Many happy returns

With the holiday season here, might be a good time to talk about refund policies. I know. I'm a guy. What could I possibly know about refund policies? Answer, I don't.

Like most guys, I take NOTHING back to the store. I mean nothing. If I was stupid enough to buy it and it doesn't fit or work like I want it to--that's my bad. I just throw it in that pile of stuff that will rot in the corner or trash dump. Or even worse, move with me to every single new place I move over the next 75 years.

Guys don't return things. Yes, I know its a waste of money, space, energy, time, etc. I'm not going to do it. I'd rather crawl on my bare belly through the snow at the Red Lodge ski area for a half mile than return something. Its just not...manly.

Fortunately, I have experience in watching people return vast quantities of stuff. Here in town, I know K-Mart has a pretty good consumer friendly return policy. I don't hear many complaints, although I'm sure there's always someone waiting. Wal-Mart is consistent. The lines are pretty long there. Remember when Wal-Mart used to brag about their "Made In The U.S.A" stuff. Don't see that anymore. I'd challenge you to find a product, other than maybe food, that IS made in the U.S.A. now. There probably are a couple, but Wal Mart sure doesn't talk about THAT anymore.

This article was about returns and not how much Chinese product is sold at Wal Mart.

Recently had a horrific experience at a local department store, that does not have Mart in its name. The "XXX" store had an item on sale. Somehow, the receipt for the item got lost. Local manager refused to return the item for the price paid. Even when the credit card statement could clearly show how much the item was and where it was purchased, they refused. You might not know this if you haven't worked retail, but every transaction can be pulled up by the store from your credit card statement. Its a matter of "want to".

In this case, the "XXX" department store didn't want to. They'd rather keep my money and have me go away mad.

They are within their rights as a business. They don't have to return my money just because I wanted it back. It struck me, that with Christmas just days away, that it might be worth a reminder to you to be aware of the return policies of where you shop. The item from "XXX" sits on the heap of things I foolishly bought and will never make another effort to return.

The cool part of the story? I have one less place to shop for stuff.