'I won't leave this store until I get my refund': Customer faced with strict returns policy, finds a way to get full refund

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Bar Mor Hazut • Senior Editor
Dec 17, 2023 10:00 AM EST

Anyone who has ever worked in retail knows how frustrating it is to have to explain store policy to a customer and whether or not they can return an item. I once had a 30-minute conversation with a guy who wanted to return an item that was bought in a completely different store, and he simply did not accept 'no' for an answer.

Being on the other side of the counter is no fun either. I can't tell you how much accumulated random stuff I have in my house simply because a store would not let me return it, even if it was untouched and unopened. 

This customer had that exact problem. When he came back to a store to return items he had bought merely 20 minutes beforehand, he was met with a ridiculous returns policy that prevented him from getting his money back. But for every complicated store policy, there is a clever customer who knows how to find their way around it. After you finish reading about this adventure, check out this story about a hardworking employer having to deal with their micromanaging manager.

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  • 01
    "I'll use their own rules against them
    via Canva
  • 02
    No refunds once you've stepped out of the store? Fine, I won't step out of the store.
    via u/dubilendar
  • 03
    This happens in a large store in a European country. When you purchase something from them, and for any reason want to return the item, their policy is that they never give money back. They only give you a voucher redeemable same day only.
    via u/dubilendar
  • 04
    I went to the store today and purchased quite a long list of items. I got home, my wife looks at them and says that we don't need some of them.
    via u/dubilendar
  • 05
    I go back to the store, barely 20 minutes pass. The returns manager smiles at me as I tell her I'd just purchased these and would like to
    via u/dubilendar
  • 06
    return them. She tells me that I stepped out of the store so she can't refund. Only give me a voucher and I must buy something else.
    via u/dubilendar
  • 07
    I'd already bought everything I needed. Then she tells me to take the products home and keep them for the next time I would need to buy something, then I can come and get the voucher and redeem it. Imagine
    via u/dubilendar
  • 08
    keeping a pair of shoes and a bowl and remember to bring them with you the next time you happen to need something.
    via u/dubilendar
  • 09
    I tried to reason, but she was adamant: 'Those are the rules. You stepped out of the store, you don't get a refund.'
    via u/dubilendar
  • 10
    And then it clicked. I asked 'so if someone wants to return an item without leaving the store, they get the money back?'. 'Yes'. You see where this is heading. Malicious compliance kicking in.
    via u/dubilendar
  • 11
    I ask to return the items and get the voucher. I take the voucher, get inside the store, find a product to exactly same amount. Buy it with the voucher. Right after the cashier, there's the returns manager. Straight
    via u/dubilendar
  • 12
    from the cashier I go to her. Hand her that random product I'd just bought and say 'I would like to return this, I don't want it. And I never left the store'.
    via u/dubilendar
  • 13
    She is looking at me with barely contained rage in her eyes, I kid you not. The awkward pause was getting longer. And then her manager comes along. Looks at us and I smile at him and say 'I never left the store
    via u/dubilendar
  • 14
    and I would like to get a refund for this please'. He nods. Silent and not looking at me, she proceeds to refund me the money in cash. Company policy, right?
    via u/dubilendar
  • 15
    gopiballava 9 mo. ago. I'm surprised that worked. Most stores only refund to the original payment method. Great job though :) 4.5k Reply Share
    via u/gopiballava
  • 16
    Garzino · 9 mo. ago Here in my country you can get retail managers to do what you want if you're annoying enough.
    via u/Garzino
  • 17
    When i worked retail i remeber so many customers being absolutely and unbearable until they got what they wanted andnafter that it was all smiles and laughter. 483 Reply Share
    via u/Garzino
  • 18
    Enrico LUccellatore 9 mo. ago the world would be so much better if by being nice you could get the same results as by being mean 467 Reply Share
    via u/EnricoLUccellatore
  • 19
    gumnos 9 mo. ago · this has the audacity of a dog staring at you while it poops on the carpet. An "I know you don't like this and there's nothing you can do about it without making matters worse." Very nicely done.
    via u/gumnos
  • 20
    OnePhotog. 9 mo. ago "Sir. according to the receipt, you paid with a voucher. I can only process the return in the same manner it was paid." Reply Share ↑ 1.2k
    via u/OnePhotog
  • 21
    invisiblizm 9 mo. ago As a former retail worker this was super frustrating as • we knew the rules were dumb • we had to follow the rules
    via u/invisiblizm
  • 22
    • managers never followed the rules and overrode us in 2 seconds, floating in like a hero who hasn't a care in the world as though we made up the rules.
    via u/invisiblizm
  • 23
    customers would act like we were the ones being and like they had won over us personally.
    via u/invisiblizm
  • 24
    • going by your story she ● didn't clarify with the manager or make a fuss, so the above may have been the source of her frustration. 14 Reply Share
    via u/invisiblizm
  • 25
    zorggalacticus 9 mo. ago Did this with a video game. "You can't return an opened game. Just exchange it for the exact same one." Okay, let me just exchange it then. Got the
    via u/zorggalacticus
  • 26
    unopened copy, then came back the next day and exchanged it for store credit and bought a different game. 19 Reply Share
    via u/zorggalacticus

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customer service malicious compliance retail retail worker customers policy malicious compliance reddit money FAILS refund clever funny FAIL Blog
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