Small Print For Small Minds

(The gift store where I work is going out of business. There are signs hanging up that state which items are excluded. Although the 50% off is written larger, the restrictions are still written in a fairly large font. A husband and wife are in the store.)

Me: “That will be $xx.xx.”

Husband: “Oh, why is it so expensive?”

Me: *pointing to the signs* “Well, due to vendor restrictions, the Willow Tree pieces are not part of the 50% off sale.”

Husband: “Oh, okay.”

(He pays for his purchase and starts to head toward the door, just as the wife is coming back in. The husband explains to the wife that the figures were full price.)

Wife: *to me* “Those were supposed to be half price! There’s a sign!” *points at the sign*

Me: “Actually, due to vendor restrictions, we’re not allowed to sell them at half price.”

Wife: “But the sign says 50% off!”

Me: “The sign says 50% off excluding Willow Tree and the jewelry over there.”

Wife: “Well, I didn’t read the bottom of the sign. I just read the part that says 50% off. That sign is misleading!”