!!!

 

[DVC-Don]

I was returning an item at a Lowes recently and had to listen to the couple in front of me try to get the store to reimburse them for a parking ticket they got. Seems they parked in the no parking fire lane while returning an item and got a parking ticket and they insisted that Lowes should reimburse them as they would not have parked there if they did not have to return a defective item. The cashier just kept saying "Sorry, No" over and over until they stormed out.

 

[usd2bmd]

My niece works at a local grocery store known for their customer service. They also sell patio furniture at the beginning of the summer. A customer bought a patio set and at the end of the summer after using it, she returned it said she no longer liked it. My niece had to take it with a smile on her face.

She has also had to accept milk that someone admittedly left in their car for two days over the summer because it went bad. What did they think would happen? People are just not nice.

 

[frank430316]

I actually had a very good return experience at Disneyland last week - shoddy merchandise, but very pleasant cast members. We bought a new lanyard with the 60th logo, and while putting the tickets in, the side came apart, at the register! Cast member just handed me another and said not to worry about it. Got onto Main Street and the tab for the zip-lock came off. Went in to a different store, showed them the lanyard and they gave me a new one (without even asking for a receipt). Next day the tab holding it on to the neck piece broke off, almost lost our tickets & fast passes. Once again they gave me a new one no questions asked (although I used my wallet after that)! I suspect that Disney could save a lot of money by just getting better quality merchandise in the first place.

 

[Kathryn Merteuil]

I worked briefly at the service desk at Walmart many, many, many years ago. I got sick of it pretty quickly and left for a job in education. I definitely think you see the worst in people. It seemed as if most people already had an attitude and ready to fight before you even have a chance to help them.

It did not take me long to figure out that it was all kind of silly. It was just a dance that had to be done.

Customer brings in something obviously that should not be returned
Employee: No can't return this

Customer: Let me speak to somebody else
Employee calls CSM
CSM: Sure I will help you -OR- No we can't accept this
Customer: (if the answer is no) Let me speak to a manager.
Manager: YES and apologizes for how difficult we have been.

If you take back something that you should not take back you get in trouble. (well scolded by a higher up).

 

[threeboysmom]

ROFL!! The more I read this story, the funnier it gets. I'm truly trying as hard as I can to keep quiet while at my desk at work, lol.

He bought a player from a pickle in the parking lot. I'm still laughing at this.

 

[Sgt Mickey]

My other favorite was the guy who handed me a receipt and said, "I want to return this." I said okay...and waited for him to produce the item. He stared at me for a minute and said, "Is something wrong?" I asked him for the item and he said, "Oh, I forgot it at home. But I'm here now, so you can just give me my money back and I'll come back tomorrow with the item." I said I couldn't do that and he said, "Oh, you don't trust me? My word isn't good enough?" I had to get my manager and he still didn't understand why he couldn't have his money back.

The closest thing that happend to me like this is a guy wanted to buy something for his daughter but he wasn't sure if she was going to like it. He wanted to take it without buying it to show her first.

 

[Sgt Mickey]

The most outrageous attempt at a return that I personally witnessed was a small group of middle-eastern college students in the line ahead of me at Best Buy a few years ago. It was apparent that they were students at our local university and it was then end of the school year. They were attempting to return a large flat-screen TV that they'd purchased at the start of the school year. Best Buy, to their credit, was having none of it. The clerk kept saying "Sorry, you're well past the date that we'd accept a return for that purchase". The leader of the group kept saying "But, we're flying home in a few days... What are we supposed to do with this TV?!?!?"

 

[Sgt Mickey]

I knew my days working retail (Target Guest Service) were numbered the day a woman THREW the bath towels and mats at me across the counter, yelling at ME that they didn't match her bathroom. That was right around the time I was yelled and and berated for not accepting as a return an item with the Kmart logo and price printed right on the package.

I assure you, the customer is NOT always right.

oh my

 

[mondragon]

When we bought our cookware set about 15 years ago a month before Xmas, we received an additional pan as a "free gift with purchase." We ended up not wanting the pan and never used it. We bought the set at Stern's (now out of business) and couldn't return the pan there. So after Xmas we tried Macy's. Sales associate scanned it, and said it wasn't theirs. So we tried Strawbridge & Clothier (also out of business) and they gave us about a $25 credit.

