Venting about a store's return policy...

[momto2girls]

That's not bad customer service in any manner. It's customer service, period. Any store can set its own policy, as long as it's posted clearly in the store. You may not like the return policy, and so feel free not to shop there - but to say it's a bad policy is disingenuous.

I don't find it disingenuous at all. Bad is a comparative term. if you put customer service policies on a spectrum, clearly the stores that don't allow returns at all or only offer store credit as an option offer "bad" customer service policies in comparison to the many stores that offer a full refund for returns within a reasonable amount of time.

 

[beaucoup]

This thread pretty much sums up why our families have stopped exchanging gifts. When it became about lists & you shopping for me & me shopping for you, it completely missed the point of what Christmas is all about.

Its so much nicer just getting together now and skipping all this gift stress, shopping & drama.

 

[Grendalynn]

This thread pretty much sums up why our families have stopped exchanging gifts. When it became about lists & you shopping for me & me shopping for you, it completely missed the point of what Christmas is all about.

Its so much nicer just getting together now and skipping all this gift stress, shopping & drama.

Well said!

 

[LMN]

This thread pretty much sums up why our families have stopped exchanging gifts. When it became about lists & you shopping for me & me shopping for you, it completely missed the point of what Christmas is all about.

Its so much nicer just getting together now and skipping all this gift stress, shopping & drama.

I totally agree. And to the OP: You are really living up to your DISboards name, aren't you?? Your attitude of a gift exchange being about what you get, as opposed to a chance to give sickens me. I really hope that one day you will mature enough to realize what so many on this board are trying to tell you.

 

[Mickeyflower]

As an added bonus, to imply that not sticking to the list is tacky or bad manners is asinine. In a thread where a couple people are adamant about sticking to the "rules", you'd think SOMEONE would know that a note to where you're registered included in an invitation is poor form. I suppose that rule, like the store's return policy, only applies to other people.

Yes it is poor form, and no rules don't apply to me. I reuse mugs at EVERY RESORT, I regift everything given to me right back to the person who gave it to me the following year. I also print out registries so I can buy the exact opposite thing REQUESTED-NOT DEMANDED-off of their registry.

 

[patsal]

WOW
Just when I think I have seen or heard it all!

 

[Halloweenqueen]

Boy, do I feel badly for the gift giver and small business owner.

How absolutely petty.

 

[disneymom3]

That is so not the point of a gift registry. In the case of a baby shower, the registry would let you know what the overall theme is. Animals, bugs, modern, traditional. It is not a list of demands. What kind of self important garbage is that? "Here are the things I want. You are going to buy me things, so buy these. We're close enough that I would invite you to a major life event, but not so close that I can assume you know me enough to pick out your own gift."

Stick to the list? Don't be lazy? You must be kidding. Person A spends an hour searching for the perfect gift for someone. Person B walks in Target, prints out a list that tells them exactly what aisle something is in, grabs it off the shelf and leaves. Who's the lazy one? Sticking to the list, and only the list, whenever one is provided only shows that you (not you personally) don't put an ounce of thought into the gift you're giving. Sticking to registries for registries sake is ridiculous and a horrifying sign of the times.

As an added bonus, to imply that not sticking to the list is tacky or bad manners is asinine. In a thread where a couple people are adamant about sticking to the "rules", you'd think SOMEONE would know that a note to where you're registered included in an invitation is poor form. I suppose that rule, like the store's return policy, only applies to other people.

Can I exchange presents with you and your kids next year instead of my crazy SIL and her children?

Actually, ironically the kids are fine...just a strange incident. My SIL does not consider lists as ideas either. When I want suggestions, I am thinking "the five year old really likes Hot Wheels sets. He already has the Shark Park one." That is the kinds of lists I make for my kids and only under duress. So, I was trying to shop from her kid's lists this year but they were extremely expensive. Nothing under $50--I kid you not! Gave up on that and just picked out things my own kids thought were fun. All gifts were a HUGE hit.....EXCEPT the one game I found on clearanace at Target that was on her oldest's list. Yeah, he was very clearly NOT happy about that gift.

IMO, Birthday registries are the hight of tackiness and shower and wedding registries exist to #1 let you know colors and things like china patterns if that is what you like to give and #2 give the lady who works with your mom and is invited to the wedding an idea of what to get you. I can't be the only person who had people I didn't even know at my wedding, can I? My FIL knows pretty much everyone in this state and I think half of them made it onto the wedding guest list.

