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So, I recall several years ago, I worked as a Manager in a major electronics retail store. We had a good repair shop as well, and used to see all kinds of things come through the door, so I wasn't too shocked when a guy walked through the door one day with what might be the oldest pair of walkie-talkies I've seen.....something we haven't carried in more than a decade.
He walks up to the counter, flops them down in front of the clerk that was standing there (I was across the room) and says "hey, I'd like to return these, they don't work".
Really? The associate looks at the guy and says "ok, sir.. do you have your receipt? And I'm afraid all returns have to be accompanied by the original packaging, do you have that as well?".....she was polite as she pointed to the sign on the counter that clearly indicated that both points were indeed true.
"No, I don't have the f***ing receipt, or the packaging. My Dad bought these a while back and put them in his RV.. I just found them today, put batteries in, and they don't f***ing work, I want the money back, he's an old man and I won't see him get ripped off"
Yep, time for me to step in, so I walk over. "Hi there, I couldn't help but overhear... I'm the Manager, sir, and I assure you, the return policy is very clear, and strictly enforced. EVERY return item must be accompanied by a receipt." As I say this, I'm looking at the radios... we haven't carried this item in at least ten years... like, wtf? Are you serious, buddy? "Sir, can I ask when your father bought these? Our return policy is 30 days from the original purchase, and the warranty on something like this is one year"
He looks at me. He's ready to fight. "I don't f***ing know exactly when he bought them. They don't work, I want to return them, wtf is so hard to understand here, a-ho? Give me the money. You're not getting away with this crap, you sell garbage and then try to use some ridiculous rule to get out of backing up the warranty? You people make a habit of ripping off senior citizens?" (yes, there are several other customers staring now)
Ok.. this guy's a whack job. "Well, I'm sorry, without proof of purchase, I can't refund the money"... I get on the computer for a second. "We don't even carry these anymore. They're more than ten years old. Your Dad didn't buy them recently, and I'm afraid I can't even find a reference to the stock number. I can't do a refund, sir. Sorry. "
He LOSES it... screaming, yelling, cussing... so I say "Look, you can't come in here and try to return something bought ten years ago. We do reserve the right to refuse service based on abusive behavior, and sir, you can leave".. he's still cussing, and now he's offering to cave my face in, so I get on the phone and call mall security. He hears this, and say "oh FINE, f*** you, I can see I'm not getting satisfaction from YOU, I'm going to go to your Area Manager and he'll have your ass on the unemployment line tomorrow, you can't treat a customer like this!" (all the time, he's backing towards the door, and as he gets to the door, mall security nowhere in sight, he says......) "I'm going home to get a gun, and I'm coming back here to SHOOT YOU"
Literally, a death threat. Over a pair of handheld portable CB radios?????
At least fifty people stop and stare. The guy up and just walks away.. I run out into the mall and follow him.... but he fades into the Saturday crowd. I get back to my store.. security arrives ten minutes LATER... useless. By then I called the cops. The good part comes after.. this one was my win... using security camera footage, they id'ed the guy.. and it turned out he got the walkies... out of an RV all right.. one he'd stolen and then sold to an unsuspecting senior. He ended up charged with about fifteen different things.
The VERY best part? He forgot the walkies in the store. After the trial, the police gave them back to me, having no where else for them to go- the original owner of the stolen RV had passed on with no family.
I put batteries in them.. and they worked like a charm. My nephew uses them to this day.
Oh.. and not all customers suck.. while I was trying to follow the guy, eleven people left their names and contact info with the clerk, in case they were needed as witnesses.
He walks up to the counter, flops them down in front of the clerk that was standing there (I was across the room) and says "hey, I'd like to return these, they don't work".
Really? The associate looks at the guy and says "ok, sir.. do you have your receipt? And I'm afraid all returns have to be accompanied by the original packaging, do you have that as well?".....she was polite as she pointed to the sign on the counter that clearly indicated that both points were indeed true.
"No, I don't have the f***ing receipt, or the packaging. My Dad bought these a while back and put them in his RV.. I just found them today, put batteries in, and they don't f***ing work, I want the money back, he's an old man and I won't see him get ripped off"
Yep, time for me to step in, so I walk over. "Hi there, I couldn't help but overhear... I'm the Manager, sir, and I assure you, the return policy is very clear, and strictly enforced. EVERY return item must be accompanied by a receipt." As I say this, I'm looking at the radios... we haven't carried this item in at least ten years... like, wtf? Are you serious, buddy? "Sir, can I ask when your father bought these? Our return policy is 30 days from the original purchase, and the warranty on something like this is one year"
He looks at me. He's ready to fight. "I don't f***ing know exactly when he bought them. They don't work, I want to return them, wtf is so hard to understand here, a-ho? Give me the money. You're not getting away with this crap, you sell garbage and then try to use some ridiculous rule to get out of backing up the warranty? You people make a habit of ripping off senior citizens?" (yes, there are several other customers staring now)
Ok.. this guy's a whack job. "Well, I'm sorry, without proof of purchase, I can't refund the money"... I get on the computer for a second. "We don't even carry these anymore. They're more than ten years old. Your Dad didn't buy them recently, and I'm afraid I can't even find a reference to the stock number. I can't do a refund, sir. Sorry. "
He LOSES it... screaming, yelling, cussing... so I say "Look, you can't come in here and try to return something bought ten years ago. We do reserve the right to refuse service based on abusive behavior, and sir, you can leave".. he's still cussing, and now he's offering to cave my face in, so I get on the phone and call mall security. He hears this, and say "oh FINE, f*** you, I can see I'm not getting satisfaction from YOU, I'm going to go to your Area Manager and he'll have your ass on the unemployment line tomorrow, you can't treat a customer like this!" (all the time, he's backing towards the door, and as he gets to the door, mall security nowhere in sight, he says......) "I'm going home to get a gun, and I'm coming back here to SHOOT YOU"
Literally, a death threat. Over a pair of handheld portable CB radios?????
At least fifty people stop and stare. The guy up and just walks away.. I run out into the mall and follow him.... but he fades into the Saturday crowd. I get back to my store.. security arrives ten minutes LATER... useless. By then I called the cops. The good part comes after.. this one was my win... using security camera footage, they id'ed the guy.. and it turned out he got the walkies... out of an RV all right.. one he'd stolen and then sold to an unsuspecting senior. He ended up charged with about fifteen different things.
The VERY best part? He forgot the walkies in the store. After the trial, the police gave them back to me, having no where else for them to go- the original owner of the stolen RV had passed on with no family.
I put batteries in them.. and they worked like a charm. My nephew uses them to this day.
Oh.. and not all customers suck.. while I was trying to follow the guy, eleven people left their names and contact info with the clerk, in case they were needed as witnesses.
to 
. Brain bleach is with ralerin, booze is with Jester. If you find any cookies, eat them before someone else does. 
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