The one that ALMOST got me...

[Saydrah]

So, I'm a big sucker sometimes. If you know what buttons to push, you can usually get me to put aside my logic, cynicism, and common sense for a moment. Another thread reminded me of the SC that ALMOST got what he wanted by lying... scammers probably talk about those instances like fishermen talk about 'the one that got away.'

I was still working for Red Dog Blue Cat Company at the time, and a city nearby had just passed a pit bull ban. I am SO against BSL- Breed Specific Legislation, or Bull Shit Legislation depending upon your degree of opposition to it. The store has a policy that no medications may be returned without a receipt, because they are small and expensive = easy to shoplift, and because we can't restock even unopened medications- they go back to the supplier.

So, in walks SLR (Sucky Lying Returner- not customer cause I'm sure he never bought anything) as I'm working on the register. JM is Jaded Manager, who enters midway through this.

SLR puts a bag containing two dog collars and leads, three bottles of expensive joint supplements, and a few toys on the counter. It is a Red Dog Blue Cat company bag, by the way- all looks good except the lack of a receipt.

SLR: "Hey, I'm sorry, I need to return these things. I know it's a lot, but they were gifts and nothing's been used."

Me: "Okay, sir, do you have a receipt?"

SLR: "No, I'm sorry, I just threw it out. See, everything was for my mother's two Pit Bulls, sweetest dogs in the world, but after that ban passed she had to give them to a rescue in the mountains that keeps displaced Pit Bulls forever or adopts them out to people who live in areas that allow them."

Me: "Oh, how awful! We've been hearing things like that a lot lately. I think personally I would have moved so I could keep my dogs, though."

SLR: "I know, she really wanted to, but she's retired and locked into a lease that would cost her a LOT of money to break- but at least they'll get good homes or stay at the rescue forever. I felt terrible for her having to give up her babies- she even dressed them up for Halloween."

Me: "That's terrible. Let me just enter these things into the computer..."

I was SO INCENSED at this stupid law taking a little old lady's dogs away that I forgot completely that he couldn't return supplements at $30/bottle without receipts!

JM, meanwhile, walks up behind me and sees me entering returns into the computer.

JM: "What are you doing? Was there a receipt for these?"

Me: "Oh, no, it was for his mother's dogs and--"

JM: "Let me see these." (to customer) "Sorry, sir, but we can't return these items without a receipt."

SLR: "It was for my mother's dogs, and she had to give them up because of the pit bull ban- I tossed the receipt because I know what kind they get."

JM: "I'm sorry to hear that. Let me just look your receipt up in the computer. Do you have the credit card you used?"

SLR: "No, sorry, I forgot it- I didn't know I'd need it."

JM: "That's okay- I'll just look it up. Do you know when you got these?"

SLR looks at the policy that says NO REFUNDS AFTER 30 DAYS

SLR: "Definitely within the last 30 days- I don't remember the date."

JM goes into the back room and emerges several minutes later.

JM: "Okay, I looked three months back in the computer and we actually haven't sold a single bottle this size of this brand in three months. It's a more expensive brand than the others, so it's not very popular. Oddly enough, we're also minus one in our inventory- so not only have we not sold any, there is actually less of this product on the shelf than there should be. We're not going to be able to return these."

SLR: "But it was for my mom! I know I bought it here!"

JM: "Maybe you got them at another store?"

SLR: "No, definitely here."

JM: "Well, since we're down on inventory, I just can't return those- it's against our store policy to refund any medications or supplements, and I can't make an exception when there hasn't been a sale in three months."

SLR: "ARE YOU ACCUSING ME OF STEALING? YOU'RE ACCUSING ME OF STEALING!"

JM: "I never said anything about stealing. You are the one who used that word."

SLR: "I can't believe I got a present for my Mom and you're ACCUSING ME OF STEALING!"

JM: "Sir, please leave the store. There are customers waiting to be helped."

SLR leaves, fuming and yelling about how he'll never shop there again. JM calmly takes his license plate number and description and calls the police as well as sending a bulletin to all other stores in the state.

....I blush furiously and feel like an idiot.

[crazylegs]

Don't worry about it, even the best have moments they'd rather forget. *coughhandupcough*

[PaRaGaS]

Don't worry about it, even the best have moments they'd rather forget. *coughhandupcough*

Oh, do tell

[bainsidhe]

Oddly enough, we're also minus one in our inventory- so not only have we not sold any, there is actually less of this product on the shelf than there should be. We're not going to be able to return these."

JM: "I never said anything about stealing. You are the one who used that word."

Your manager has the best lines

It stinks, but at my store we can't even imply that someone is stealing, even if we see them doing it. Have to blame it on something else, like "Gee, our self-checkout scanner isn't working very well and doesn't seem to be capturing everything" (even though I clearly saw you bagging without bothering to scan, so you can rob us blind, jerk). I like how your manager handled it. An nice, passive/agressive, let me innocently call you out on your BS sort of handling. Heh.

[crazylegs]

Oh, do tell

Discretion is the better part of valour.

[Shengirl]

There are dog bans that make people give up their current animals? That's horrible! I thought they just banned the selling and buying of that breed of dog from then on. And the moving-in of people who have them. That seems like a bit much.

[Saydrah]

Shen: Nope, sorry to burst that bubble- in Denver (I'm a CO resident but not in Denver) they can now seize any pit bull in the city, even if it is just visiting, and have it immediately put down. The lucky people get an animal control officer with a heart who gives them a chance to prove that they've found a home outside city limits for the dog and if they do so, returns it alive. It's horrid.

bainsidhe: Yup, she was a laugh a minute. Self-centered, egotistical jerk to her employees, but there were always moments with the customers that just about made it worth working for her- being cheated always got her hackles up!