That takes a lot of guts to return something you got for free. That is called theft. You are the reason why return policies at stores have become really strict.

 

[njpyro]

Not quite a return story, but in Disney I purchased a string back pack with the disney logo printed very largely across the front. I used it for the trip, then didn't use it until a return to disney (only 3 months later). During the trip (about the 6th actual day of using the bag), the bottom started to tear, as well as the string strap coming out of the grommet. I stopped in the store I purchased it in, not looking for a refund or new bag, but just asking if they had a safety pin or some duct tape I could use to fix it. A disgruntled cast member (one of the only I have ever encountered in disney) said "Well we aren't giving you a new one. Everything thinks they can take advantage because disney is so generous". I was floored. Mainly because I don't know anyone who thinks disney is generous. It's a company. I love disney, but I know that as a company, they are in business to make money. I said I don't want a refund, I just want help fixing the overpriced, terrible quality bag I bought from them. Another cast member saw and came over with a needle and thread and helped me fix the bag enough to get back to the hotel.

 

[craedaisy12]

I've been in retail for about 7 years now. I work at a family owned garden center and nursery. So returns can be very fun.

Some will bring back dead plants.... That they obviously didn't water in our 90 degree weather.
We have a strict policy about our returns on our plants and its on every receipt we give. Apparently it needs to be said to most people to understand. Since its out of our care we are no longer responsible. Now we do help you out if you buy 20 of one thing and 1 dies, there maybe something wrong with that one plant. Situations like that.

Everyone assumes we have a year guarantee because lowes and Home Depot does. We can't guarantee your plant will make it through harsh winters.

We've gotten someone returning potting soil at our store... Sure we sell it but the price sticker was from our local competitor. They didn't understand why we couldn't give him the money for it.... What I like to say is we don't have your money to give back to you because you didn't buy it here. He thought it's okay because we can just resell it.

During the winter we have a Christmas shop. Our return policy is no returns after Christmas... Because we literally pack up the whole store for the next year. So when they return things, our store is completely empty and I wish I could say if you can put it back on the shelf then okay.. Obviously if they have a gift slip we will help them out. They also try to return things in late February because they've been so busy and haven't had a chance to bring it back... I'm sorry we can't help you.

We are known for our customer service and we are proud of it. But some people love to get their way no matter what.

I also have a pet peeve while working register... They push their carts up and before I even have a chance to scan or count anything they are already throwing their credit card in my face. I politely tell them I'll take your card after I've rung everything up. I have a job to do and I will do it correctly without them rushing me. I am one of the fastest cashiers there but I make sure they don't feel rushed giving me their money. Anyone have stories like this?

 

[Luvstotravel]

I once bought a painting tool from our Sherwin-Williams. They open pretty early, I bought it and my paint and was home painting by 8 am. The tool broke within an hour-it was some kind of tool for painting ceilings-and I drove back to either exchange it or return it, I forget which.

The clerk-not the one who sold it to me-said she couldn't do either because I couldn't have bought it there, because they don't carry that product. I couldn't believe it and asked her to repeat herself, I was so surprised. As she was repeating it, the other clerk came out from the back and asked if I was having problems with it.

She said to him that I was trying to return a product that wasn't bought there. He said no, it was brand-new and they just got a shipment in of then and I bought the first one. Plus, I had my receipt. She was now the surprised one and apologized profusely.

 

[Jaya]

My worst experience was when I bought a gas-powered weed whacker for my dad years ago. He put gas in it, fired it up and it kept cutting off. Over and over, after about 30 seconds. Could not keep it going. So I took it back to the hardware store, with the receipt, for an exchange or refund. First they said "you can't bring anything back with gas in it". I asked how I could try to start it without putting gas in it. Then they said "you can't bring anything back that has been used." I asked how I could find out it didn't work unless I tried to use it. Then they insisted on taking it out back and starting it. It kept cutting off. By then they had run out of reasons why they couldn't take it back. At that point, I didn't want anything else from them but they didn't want to give me back the full amount I had paid because it had been gone on sale shortly after I bought it. I had the receipt showing what I had paid for it. I was almost at the screaming stage when they decided to refund my money.

