My father, who I care for every other day for hours, sometimes wants me to return products he doesn't want to our local supermarket. The supermarket takes back anything, even used items. My father has plenty of money to meet his living expenses; he's just a very thrifty and an educated consumer.
Recently he told me a soap he bought had a weird smell, the manufacturer indicated a pleasant smell, so he asked me to return it. It cost about $6.00. I went to customer service and they were good about refunding but as I was leaving I heard one person say to to the other something like "Why doesn't shoe have any money?". This was kind of embarrassing to me. Should I tell my father I will no longer return his items? Or is it just my right to return things and I shouldn't care what others think? It seems now though I'm beginning to become a certain "character" in the community based on what I do for my father.
If he does his own shopping then he can do his own returns.
You could return some things within reason if they are defective. Not if they aren't. If he didn't like the scent of the soap he bought, that's not the store's fault.
I had a care client many years ago who I had to do shopping for. She would send me to return just about anything to the store. Food, household items, even toilet paper because it went 10 cents off the next day. She didn't understand that prices in the 1990's were not the same as in the 1890's. She'd expect top-shelf name brand items but wasn't willing to pay for them. So when I bought off-brand products because they were cheaper, she'd get angry.
It got to the point where I was spending more money on gas for my car running around returning things for her then I was making.
One day I just told her. I will not do any more store returns. She got less fussy about everything because she still needed someone to shop for her and everyone in the agency had quit her.
Tell your father that you're not doing returns anymore on small items like soap. Keep a notebook though of things and brands that he likes and ones that he doesn't. This will make your life a whole lot easier.
I do return for my husband as well.
My sentiment exactly! But I never return fruit, although lately they are really bad and I hate wasting, some items, they don‘t even check expiry date and customers have every right to return it. I am not going to pay $50 or more for face cream which I recognize once I open it it smells funny. I am notorious for buying lots of clothes and returning them as they look different in stories, of course unused. Since I shop almost exclusively at one store, they know me, I don‘t feel any shame, I tell them why and it is OK.
I knew one woman returning after wearing something once or twice, I did not hesitate to tell her how that was not right.
At 94 yo she was still doing this and the stores were very kind. I don't remember an instance where they didn't refund her money. Probably b/c stores do have a built in 'loss margin' where things are simply going to go bad and they have to 'eat it'. as it were.
It was embarrassing for me, but I lived through it. I really tried to encourage her to store food more properly--like in the FREEZER, for example. She never got 'better'.
I would not be party to that nonsense nor would I help someone get to the store to engage in it.
The people working in a store have work to do. They should not have to humor demented seniors who let their food go rotten that then want their money refunded then get pissy if it isn't.
This dad has his own house, aides paid for entirely by Lisa’s brother, and then Lisa to wait on him. His so called thriftiness and that of the likeminded is just charity to virtually everyone else, the price of biz to get someone not to have a fit.
In the case of the soap, I don't think it was wrong to return if never opened or used it but maybe ask if it is an item that can be restocked. My local store will flat out refuse to refund money to non-restockable items. I personally don't want to unknowingly spend $6 on a bar of soap that someone had in their house or shower...ew.
Having plenty of money does not mean wasting it.
Is this a new or more recent "thing" with him?
Is there a reason he does not return items to the store?
You can tell him..
1) The store will no longer accept opened items. New policy, unless the item is obviously spoiled.
2) If he wants an item returned he must do the return. (if he is able)
3) Take the items he no longer wants and tell him you will take them home and use them...if they are usable. If it is a good food item you do not want but is still unopened donate it to your local food pantry. there are a lot of people now that are not in the same position as your dad and need to utilize the food pantry
You do not mention your dad in your profile only that you are caring for mom. Does dad have medical problems that make going to the store difficult?
Right now he's not feeling well and asked me to return the soap. I smelled it. It was not pleasant, like the label would have you believe. Plus it didn't rinse off well at all, like others soaps do. Still I didn't like that comment towards me. Maybe I should have said "The soap did not do what the manufacturer promised. As a customer I have a right to return it under your publicly stated policy. You also might want to know, in my experience people who have a good financial status typically are vigilant and respect even the very smallest expenditures. This I can prove beyond a doubt.".
Yet the store is close by and there is no wait in line to return things that have no business being returned in the first place.
Tough decision.
That said, it may not be with it for YOU, literally, to be returning a $6 item. You have to get gas. Then you have to wait in line for up to an hour.