You haven't tried a shirt on...in 4 months.

[malmalthekiller]

I was stuck at the service desk again tonight, as I usually am. I had a few experiences tonight where someone brought in a receipt that was past 90 days. The store I work at has a policy with a sign hanging up.

The first two weren't quite mean, just clueless.

One lady wanted to return a rug she bought in July, I told her she couldn't, and she made the cat-butt face, but collected her things and left.

The second guy was an asian gentleman, who couldn't speak english very well, so it took a little while for me to explain that he couldn't return it. Not even if he bought it in May, and hadn't started using it until this month.

"What am I supposed to do with it?"
Does it look like I care?

Then, finally, this lady comes in with several shirts with the tags still on them, and hands me a receipt from July. Well past the 90 days. I explain it to her and point to the sign.

SC: Is this a new policy?
Me: No, ma'am, it's been up here as long as I've been working here, and longer than that.
SC: But they're too small!
Me: I'm sorry.
SC: So what am I supposed to do with these?
Me: There's nothing I can do about that; it's displayed for everyone to see.

My manager is standing behind the desk, and she tells her the same thing. She grumbles and walks away, but comes back later to complain about it again, while I'm in the middle of returns.

Me: Why isn't the policy on my receipt??
SC: I'm sorry?
Me: Other stores have a return policy on their receipts, but not this place!
SC: There's a huge sign above the service desk, that's just our policy. That isn't my policy, it's the store's.
SC: Well, this is terrible customer service! I'm just going to Target from now on!
Me: *In the sicky sweetest voice possible* That's fine..have a great night!
And she stomps away.

Why do people always think telling me you're going to another store will hurt my feelings?

I have another manager that always tells people she'll see them next week when they say that to her.

[Muses_nightmare]

Me: Why isn't the policy on my receipt??
SC: I'm sorry?
Me: Other stores have a return policy on their receipts, but not this place!
SC: There's a huge sign above the service desk, that's just our policy. That isn't my policy, it's the store's.
SC: Well, this is terrible customer service! I'm just going to Target from now on!
Me: *In the sicky sweetest voice possible* That's fine..have a great night!
And she stomps away.

You might want to fix that bit.

And relating to your post, my step mom tried to return an opened computer game that she bought for my step-sister, this was at Wal-mart mind you, and she told them that the return policy wasn't on the reciept (and I know, at least where I am, their return policy is printed right on the back of the recipt). Though, they did end up letting her return it (probably only to shut her up)

[Belari]

How ridiculous. Almost every store I've been to has a similar policy. So if it slips my mind to return something for 3 months, I just figure I'm SOL. I might call the store and ask their return policy, but I sure wouldn't expect special treatment just because I was to stupid to return it in a timely fashion.

[malmalthekiller]

You might want to fix that bit.

And relating to your post, my step mom tried to return an opened computer game that she bought for my step-sister, this was at Wal-mart mind you, and she told them that the return policy wasn't on the reciept (and I know, at least where I am, their return policy is printed right on the back of the recipt). Though, they did end up letting her return it (probably only to shut her up)

That's understandable, as I work at walmart myself, I know that no Walmart in the area has their return policy on their receipts.

And, really, do you think a service desk peon is going to get them to print the return policy on the receipts? That's kind of an impossible task, and one that I myself am unable to "fix".

And actually, our policy is that we aren't allowed to return opened games or DVDs, we can only exchange them for the same thing. So she got away with that.

[Dreamstalker]

Limited Too appears to have an unlimited return policy; the only requirements seem to be that the merchandise is new/unworn/unused/with tags and the receipt is legible.

For receipts, they use thermal paper that fades very quickly, so I wonder if that's their way of limiting the return period?

[Broomjockey]

And, really, do you think a service desk peon is going to get them to print the return policy on the receipts? That's kind of an impossible task, and one that I myself am unable to "fix".

The "Me" and "SC" are mixed up a bit in the quoted section. At least, it makes more sense if they're mixed up.

[BookstoreEscapee]

And, really, do you think a service desk peon is going to get them to print the return policy on the receipts? That's kind of an impossible task, and one that I myself am unable to "fix".

True. Do they have any kind of program where employees can make suggestions (my company has a hotline that employees can call for everything from making suggestions or asking questions to anonymously reporting internal theft. As a company they really should have the policy on the receipt as it could save a lot of grief. (Actually, I thought they did, but then I don't shop at Wal*Mart very often.)

And as for the lady going to Target? She will find that they have the same policy and are very consistent in enforcing it. Just go to Planet Feedback and do a search for Target. Probably over 90% of the letters will be complaining that they wouldn't make an exception to the return policy.

[Bright_Star]

Why should the return policy be printed on receipts if the policy is HIGHLY visible at the customer service desk? Oh I know...customers & their selective perception.

[Aethian]

But SC's don't read anyways...

[CiggyStoreClerk]

SC: Well, this is terrible customer service! I'm just going to Target from now on!
Me: *In the sicky sweetest voice possible* That's fine..have a great night!
And she stomps away.

Why do people always think telling me you're going to another store will hurt my feelings?

Ugh, I get that all the time.

I do Customer Service for an online gaming company. Whenever somebody doesn't get their way they whine into the phone:

"Fine! I'll just go to *such and such gaming site*"

I usually tell them that it's their choice where they play, not mine, and to have a nice day

[malmalthekiller]

Why should the return policy be printed on receipts if the policy is HIGHLY visible at the customer service desk? Oh I know...customers & their selective perception.

I generally agree with this, but I can see the point of printing the return policy. I know a lot of clothing stores put it on the back of theirs.

But hey, I'm only working there until I graduate (in less than a month), so I'm not trying to change the world. But it would save a bit of greif.

I'm not sure about a suggestion hotline, I should look into that for future reference.

[nomorecarts]

And, really, do you think a service desk peon is going to get them to print the return policy on the receipts? That's kind of an impossible task, and one that I myself am unable to "fix".

I don't think the receipt printers walmart here uses are capable of printing 2 sides, so not happening unless someone really high up can convince the board of directors to buy more expensive printers, and they would only go into new/remodeled stores, as a wal mart can easily have 30-40 registers in the building(usually 20 something main registers plus GC, electronics, etc. it adds up) and that would get very expensive, and require price increases, something wal mart can't afford to do if they intend to keep having positive sales gains in today's retail market

another option would be to print it on the paper before it's shipped to the store, but that would also be costly

I'm not sure about a suggestion hotline, I should look into that for future reference.

I think WM just has you talk to a manager about it, and if they like it it becomes store policy, or since this would be more complicated, they would probably have to escalate it to corporate

[draftermatt]

I bought a pair of pants in August. They didn't fit. I didn't get the oppurtunity to take them back to a GAP (I bought them on vacation) till Saturday. I said "Well, it's past 90 days, might as well keep the pants"

So I did.

[DevilBoy]

It would make absolutely zero difference if the policy was printed on the back of the receipt.
In fact, I find that in situations where the policy is on the receipt, that is more likely that the customer will conveniently "misplace" or simply "forget" their receipt when they attempt to make a return/exchange.


Point is, the only thing that the store is required to do is post it somewhere, which they obviously have. On the wall of the store, sign at the cash wrap, on the store's website or even printed on the back of the receipt... it makes no difference because in the end:

SC's don't read anyways...

[Shironu-Akaineko]

I love when SCs threaten to go to another store, like here Canucklehead Wheel, cuz if that store doesn't have their piece, it calls US to order it.