I am putting the seat back on my toilet (long story, not relevant). I finger-tighten one of the plastic bolts that holds it down, then use a screwdriver to give it just that little bit extra to secure it.
SNAP!
The threaded part and nut fall into my fingers. The fifteen-plus-year-old plastic bolt has sheared off. Oh well, no home maintenance or repair is complete without an unexpected trip to the hardware store, right?
I toss both bolts into a plastic bag and head for my preferred hardware store. As I approach the doors, a young man standing outside says:
Employee: “I’m sorry, we’re closed.”
It’s just 4 PM, but yes, this location closes at 4 PM on Sundays, which is today.
Me: “Oh, man, I’m gonna be one of those customers!”
I hold up the bag with the broken bolts in it and say:
Me: “I just need one of these, and I promise, I’m not going to be one of those ‘I only need one thing’ and then I get a cartful of stuff customers!”
He nods knowingly, but says:
Employee: “I understand, but we’re closed. We’ve closed out the registers already.”
Me: “Please, isn’t there anything we can do? Or someone I can talk to? I swear I only need this one thing, and I’ll happily leave enough cash to pay for tomorrow! These are the bolts that hold my toilet seat on, and I’ll go to the other hardware store if I have to, but I’d really rather give you guys my money!”
Another employee has come out by now and was listening. Then she spoke up and said:
Other Employee: “Really, just one item?”
Me: “I swear! And if I try to buy anything else, just kick me out! Please!”
Other Employee: “Okay. I haven’t done my register yet, come on in!”
Me: “Thank you, thank you, thank you!”
I follow her in. Another employee leads me to the proper display, and I am out of there in just a couple of minutes!
I’m a long-time reader of NAR, so this is a shout-out to the OTHER big-name hardware store for trusting an “I only need one item” after-hours customer!
And yes, I used both new bolts to secure the seat!