Pay no attention to that sign
As you make your post-Christmas returns, you will likely run into a few discouraging signs at the customer service center which say: "No return without receipt."
Hopefully, you will have the appropriate paperwork in your hot little hand. But if you do not, you need not slink home with merchandise you no longer want.
Pay no attention to that sign. Start negotiating.
This year, my returns included a pair of $200 silk draperies I realized were all wrong for my study. Sadly, I could not find the receipt.
But I hauled the curtains back to the store, which was plastered with those unfortunate "No return without receipt" signs. Careful to avoid eye contact with the posters, I strode to the counter wearing my best smile.
"I've looked high and low for my receipt and can't find it," I said warmly. "But I have a lot of shopping I'd like to do here today. I wonder if you could give me a store credit?"
The sales lady looked at the drapes, neatly folded in their original packaging, and looked at me, a regular and unfailing polite customer.
"Sure, hon," she said.
The sales lady discretely worked her magic with the computer. I gratefully accepted my store credit and started snapping up bargains. I'd like to think we were both happy.
So, what shopping lessons can we learn from this?
First, don't assume a store policy is etched in stone. You won't succeed at Forever 21, which is taking a hard line on undocumented returns, but you might get lucky at more flexible stores. (I'm not disclosing the identity of the store where I managed to bypass the policy in order to protect the helpful saleswoman.)
Second, don't expect something for nothing. Am important part of my negotiations was letting the sales associate know that revenue was not going out of the store. I did not request cash, simply the right to buy other items.
Finally, ask rather than demand. As in most situations in life, people who work in stores are far more likely to go the extra mile to help customers who treat them nicely. It pays to be pleasant.
Hopefully, you will have the appropriate paperwork in your hot little hand. But if you do not, you need not slink home with merchandise you no longer want.
Pay no attention to that sign. Start negotiating.
This year, my returns included a pair of $200 silk draperies I realized were all wrong for my study. Sadly, I could not find the receipt.
But I hauled the curtains back to the store, which was plastered with those unfortunate "No return without receipt" signs. Careful to avoid eye contact with the posters, I strode to the counter wearing my best smile.
"I've looked high and low for my receipt and can't find it," I said warmly. "But I have a lot of shopping I'd like to do here today. I wonder if you could give me a store credit?"
The sales lady looked at the drapes, neatly folded in their original packaging, and looked at me, a regular and unfailing polite customer.
"Sure, hon," she said.
The sales lady discretely worked her magic with the computer. I gratefully accepted my store credit and started snapping up bargains. I'd like to think we were both happy.
So, what shopping lessons can we learn from this?
First, don't assume a store policy is etched in stone. You won't succeed at Forever 21, which is taking a hard line on undocumented returns, but you might get lucky at more flexible stores. (I'm not disclosing the identity of the store where I managed to bypass the policy in order to protect the helpful saleswoman.)
Second, don't expect something for nothing. Am important part of my negotiations was letting the sales associate know that revenue was not going out of the store. I did not request cash, simply the right to buy other items.
Finally, ask rather than demand. As in most situations in life, people who work in stores are far more likely to go the extra mile to help customers who treat them nicely. It pays to be pleasant.
posted by Eileen Smith at 1:35 PM
3 Comments:
Hi Eileen - I'd like to post a comment asking people to be nice to their ebay dealers when returning items. From my home business, I've gotten two nastygrams today from people - one said the box was bruised and she wants a total refund of shipping money, $11, (even though I have no control over how the post office handles the boxes), and the other says she'll file a negative report if I don't refund her shipping money because she changed her mind. Keep in mind ebay dealers are not big corporations, and try, as Eileen said, to be reasonable and kind, and it will make for a much better transaction. You are so right to say politeness goes a long way!
Thanks for your insights, Mary. I think the entrepreneurs who are the backbone of eBay face a big hurdle in that they communicate solely by e-mail. While many delightful friendships have been forged online, the immediacy of e-mail also provides a ready opportunity for folks to act like jerks. And so, I urge online buyers who are zinging insults at sellers to pause and THINK before you hit the send button.
Happy selling, Mary!
Eileen, I took your advice and asked for a store credit when I returned something without a receipt. I was kind of embarrassed but it worked. It was hard not to look at the sign that said no returns without receipt tho.
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