'They wouldn’t take no for an answer': Hardware store gives customer multiple lawnmowers, even though he insists they're not his

Author image for Remy Millisky
Remy Millisky • Writer and Editor
Aug 26, 2023 3:00 PM EDT

This dude got the deal of a lifetime, and he did it completely by accident. 

One day, this guy went to wander around a big box hardware store to check out their lawnmowers. When you're making a big purchase like that, it helps to see the machines in person, instead of just relying on the internet. This guy found an especially great deal, because the store's display lawn mower was up for sale. 

As with lots of big purchases, usually you have to check out several stores and be prepared before buying it, so the OP asked that an employee put the mower aside for him. From there, the situation got weird. It seems like there was just bad communication between the various employees the OP talked to. At least he got his mower(s), and he walked away with a great malicious compliance story, too. 

The comments section was full of other great malicious compliance purchase stories. And interestingly enough, almost everyone tried to cooperate with the stores, and not accept items they hadn't paid for. That's heartwarming to hear — these people got their excellent deals the honest way. 

Next up, these joyful job-hoppers got back at their bosses before quitting for good. 

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  • 01
    Tire
    via Daniel Watson on Unsplash
  • 02
    Font - I repeatedly tried telling the Big Box hardware store that the lawn mower waiting for pickup was not my lawn mower. But they wouldn't take no for an answer.
    via u/D*e_Ringer
  • 03
    Font - So I think this falls into this category but it all started with me purchasing a lawn mower at a big box hardware store. In the interest of keeping them anonymous let's just call them Rob Lowe, or, Lowes for short.
    via u/D*e_Ringer
  • 04
    Font - I walked in one day looking to finally purchase a new mower, and I was in luck as they had a smoking deal on a "display" model. Unprepared to be going home with a new mower that day I didn't bring my truck. So I simply asked if I could set it aside and come back in a little bit with my truck.
    via u/D*e_Ringer
  • 05
    Font - I returned maybe 30 min later and picked up my mower and headed home. This should be the end of the story but weirdly, it isn't. Fast forward about 2 weeks later and I get a call from lowes informing me that my mower is ready for pickup. Confused I replied "pardon me?". So they reminded me that I ordered a mower about 2 weeks ago and it just arrived and is awaiting pickup.
    via u/D*e_Ringer
  • 06
    Font - Now I know most would have seized the opportunity right there but I decided to be a good person and I explained to the employee that no, I didn't order a mower, I bought a floor model and set it aside to pick up later, which I did. The employee thanks me, apologizes for the confusion, and says he'll update the order.
    via u/D*e_Ringer
  • 07
    Font - Welp, one week later they call again, same thing, and I once again explain why it's not mine. They did this once a week for 3 weeks straight, and after the 3rd time I tell the wife I swear if they call me again I'm going to pickup "my mower."
    via u/D*e_Ringer
  • 08
    Font - At this point now I'm just excited, I'm watching my phone, hoping they'll call, because in my mind I've earned it at this point and I want my free mower! Well low and behold week 4 hits and guess who calls!
    via u/D*e_Ringer
  • 09
    Font - I am now ready to accept my free mower but I'm also unsure how this is going to play out. I don't know if it's paid for, I don't have a receipt, it seems like a long shot. So I simply tell the employee I'm so sorry I haven't been in yet to get it, but I got called out of town for work and just got back and with that said I have no idea where I put the receipt. The employee kindly replies "oh no worries! It's paid in full so all you need is a photo id matching the name on the order" Perfec
    via u/D*e_Ringer
  • 10
    Font - I call the wife to let her know I'm picking up our new mower, she just laughs, still positive that once I get there they won't have a mower to give me.
    via u/D*e_Ringer
  • 11
    Font - But you'll be happy to know I pull in, tell customer service I'm here for my mower, show them my ID, and next thing you know some guy on a tow motor is loading a brand new, in the box, unassembled mower into the back of my truck and off I go. Still have that mower today!
    via u/D*e_Ringer
  • 12
    Font - I thought about returning the original afterwards but I just got nervous it would somehow raise the alarms. Then I was going to sell it on marketplace, but shortly after all this I had bought a new house and my best friend put in a lot of hours helping me move and he too had been looking for a new mower so I just gave it to him instead as a thanks for helping me.
