These Refunds Are Getting Hairier To Approve

I work in the retail section of a chain pharmacy. We have strict rules about product returns. Products must not be consumable, be unopened, and in resaleable condition, be returned within seven days of purchase with a receipt to prove purchase provided. 

Today, an older customer came in to return a hairstyling tool she had purchased for her granddaughter. The customer provided her receipt, and it was within seven days, but I’m still required to get a manager to approve returns. I could see the box had been opened, but when I turned it over, the window in the box showed hair very obviously caught in the styling tool.

Me: “Why are you returning this?”

Customer: “It wasn’t suitable for my granddaughter’s hair, but it hasn’t been used.”

Me: “It has hair in it and therefore cannot be returned.”

Customer: “Fine, I’ll sell it on a [popular online sale platform] instead.”

All I could think of was that I’d hate to be the unwary buyer.