 

[Leajess99]

You do know you can put other beverages in the mug, right? It won't self-destruct when something other than coffee is in it. It's not that you can't use it. It's that you won't use it because *stomping foot in ground* you didn't get what you wanted in a little gift exchange.

I'd actually be curious to see if they buy the refillable mugs at WDW since technically they are also travel coffee/soda mugs.

 

[ZehnJahren]

sar·casm   [sahr-kaz-uhm] Show IPA
noun
1.
harsh or bitter derision or irony.
2.
a sharply ironical taunt; sneering or cutting remark: a review full of sarcasms.

Obviously, you already understood the definition. No need to post it; unless, of course, you're trying to imply that I don't understand sarcasm - which the commented-upon post was not. Instead, that particular post I quoted was a great example of hyperbole. An honest mistake.

hy·per·bo·le
   [hahy-pur-buh-lee] Show IPA
noun Rhetoric .
1.
obvious and intentional exaggeration.
2.
an extravagant statement or figure of speech not intended to be taken literally, as “to wait an eternity.”

/sarcasm

 

[Mickeyflower]

Overkill= this thread

 

[Leajess99]

OP, I come from a family who is very "YOU GET WHAT YOU GET FOR CHRISTMAS AND THAT'S IT AND DON'T COMPLAIN AND DEFINITELY DON'T EVER ASK FOR A RECEIPT EVER BECAUSE YOU GOT WHAT YOU'RE GETTING"

My youngest came home from school last year and told us the rule is "You get what you get and you don't throw a fit." This came from her 2nd grade class and my kids understand it.

 

[Grendalynn]

Obviously, you already understood the definition. No need to post it; unless, of course, you're trying to imply that I don't understand sarcasm - which the commented-upon post was not. Instead, that particular post I quoted was a great example of hyperbole. An honest mistake.

hy·per·bo·le
   [hahy-pur-buh-lee] Show IPA
noun Rhetoric .
1.
obvious and intentional exaggeration.
2.
an extravagant statement or figure of speech not intended to be taken literally, as “to wait an eternity.”

/sarcasm

triv·i·al adj \ˈtri-vē-əl\

Definition of TRIVIAL

1
: commonplace, ordinary
2
a : of little worth or importance <a trivial objection> <trivial problems>
b : relating to or being the mathematically simplest case; specifically : characterized by having all variables equal to zero <a trivial solution to a linear equation>
3
: specific 4
— triv·i·al·ist noun
— triv·i·al·ly adverb
See trivial defined for English-language learners »
See trivial defined for kids »
Examples of TRIVIAL

statistics and other trivial matters
a trivial sum of money
Compared to other worldly problems, the OP's problems seem trivial.


Now that we have our vocabulary lessons out of the way for the day... I am unsubscribing from this thread because it has consumed too much of my time and energy already.

Overkill is right... We all know what overkill means, right?

 

[katespade]

Yes it is poor form, and no rules don't apply to me. I reuse mugs at EVERY RESORT, I regift everything given to me right back to the person who gave it to me the following year. I also print out registries so I can buy the exact opposite thing REQUESTED-NOT DEMANDED-off of their registry.

Ah, requesting gifts not demanding them. Both so classy I can't even seem to tell the difference.

 

[katespade]

Can I exchange presents with you and your kids next year instead of my crazy SIL and her children?

Actually, ironically the kids are fine...just a strange incident. My SIL does not consider lists as ideas either. When I want suggestions, I am thinking "the five year old really likes Hot Wheels sets. He already has the Shark Park one." That is the kinds of lists I make for my kids and only under duress. So, I was trying to shop from her kid's lists this year but they were extremely expensive. Nothing under $50--I kid you not! Gave up on that and just picked out things my own kids thought were fun. All gifts were a HUGE hit.....EXCEPT the one game I found on clearanace at Target that was on her oldest's list. Yeah, he was very clearly NOT happy about that gift.

IMO, Birthday registries are the hight of tackiness and shower and wedding registries exist to #1 let you know colors and things like china patterns if that is what you like to give and #2 give the lady who works with your mom and is invited to the wedding an idea of what to get you. I can't be the only person who had people I didn't even know at my wedding, can I? My FIL knows pretty much everyone in this state and I think half of them made it onto the wedding guest list.

Ahhh, please don't ever imply that I have children

Not a huge fan of registries but I do understand the need for them. Unless it's for the two examples you gave above, if I don't care enough to spend some time looking for something you would really like, I don't care enough to attend your event. Still blown away that anyone would suggest that people who don't shop off the registry are lazy. I put a lot of time into gift giving. I didn't just pick something off a list that was handed to me.

