I went to Office Depot yesterday to find magnetic wall files. I want to use them in my classroom on the chalk board to hold drillwork papers. The kids can come into the room, go right to the board to get their papers, and get to work.
As I was checking out, a guy asked me if I could do him a favor. He had returned something and had gotten store credit, but wanted cash. He wanted to pay for my purchase with his card and have me give him the cash. He said he had just returned his item and had asked the manager if it was okay to find someone to do a swap. It was okay with me, because it was the same either way, but I thought I should ask the checker if it was okay. She had heard the entire exchange, and was apparently there when the guy returned his stuff, be she said she didn’t want to have anything to do with the situation. That sounded strange, but she didn’t say “no”, so I figured it must be okay. As I was still hesitating a little, the guy said he just wanted to get some money for gas. That ALWAYS sounds like a lie, but the store had actually given him the card, and the manager had approved it, and the checker didn’t say I shouldn’t make the swap, so I did it.
So I’m not sure if I helped out a regular joe who had just been inconvenienced by a silly “return for store credit only” policy, or if I helped some guy who stole and “returned” an item to get cash for it. I prefer to stay helpful and trusting, but if he IS a criminal, this would be my second time helping a thief already. Sheesh!
Yet another reason to use your debit card and not carry cash. You wouldn’t have been able to pay him back!
I think you helped a guy steal. We had a lot of people try to do that at the department store that I was working at part time. It’s less suspecious if you “return” a cheaper item. You should have asked him what he returned to get the store credit.
Even more suspicious … what were you doing with so much cash in your wallet?
Good question Pegs! Brad NEVER seems to have cash in his wallet when WE go out – very interesting.
I only had money in my wallet because I had taken some out specifically so I could pay you gys back for El Salto. And dang it, now I have to get some more.
Oh, and who was the 1st thief?
Hey! That was my question!
The First Thief Story is kind of embarrassing because he really was quite obviously a thief, and I quite stupidly helped him. A guy asked if I would return a brass hinge to Home Depot FOR him and give him the money. Anybody could tell that he had stolen it, but I am ashamed to say I did it. I was quite timid then, and more than a little bit naive, and the guy sort of pushed me into it. Home Depot, can you ever forgive me?
Was that a long, long time ago… or last week?
Maybe you just falter at stores with Depot in the name…
Enabler … there are 12 step programs available you know …
You never tell us whether you entered the “chance to win a quarterly Office Depot shopping spree” contest by answering their service survey questions….and under these circumstances what would be the best thing to do with the gift card if you DID win it….hmmm……..