Refunder Blunder, Part 23

(I am the manager in this situation.)

Manager: “Hello, how can I help you today?”

Customer: “Hi, I left an item here by mistake after paying for it.”

Manager: “Oh, that’s very easy to do when you’re busy; don’t worry! We hold onto lost & found items for about a week. What was the item?”

Customer: “It’s this.” *shows me a product she’s picked up from a shelf – shaving gel worth £3* “I called up the next day to tell you I’d left it.”

Manager: “That’s strange, none of my team told me to expect you… Who did you speak to? And can you tell me which day you called? That’ll help me find it.”

Customer: “I called at the start of May.”

(It is now mid-August.)

Manager: “You left something here in early May and are just coming to get it now?”

Customer: “Yes. Do you have it?”

Manager: “I’m very sorry, but we cannot hold onto lost items for three months. If you have your receipt, I will give you a refund for the item.”

Customer: “No, I don’t have a receipt. You really don’t have it?”

Manager: “No. I’m afraid that without your receipt to prove purchase, there is nothing more I can do.”

(I couldn’t believe that anyone would wait THREE MONTHS to come back to the store, particularly when the item was only worth £3!)