 

[LisaCat]

It means they at least took a couple of minutes out of their own hectic life to think of you and purchase something they thought you'd like. For me that really is what counts. My aunt every year gets us something off the wall I'd probably never use or ask for, but I know she really put a lot of thought into what she's buying. Her gifts are ones I treasure because it's just become fun to see what she's going to get us every year. This year it was a shake weight, and while I'm probably not mature enough to use it without giggling , but I love it and honestly I've used it more than I would have ever guessed. Mainly to torment DH.

I had to respond to this.... My (late) aunt used to give some of the most off the wall gifts. You would scratch your head and wonder what made her think you would use what she gave you. She gave my dad a beer mug with a (think bicycle) bell on the handle to "ring for a refill". My dad didn't drink beer. At ALL. And if he'd rung a bell for a refill, my mom would have found a new home for that bell where the sun didn't shine. LOL! She gave my sister something bizarre one year too. But it was something I looked forward to every year... seeing what Aunt J would come up with THIS year. I miss her.

To the OP - we do lists in DH's family. From the "cousin name draw" this year, we got a popcorn popper. DH *HATES* popcorn. The cousin who got us didn't look at a list or ask one of DH's siblings or even one of the cousins we are closer to, she just bought a gift. Most people like popcorn. Most people drink some kind of hot beverage and might have a need for a mug that could travel. Your giver might have had a lot going on, perhaps unexpectedly, and maybe this was the best they could do. Or maybe they thought this was something you would REALLY like. You didn't have it on the list because you'd never seen it. Who knows.

 

[nena]

I totally understand getting an unwanted gift, especially when you had a list to go off of.

I too, have noticied lately that there is a lack of customer service in several places. I do not expect to be treated special, but I am a paying cutomer. With that said, if I call to ask a question, let me ask my question, before you interupt me, talk over me and assume you know what I am going to ask. For this reason I will be changing insurance companies.

 

[NYCDiane]

To all of those who bashed the OP made statements that she's ungrateful, a gift is a gift, you get what you get, etc etc etc, please keep in mind, this was the first sentence of her post:

So my family draws names at Christmas and we exchange lists... we always buy off the list


So, if they ALWAYS buy off the list, what makes the person who drew her name think it's okay to disregard a list and buy (what I call) a "lazy" gift -- meaning no thought put into it, just grabbed something off a shelf and tossed it in a gift bag.

First, that's RUDE to just disregard what is the "rule" about the exchange.

Second, why did the buyer think there were lists???? I'm sure the list was compiled of several "wishes" and the buyer could choose something from that list to get the giftee.


It really annoys me when people do that. As I stated in an earlier post, if I ask for a purple cotton blouse or sweater with long sleeves, please don't buy be a green shirt made of that gross fake silk material with 3/4 sleeves. I got that this Christmas and prompty tossed it in the Salvation Army bag. I can't return or exchange it: No receipt and the giver took the tags off (they got it on the clearance rack so they were probably embarassed about spending $4-$7 on something as a Christmas gift).

I, for one, would actually prefer to get nothing than to get something that wasn't purchased with any real thought or something that I would never in a million years use.

 

[ZehnJahren]

My youngest came home from school last year and told us the rule is "You get what you get and you don't throw a fit." This came from her 2nd grade class and my kids understand it.

I'm not sure where the fit was. OP said she contacted the store and they wouldn't take the item back without the receipt, and she was going to get the receipt. She was irritated with the store's abruptness. She came here to say so. Obviously she chose wrong, but venting to strangers about what you think is a bad business practice is hardly throwing a fit. I'm not sure if that's what you meant, however; it's impossible to tell tone through typing. (see the definition of sarcasm above)

It's brutal to not like a gift in my family; if you aren't gushing over it, they're offended, so it's a very fake and unhappy holiday sometimes. I'd rather have the open policy DBF's family has, and then everyone can enjoy their gifts. I'm definitely someone who would hate to see a gift I thought someone would like go to complete waste if they DIDN'T like it; I'd rather hand over the receipt (be it for $10 or $100) and have them get something they wanted (be it a small item or a large one).

 

[North of Mouse]

So sorry OP - the people really came out of the woodwork on this one - maybe it's because the kiddies are out of school an they're in a bad mood and taking it out on you - they're all so right you know and would have handled your situation just perfectly .