 

[DisneyLuver2013]

I once bought a painting tool from our Sherwin-Williams. They open pretty early, I bought it and my paint and was home painting by 8 am. The tool broke within an hour-it was some kind of tool for painting ceilings-and I drove back to either exchange it or return it, I forget which.

The clerk-not the one who sold it to me-said she couldn't do either because I couldn't have bought it there, because they don't carry that product. I couldn't believe it and asked her to repeat herself, I was so surprised. As she was repeating it, the other clerk came out from the back and asked if I was having problems with it.

She said to him that I was trying to return a product that wasn't bought there. He said no, it was brand-new and they just got a shipment in of then and I bought the first one. Plus, I had my receipt. She was now the surprised one and apologized profusely.

I bet she was quite embarrassed!!

 

[DisneyLuver2013]

My worst experience was when I bought a gas-powered weed whacker for my dad years ago. He put gas in it, fired it up and it kept cutting off. Over and over, after about 30 seconds. Could not keep it going. So I took it back to the hardware store, with the receipt, for an exchange or refund. First they said "you can't bring anything back with gas in it". I asked how I could try to start it without putting gas in it. Then they said "you can't bring anything back that has been used." I asked how I could find out it didn't work unless I tried to use it. Then they insisted on taking it out back and starting it. It kept cutting off. By then they had run out of reasons why they couldn't take it back. At that point, I didn't want anything else from them but they didn't want to give me back the full amount I had paid because it had been gone on sale shortly after I bought it. I had the receipt showing what I had paid for it. I was almost at the screaming stage when they decided to refund my money.

I understand why they wouldn't want anything returned with gas in it, because that could be a fire hazard in the store. But then if something doesn't work, then they have to give your money back or exchange it... That is a tricky situation! Glad that they finally refunded your money.

 

[Aladora]

I also have a pet peeve while working register... They push their carts up and before I even have a chance to scan or count anything they are already throwing their credit card in my face. I politely tell them I'll take your card after I've rung everything up. I have a job to do and I will do it correctly without them rushing me. I am one of the fastest cashiers there but I make sure they don't feel rushed giving me their money. Anyone have stories like this?

Many, many years ago I worked at a bookstore. We had two cash registers but the company required that in order to have a new person switch out to use a register, a full physical cash count had to be done. Well, one day just before Christmas, in the middle of a huge rush one of the two registers went down. I was the one logged on to the second register and had to stay on it until the other one could be fixed which took 4 hours. This was back in the bad old days where each item's price was punched in manually so you can imagine how much work that was 2 days before Christmas! At one point, I was frantically punching in prices with a HUGE line up and the woman I was helping looked at me and said the most wonderful thing.

She stopped me and said "Take a deep breath and take a moment. If we want these books, we WILL wait for you." I have never forgotten that woman and whenever I come across a frantic cashier, I remember how it felt and try to be even more patient than normal.

 

[craedaisy12]

Many, many years ago I worked at a bookstore. We had two cash registers but the company required that in order to have a new person switch out to use a register, a full physical cash count had to be done. Well, one day just before Christmas, in the middle of a huge rush one of the two registers went down. I was the one logged on to the second register and had to stay on it until the other one could be fixed which took 4 hours. This was back in the bad old days where each item's price was punched in manually so you can imagine how much work that was 2 days before Christmas! At one point, I was frantically punching in prices with a HUGE line up and the woman I was helping looked at me and said the most wonderful thing.

She stopped me and said "Take a deep breath and take a moment. If we want these books, we WILL wait for you." I have never forgotten that woman and whenever I come across a frantic cashier, I remember how it felt and try to be even more patient than normal.

Thats wonderful! I do get nice customers! Our store is large and can be confusing. So when i was heading back to get ice for my drink a customer asked where our restroom was. Since i was heading in that direction i told her to follow me. As we walked back i asked what they were in for so she would know where to go once she was finished. She walked down the hallway to the restroom and her husband had to say to me how wonderful i was to help them and it shows what customer service really is. I wish more people were like that.

We also have customer helpers to help customers to their cars and bring the cart back for them. Many people refuse their help, even tho that is literally their job. They get paid for it and tipping isnt required.

One complaint is some of them would brag about how much they made in tips. Yet i have to know and do so much more on register and get nothing extra. Im not mad about not recieving tips even tho the customer helpers make the same per hour plus tips. And our customers can be a little sexist and dont like women helping them to their cars.