'Okay Karen, lemme just summon the CEO of Target for your crusty tank top': Entitled retail customer tries to return a clearly used shirt and demands to speak to the manager, doesn't realize she's already speaking to the manager

Author image for JR Atkinson
JR Atkinson • Writer and Editor
Apr 9, 2025 10:00 AM EDT

There are very few instances in life that play out how we wish we could play them out. We might think of the perfect comeback the next day when we're in the shower and curse at the gods that we didn't think of it at the moment. We think of just the right zinger hours, days, or even years after the situation is long over. It's one of the annoying things about being a human. We can't always summon the right thing at the right moment. 

You may swear to yourself that you'll pocket it for the next time you're in that kind of situation, but you never do. Because when we're agitated, our brains tend to lose the capacity to think that deeply. We're in fight or flight, and our emotions get the better of us. Sometimes the universe will throw us a bone, though, and let us have the perfect "gotcha" moment.

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    Cheezburger Image 10491718400
    via Unsplash+ (Andrej Lišakov)

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • That's what happened to one retail worker who got the better of their customer. When they came in hot with a lot of energy and an accusatory tone, the retail worker got to pull out one of the best cards in the biz. Read on for the story to live vicariously through them.

  • 02

    She called my manager - I am the manager

    Retail job. Lady comes in, returns a shirt that was obviously worn and washed. Receipt says 60 days ago. I politely say we can't take it back. She goes "Get me your manager."
    via u/Fun-Nnious
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    I say "You're speaking to him." She stares for a second and goes, "Well get someone above you then." Like okay Karen, lemme just summon the CEO of Target for your crusty tank top.
    via u/Fun-Nnious
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    Commenters chimed in with stories of their own.

    Bkseneca 23h ago • I watched a woman try to return a pair of gardening boots to Marshall's once and she could NOT understand why she couldn't return them - no matter how many times the clerk explained that Marshalls never sold the item.
    via u/Bkseneca
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    Fun-Nnious OP • 23h ago Lmaoo I swear people walk into stores like they're fever dreaming. "No ma'am we don't sell cantaloupes, this is a Staples."
    via u/Fun-Nnious
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    B0b5UrUncl3 22h ago . When I was in my 20's I was a manager at a family entertainment facility. A family was in the park for several hours and then came back to the window complaining that they didn't get to do anything and wanted their money back. This was bs as it was a slow day. I
    via u/B0b5UrUncl3
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    explain that I was unable to offer them a refund and they still had time to continue to use our facility with the tickets they purchased. The mom didn't like my response and said "I don't want to talk to some punk kid, I want to talk to someone older." I tried to explain that I was the manager on duty that day and
    via u/B0b5UrUncl3
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    there was no one available besides me. She didn't believe me, so I obliged her initial request and went inside to get someone older. I grabbed our Sr IT tech who is about 15 yrs older than me, told him the situation and he happily agreed to talk to this woman. He came out, she
    via u/B0b5UrUncl3
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    told him their story with some more embellishing this time. He nodded his head and responded with "I don't know why you wanted to talk to me, I can't do anything, he's the manager" and turned around and walked away. The look on her face was priceless, she stormed off ped she wasn't able to get her money back, screaming they were never coming here again. We had a good laugh afterwards. The best part is I sold tickets to her the following week with a smile on my face.
    via u/B0b5UrUncl3
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    • Xtay1 1d ago Did you do the "slowly spin around thing" and say, yes ma'am I'm the managers-" How can I help you?
    via u/Xtay1
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    CuteTangelo3137 • 23h ago Yeah, I used to be in retail management for The Limited. A woman came in to return a shirt that stank of ciga ttes and perfume, the tag was missing and she didn't have the receipt. I told her I couldn't take it back, it's been worn and she didn't have the receipt or tags. She
    via u/CuteTangelo3137
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    yelled at me saying it hasn't been worn and she wants to speak to the manager immediately. I told her I'm the manager but she's welcome to escalate it and call corporate if she wished. She yelled at me some more, grabbed the shirt and walked out with everyone staring at her.
    via u/CuteTangelo3137
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    Cheezburger Image 10491718144
    via Unsplash+ (Andrej Lišakov)

