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i am bossy

The Daily Poverty Post.

store-credit

This Poverty Post is brought to you by the Misstep Department.

Here’s the thing: Bossy often buys items she is unsure about; unsure before she’s even left the store. She calls this kind of purchase “securing” the item, meaning available to Bossy should she decide in the next three hours she actually likes the thing instead of listening to her nagging inner voice which suggests it should be dropped right there in the aisle.

Bossy never really saw this as a problem before, because she would just return the item. And she’s very good at returning. As a matter of fact, sometimes when going to a shopping facility, Bossy’s loved ones will inquire what exactly she plans to buy so that she can return it.

Bossy’s friend Wendy we are looking at you.

Anyway. The problem is that ever so occasionally the return takes a while or life gets in the way, and there Bossy stands at Customer Service without a receipt. And then she is given Store Credit, which Bossy never saw as a particularly bad thing either, since she tends to frequent the stores that she, well, frequents.

But recently Bossy located a purse she hasn’t used since last winter, and in that purse were unused Store Credit cards. And OK, one was issued in January of 2002, back when Bossy was a young toddler.

This made Bossy so angry at herself she had to eat approximately two dozen of her friend Martha’s chocolate-covered peanut butter crispy air cookies.

The plan? Bossy will place these cards in a prominent place and use them appropriately, but mark her words: She will not be continuing the game of purchase-to-return.

And she will begin as soon as she returns her recently purchased charcoal grey cardigan. It’s too long, which, surprise, Bossy knew before she left the store.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. I don’t play the return game. Over the last year, I have gotten better about only buying necessities.

    However, I am VERY bad about gift cards. I was very angry with myself when I found several while clearing out purses, junk drawers, etc. I have been using them to pay for Christmas presents. That’s good right?

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  2. Oh, what I wouldn’t do for some Urban Outfitters store credit! Now you can shop guilt free!

    Also, if you’re holding something and you’re not sure about it in the store, do the “Do I love it?” test. If yes, grab it, pay and run home without looking back. If no, drop it like a hot potato. If you’re still wishing for it three days later, you can go back and get it.

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  3. First things first: long cardigans are in. Belt it. Next: Advice about Toys R Us returns. I recently purchased something online from them, only to have it go on sale for $30 (!) less within a week. So, I trot on into the local TRU store to get a price adjustment and they proceed to tell me that the online and retail stores are different and they can only issue a STORE CREDIT for the adjustment. What a racket! Fortunately, I was able to march back out of the store and call the online people to handle my refund, but only because I threw a fit. Those meeker folk don’t have a chance against this retail scam that puts things on “sale” to make you buy them, then puts them on a better “sale” so you come in to get an adjustment, but still have to spend your money in THEIR STORE. Beware Toys R Us. I’ve got my eye on you, Geoffrey Giraffe.

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  7. I feel your pain. I don’t do a ton of returning but when I do, either the store won’t give me anything but store credit – EVEN THOUGH I HAVE A RECEIPT, THE JERKS – or I’ve lost the receipt. Sigh.

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  8. This problem will be solved if you adopt my system, and keep every receipt ever issued to you in a large wad in your top dresser drawer, after collecting them in your wallet until your wallet will no longer close.

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  11. Count me in amongst the notorious securers/returners. I’m so indecisive in a store, especially when it comes to household items. I’ve gotten a little better with clothing. If it doesn’t look good on me on that particular day, it doesn’t leave the store with me. However, online ordering causes me to break from this rule, and I feel stupid having to sometimes return everything I ordered.

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  12. Oh, man, I’m so guilty of the return cards because I never can find receipts when they are needed. But I’m also bad at forgetting to return things and have donated many things with tags still on after they have been driven around for months in my truck. I no longer buy clothes for my kids if they have not already tried on and approved the purchases, and I’m trying to use the dreaded dressing rooms myself. Ugh.

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  13. now these would make lovely stocking stuffers … Grammy would never know a $12.99 store credit dated 2002 wasn’t especially chosen just for her this Christmas … 😉

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  14. I’ve learned that if there is any doubt whatsoever in my mind about a potential purchase, I don’t make it. The unnecessary things I have avoided buying vastly outweigh the few things I regret not purchasing. Like that cute messenger bag that was on sale at Filene’s last September. Boy do I regret not snapping that mofo up.

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  15. I’ve begun putting all these discount and money off cards in an envelope in my “everything drawer” in the kitchen. That way they aren’t scattered through the house.

    I just hope you get that credit honored – they may say it’s too old.

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  16. oh i am the worst about returning things! i do it AL THE TIME. i’ve got to quit doing that!! right after i return the things sitting by the front door.

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  17. I keep my “store credits” and gift cards in the car. Of course, I need a system to remind me to take them into the store.

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  20. Oh man, how I love to secure items and then think them over. Back in the day my problem was securing them after happy hour and then being too lazy to return them. Now that I’m a grownup with responsibilities, I go to fewer happy hours but i still secure items. I’ve become diligent about asking myself why I bought them and returning them if I have a change of heart. It actually feels very empowering!

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  21. My problem isnt in returning things, but I put stuff in my cart, mainly at Target and the grocery store, KNOWING I am not going to buy them, (but I just might), But I KNOW I am not, and I say to myself or whoever’s with me, “Well I’ll just walk around with this stuff for awhile and see” And then I slowly start putting things back one by one IN THE WRONG PLACE, Its a definate problem for the people I am with, I dont think twice, Sad.

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  23. I am the QUEEN of the purchase-to-return game! I, too, have friends who ask me why I even shop because I tend to return pretty much EVERYTHING I buy! It just feels like I need to buy it and make my decision later. It’s so much easier than forcing myself to make a decision in that moment! But now I see that’s probably how I got in this situation in the first place. (tuesdaysdontcount.blogspot.com)

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  24. I found a bunch of unused gift cards. We are going to use them this Christmas break. Cold Stone ice cream tomorrow. Who cares if it’s cold outside! A manicure for me 🙂 The kids can sit and eat their ice cream and watch me get my nails pretty for Christmas.
    And this reminds me that I have to return the un given gifts to the stores BEFORE Christmas this year. We can also do that tomorrow.

    Reply

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