Is this worth returning?

[2BigKIdz]

This morning I had to return an item to Wal-Mart, a video game. The lady in front of me was returning a notebook and a pack of erasers, her total cash back came to $1.32. I just didn't get the point. I'm sure some time in the future the kids will need a new notebook and some erasers. I've just never seen a return for that small amount of money, especially considering gas prices, it cost more to get there than what she got back.

 

[SherryNC]

That does seem odd. Those are items that could be placed in a drawer as you know that you would eventually be able to use them. Definitely does not seem worth the effort.

 

[Goobergal99]

That seems like a real waste of time and energy to me too. Who knows what she was thinking, maybe she really needed that $1.32

 

[disykat]

I might return low cost items if I was going to that store anyway - but I agree that a notebook and eraser seems like the kind of thing that she would use anyway. That said, the more I try to get rid of clutter, the less likely I am to keep something that is not being used. It seems like giving those items away to someone who could use them would have been a good option.

 

[PixieDust32]

Well, maybe she really needed it the money and was already there for another shopping trip, not just for the return.
You never know!

I wouldn't taken back. Every time i got something the wrong size or whatever it takes me forever to take it back, always forget. Last week when we got the school sup, i got one too many notebook, and i just put it in the drawer for later.

 

[N.Bailey]

I don't return anything. I get angry though when I buy say produce or whatever at the grocery store and get home to find it's spoiled. Hubby has bought bagged peaches (in a little travel type paper bag) and had spoiled on the bottom. I've even bought spoiled chicken (don't ask me how that happens), but it's too much of a pain to return it. Each time I threaten that I will though.

As a side note, my daughter purchased something at one time that was like a $1.00 something. It was broken and he allowance was low at the time and she wanted to return that, so we did. Maybe it was her child that made the purchase (from allowance or something) and later changed their mind? That's about the only way I'd consider it. Though in this case, I'd probably pretend I returned it and give my child back that amount of money and put the items away somewhere.

 

[Goobergal99]

I guess I could see a child wanting to return if it was allowance money.

This sure makes me glad I was a spoiled only child and never had an allowance, just an unlimited ammount of spending money from my pop-pop

My hubby is always calling me an italian

 

[gepetto]

maybe they bought the wrong stuff the first time though. Families living in poverty can't afford an extra $1.32 Maybe you can write off a couple of bucks, but some people can't.

 

[PixieDust32]

maybe they bought the wrong stuff the first time though. Families living in poverty can't afford an extra $1.32 Maybe you can write off a couple of bucks, but some people can't.

Exactly! We never know!

 

[2BigKIdz]

maybe they bought the wrong stuff the first time though. Families living in poverty can't afford an extra $1.32 Maybe you can write off a couple of bucks, but some people can't.

I see your point. If thinking in those terms a family could buy a loaf of bread with that. They did not appear impoverished (it was a middle-aged lady and her child, about 2 years old) but looks can be deceiving. I really hate returning things so that amount would not be worth the hassle to me (not to mention I cannot keep up with receipts), but if I didn't have money to buy food or other essentials for my family I can see where this may have been useful.

 

[EeyoreBrat]

Maybe it was a really crap birthday gift, and she wanted a pack of gum instead.

 

[Cindy B]

Some schools want certain types of pencils and erasers, and those were not it. Maybe they had all they needed.

I return it all if I don't especially need it. I have also been known to do price adjustments if I am in the store already.

 

[stinkerbelle]

My uncle used to drive 15 miles to get 10 cents back that he was overcharged at a grocery store.

he was an odd one.

to me...sometimes it just ain't worth the hassle.

 

[powellrj]

maybe they bought the wrong stuff the first time though. Families living in poverty can't afford an extra $1.32 Maybe you can write off a couple of bucks, but some people can't.

Thats what I was thinking. My DH use to manage a grocery store and at the end of the month people were always returning odd things to get the cash back.

 

[NCombs]

For some families, every penny really does count.

 

[janette]

One of my BIL's would do it. Worse sometimes he'll ask other people who are going to the store to do it for him. He doesn't get many that will.

 

[Marseeya]

Maybe she bought the wrong things for one of her kids and the kid wouldn't use what she bought? I can see that happening with me, and even though we can well afford to take the loss, I'd probably return it on my next trip to Walmart to go back to buy the correct items. But I wouldn't return it just to get the money back -- I'd just keep it in that case.

 

[Rhonda922]

I would never bother to return something that inexpensive. It's not worth wasting time to get in my car and using gas to get to the store. Like someone else said, maybe if I were going there for something else, then I'd probably take it back. It depends on what it is though. If it's something that I think someone else can use, I'd just give it away but if it's something that cost a lot and was broken or defective, then I'd definitely take it back and get a replacement.

 

[Acklander]

Maybe she's a mystery shopper and was required to make a small purchase and then return it.

 

[cepmom]

I'd probably keep them too....who knows. Last weekend (tax free weekend in MA) I had a customer return an item previously purchased, then re-purchase it to save on the tax. He saved exactly 1.58. I felt like giving him the $$ out of my pocket and save myself the effort of returning and re-purchasing!!! To go to any retail store during tax free weekend to save $1.58 is ridiculous!!