That Explanation Was Charitable

Customer: “I have some items to return, please.”

Me: “Of course. What would you like to return?”

She gets the items out, but I notice the labels are from a different charity shop in the next town over.

Me: “Oh! I’m sorry, you can’t return these here. You must’ve bought them somewhere else.”

Customer: “What?”

Me: *Showing her the labels* “These are from [Charity #1] and we are [Charity #2]. You’ll have to return them at their shop, I’m afraid.”

Customer: “But I bought these here.”

Me: “You might have mixed them up with something you did get from us, but these are definitely from a different shop.”

Customer: “Oh… and I can’t return them here?”

Me: “Unfortunately not; it’s a different charity.”

Customer: “Are you sure?”

Me: “Yes. We aren’t affiliated with them in any way.”

Customer: “I can’t exchange them here?”

Me: “No.”

Customer: “Where is the other charity shop?”

Me: “Twenty miles away.”

Customer: “Oh.”