    via u/D*e_Ringer
  • 13
    Font - I still ended up with a brand new mower for essentially 60% off and then was also able to pay for movers with the Original one so it was still a win win.
    via u/D*e_Ringer
  • 14
    Font - I genuinely tried telling them it wasn't my mower, but they insisted it was, and it would be rude to refuse their offer.
    via u/D*e_Ringer
  • 15
    Font - [deleted] I went to Wally mart a few weeks ago to pick up a box of 10 reams of paper for my work truck. They had two options. One ream for $9.99 or a case of 10 reams for $49.99 Well, I go through paper, so I pick up the case of 10. I take it to the self check out. I find one barcode on the box that will scan and it rings up for $9.99 I call the cashier over and explain it rang up the wrong price and I show her on the website that it should be $49.99
    via u/deleted
  • 16
    Font - So she voids it, looks for any other barcode. There isn't a second one. So she scans the one barcode and it rings up $10. She uses her handheld device and scans it. $10. She looks at me and deada says "not my problem. You want it for $10?" Hyeah I do. She says there ya go and walks away.
    via u/deleted
  • 17
    Font - fredsam25 I bought a pair of folding tables from Home Depot, selected store pickup, and took them home. A week later, I got a call to come pickup my tables. Not being as ethical as you, I went and picked up two new folding tables. Well, another week goes by and another call. I tell the employee this time that I already got my tables, but he's insistent that these are mine for pickup. I don't really need six folding tables, but if they want to give two more to me, why
    via u/fredsam25
  • 18
    Font - not? Well, the next week I got another call. I don't need any more fing folding tables. The employee again is insisting that I come get them, but this time I refuse. This was getting out of hand. They called for the next two weeks before I guess they cancelled the order. So I ended up with a refund on the original two tables. I got six tables in all for free. I often imagine the folding table empire I could have had if I just kept accepting them.
    via u/fredsam25
  • 19
    Font - tybbiesniffer +1. My husband ordered a $70 webcam for me from Best Buy. When the order came they'd actually sent an iPad Pro. He tried numerous times to return it. After a month of getting the runaround, he gave up and kept it.
    via u/tybbiesniffer
  • 20
    Font - Zenon_Czosnek I was once receiving a subscription of American Time magazine to my home in Scotland. It was addressed to an unknown person. The landlord said nobody with this name ever lived there, so did the neighbours. I failed to find such a person on Facebook (it was quite unusual name). At first I was just writing "return to sender" on it. They kept coming. Then I wrote an email to Time subscription departament which remains unanswered. Wrote again. Nothing. Sent them a paper letter e
    via u/Zenon_Czosnek
  • 21
    Font - I gave up and started reading it so it won't get to waste. One day they sent me (or that mystery person they thought lived in my address) an invoice with it. I thought "ok, nobody will pay the invoice so they stop sending it". Nope. We were getting it for another two years. Then I moved out. U do t know, maybe it's still coming?
    via u/Zenon_Czosnek
  • 22
    Font - ibs2pid This happened to me as well but with a 12x12 pop up gazebo. I gave them 2 shots. On the 3rd call I went to pick it up. I just kept it in box in the garage. Had a bad storm come and demolish the first one after having it for about 3 years. Just popped the other one up. That was another 450 bucks I didn't have to spend!
    via u/ibs2pid
  • 23
    Font - venomgyal My in-laws got away with this for an ENTIRE KITCHEN. The truck with all the units, fittings, worktops and flooring came. They'd already had the very same kitchen fitted. They kept it in the garage for a year thinking they'd get a call asking for money to have it back and nothing came! They contemplated selling it but eventually they gave it to my MIL's brother for his new house!
    via u/venomgyal
  • 24
    Font - GD LocalLiBEARian +2. Reminds of the days of Service Merchandise. After Christmas clearance, cards marked 75% off. Price already marked on the box. I pick a box (with my other stuff) and check out... and the cashier takes ANOTHER 75% off the sticker price... effectively making the price just over 93% off. Store was dead, so I went back and cleaned them out. That was over 20 years ago and I haven't had to buy Christmas cards since.
    via u/LocalLiBEARian

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lawn lawn mower house retail mowing the lawn hardware grass lawnmower workers store
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