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • 14
    • permabone 23h ago You should have gotten a step stool and got on then asked "how may I help you?"
    via u/permabone
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    . CapnGramma 20h ago Had a friend who was floor manager for a department store. A customer came in to return something that had obviously been used and was well past the returns date on the receipt. The customer service clerk checked to see if the item was damaged, but it worked fine.
    via u/CapnGramma
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    To summarize: Clerk: Since it's in working order and past the returns window, I'm unable to help you. Customer: Get your manager. Floor Manager: The clerk is correct, we are unable to accept an item in working order past the returns window. Customer: Get another manager.
    via u/CapnGramma
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    Floor Manager calls The small appliance manager to the customer service desk. Customer to Small Appliance Manager: I need to return this and get my money back. Small Appliance Manager to Customer: I'll have to check with my boss.
    via u/CapnGramma
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    Small Appliance Manager to Floor Manager: Are we able to process a refund for this? Floor Manager: No, it's in working order and past the returns window. Small Appliance Manager: I'm sorry, but we are unable to help you with this. Have a nice day.
    via u/CapnGramma
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    beachblanketparty . 22h ago Lol. I worked at IKEA as a returns lead & folks would try that one with me all the time. The funniest was where I was the MOD for that day, too. Like, nope. No one else in the store for you to try. Good luck on getting a hold of Corporate, who will route you directly back to me. Sorry!
    via u/beachblanketparty
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    • ShrmpHvnNw 23h ago Should have gone in back, made her wait 10 min then came back out with a different shirt on and anew name tag and act like you were a completely different person "yeah they say we look a lot alike"
    via u/ShrmpHvnNw
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    • ATLDeepCreeker 23h ago Duck down behind the cou ter, then come up and say "Uh...Yessssssss.....can I help you?" With a huge sh eating grin.
    via u/ATLDeepCreeker
  • 22
    Roguekit 19h ago • Many, many moons agi I worked in the electrical department at Home Depot, back when they had a liberal return policy. A customer came in to return a shop light that he said was bad out of the box, and he lost the receipt. It was a brand we didn't
    via u/Roguekit
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    sell. I explained that we didn't carry that brand in our region, and we did not have an exact match. He was ready to scream for a manager, but I explained I would happily exchange it, but I needed to know if he wanted one a little better or a little worse in specifications. He finally picked one and went on his way. I promptly forgot about it until a few days later when I got called into the store managers office.
    via u/Roguekit
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    It's the guy from the light. He found the receipt. He bought it at Carter Lumber and was worried I'd get in trouble and wanted to make it right. The store manager laughed and told him I did the right thing. The guy asked when I was working next, so I told him, and he left. I again forget all about it.
    via u/Roguekit
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    He then shows up with a young couple, his daughter and her fiance. The guy is a contractor and building them a house for wedding present. They picked out all of the lighting fixtures for the house. It ended up being over $10,000.
    via u/Roguekit
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    He told the store manager that our giving him a $20 light on an exchange for a light we didn't sell brought him back. There were lots of customer service storied like that when I worked there. Sadly, it would not happen now.
    via u/Roguekit
  • 27
    • Red-Angel_ 22h ago Worked customer service/returns dept for decades, it is a state health code that used underwear can NOT be returned. It's stated/posted in multiple places. Never failed, beginning of every school year we get dozens of people trying to
    via u/Red-Angel_
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    return kids underwear with "didn't fit" "poor quality" (yeah Linda, that's what happens when your kid is pulling the waistband like it's tug of war!), etc. The sheer ick factor of some of these articles were nauseating.
    via u/Red-Angel_

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boss antiwork workplace-stories toxic-workplace job retail workers retail bosses retail worker work working reddit story toxic-boss workplace reddit thread tales-from-retail bad bosses Reddit karen story karen toxic-work-environment
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