I work at a science center gift shop, and one of our most popular items is a handboiler. Problem is, handboilers are made of very thin glass (so that the heat from your hand can make the liquid boil), so they shatter very easily. When I first started my job, we had countless people buy them and then come back in an hour later saying that when they opened the box, the handboiler was broken (yea right, we check them all when the shipments come in and throw out the broken ones). So, what did I do? I started opening the boxes and checking the handboilers in front of the customer the moment they brought them to my register for purchase. This way, they can't come back later and say it was broken when they opened the box. And yet, despite the blatantly obvious checking, I still have this conversation more times than I think is reasonable:
SC: I demand a refund on this handboiler!
Me: What seems to be the problem with it?
SC: When I opened the box, it was broken!
Me: Sir, when you brought the box to me, I checked the handboiler right in front of you, and it was not broken. I put it back in the box, and handed it to you in a separate bag. I'm afraid I can't give a refund or replacement for any breaks that happen after your purchase.
Some people still fight this, but I'm firm - if I did everything responsibly, and it was not broken when they bought it, then if it breaks later it's because of something they did. We shouldn't have to refund for their own careless actions.
SC: I demand a refund on this handboiler!
Me: What seems to be the problem with it?
SC: When I opened the box, it was broken!
Me: Sir, when you brought the box to me, I checked the handboiler right in front of you, and it was not broken. I put it back in the box, and handed it to you in a separate bag. I'm afraid I can't give a refund or replacement for any breaks that happen after your purchase.
Some people still fight this, but I'm firm - if I did everything responsibly, and it was not broken when they bought it, then if it breaks later it's because of something they did. We shouldn't have to refund for their own careless actions.
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