All Sales Are Irrational

(I’m trying to return a dress to a clothing store. I purchased a medium without trying it on, but upon closer inspection at home it was clear it was too small for me. I still have the receipt, the tags are still attached, and the dress hasn’t been worn.)

Sales Assistant: “I can’t give you a refund.”

Me: “Um, I think you’re legally obligated to, and as the signage in here…” (I point to a sign right in front of me* “…states, I am entitled to a refund and I have my receipt, too. I haven’t worn the dress, and the tags are still on it. I would have preferred an exchange, but there’s only one and it’s the same size.”

Sales Assistant: “Maybe it just seems smaller because it’s got a ‘corset’ type style.”

(Note: the dress has no such thing.)

Me: “Um, no: I’ve bought mediums here before, and this is really tiny. I actually suspected it had been mislabeled but the other one in stock looks the same. I’m really sorry; it’s a cute dress, I would have loved to have worn it. Unfortunately, you don’t have any more in stock, so I’m going to ask for a refund.”

Sales Assistant: “I can’t give you a refund because… uh… the computer isn’t working!”

(Unbelievably, she smashes around on the computer and just about turns the entire thing upside down. While she is doing this, she calls the head office IT department and I overhear the following.)

Sales Assistant: “I can’t get into POS to make sales or open the drawer or do refunds!” *pause* “Turn it OFF?” *messes around with the thing, just about inverting the monitor* “How do I do THAT?” *continues messing around* “There’s a button? What colour is it? Where is it?”

(After a few more minutes of fruitless problem solving, she eventually gets off the phone. By now, quite a few customers are waiting in line.)

Sales Assistant: “I can’t give you a refund because the IT guy is driving.”

Me: “Oh, that’s unfortunate, because it seems like there are a whole heap of people around here who want to, you know, buy stuff.”

Sales Assistant: *looks at the computer screen* “Oh, look! It’s coming back on now!”

Me: “Then, can I please have my refund?”

Sales Assistant: “No. You’ll have to come back later for that!”