This happened back when I was a young woman in my early twenties. I’ve always been quite shy and tend to avoid confrontations. My dad’s birthday is coming up, and I decide to get him a DVD of a popular movie that I know he will like. Luckily, the local electronics store has exactly one copy in stock, and I buy it, not opening the plastic seal and keeping the receipt in case my dad already has that DVD.
Fast forward a couple of weeks. I get a message from my dad that the DVD case was empty and there was no disc inside! In hindsight, it did feel quite light.
So, I return to the store to get a replacement or at least my money back. Customer service sends me to the only employee working in the entertainment section. I approach him while he is putting DVDs away and try to tell him about my predicament.
Me: “Excuse me. I bought this DVD here recently and—”
The employee interrupts.
Employee: “No, you didn’t.”
He briskly walks away from me. The following happens while I follow him around the whole section, absolutely perplexed, and he shouts while basically running away from me. Of course, everyone else is staring.
Employee: “We don’t have that movie in stock!”
Me: “But you had it two weeks ago when I bought it! Here’s the receipt!”
Employee: “Hm, yeah, maybe.”
Me: “When we opened the seal, there was no DVD inside. Can I please get a refund?”
Employee: *Now angry* “Yeah, nice try. You can try to steal as much as you want. Your tricks don’t work on me!”
At this point, I’m close to tears due to the embarrassment and his accusing me of theft in front of the whole store.
Me: “I’m not trying to steal. It was light when I bought it and there wasn’t a disc inside.”
Employee: “That’s impossible, but if you want to have trouble with the police, fine. You will have to fill out an affidavit, and when they find out you lied, you’re going to hear from the prosecutor’s office.”
Me: “Fine. I have nothing to hide. Let me fill out the form.”
Apparently, he hadn’t expected that and was now a little perplexed. I filled out the affidavit, and he processed the refund. Today, I know I should have asked for a manager, but my younger self only wanted to get out of there after being screamed at by a much older man. I continue to open the seal on any DVD I buy immediately after paying.