The cashier provided a pallet dolly but did not offer physical help. After loading the sink, the buyer returned the dolly and discovered they had been charged an $18 rental fee for 12 hours. When the buyer explained the dolly was only needed briefly on store property, the cashier dismissed the concern. This led to a heated exchange, culminating in the cashier angrily removing their company apron and leaving the premises, which left the buyer uncertain about the correct course of action regarding the disputed charge.
I went to a nursery today and bought a stone sink basin. At the counter I asked if they have a cart or could help me get it in the car since the sink probably weighs about 80-90 lbs and parking was kinda far.
The cashier rolls out a pallet dolly for me but doesn’t offer to help, understandable since there were people in line behind me. I get the sink in the car and bring back the dolly and the guy is surprised.
I realize through a quick exchange with him and confirm on the receipt that he’s charged me 18 bucks to rent the dolly for 12 hours.
I say no no no, I just needed it for here, on the store property, to get it in the car. But he says ‘it’s done.’ and then turns to the next customer. I wait for the customer to finish and then it’s just me and the cashier and I tell him I’d like to return the sink I just bought.
His body language basically says it all, I’m sure mine showed I was pissed too since I really was getting pissed and I had just got off work and had sweat dripping down my ass. He says he’ll have to go ask about it and heads in the office.
I hear some guys yelling but can’t make out anything specific. The cashier storms out not wearing the company apron anymore and kicks some yard sculpture bunny thing on the way out and slams the walk gate.
The manager, I assume, came out then. He asked me what happened then popped the register and gave me a cash refund for the $18 and I left… but I’m a bit shook. I never thought each step of this would escalate like it did.
I don’t think I was in the wrong but if I knew the guy would get fired or quit or whatever I might of just let it go. Fk, should I have let it go?
Conclusion
The original poster (OP) found themselves in a situation where a minor transaction error escalated into significant conflict, causing distress over the potential job loss of the employee involved. The central conflict lies between the OP’s belief that they were justified in seeking a refund for an unfairly applied charge and the subsequent guilt felt over the employee’s extreme reaction and possible termination.
Was the OP right to insist on getting the $18 rental fee refunded, even though it led to the cashier’s dramatic exit and possible firing, or should the OP have absorbed the small cost to avoid causing severe professional consequences for the employee?
Here’s how people reacted:
I am telling you that if that employee truly just shrugged and told you it was done and considered it finished, and then the manager yelled at them THAT HARD and then fired the employee? That guy was on his way o u t. He didnt want to work there, and his managers agreed. Theres an assload of things that would have been way more appropriate where the employee is still kinda a jerk but doesnt get fired. He could have sighed, rolled his eyes, and gave you the refund. He could have made a snarky comment as he handed you the cash. He could have done almost anything BESIDES what he did.
In the end, you were the 18 dollar straw that broke both the manager and the employee’s back. If theyre young, theyll bounce back quickly, dont worry. NTA
Bit ots not your fault that the cashier was choosing to act like a stubborn ass and walk off the job. Idk if maybe it was a build-up to some real issues going on with his life, but you didn’t get him fired. It seems like he quit. I can’t even imagine how $18 wouldn’t warrant a firing???
Idk. I’ve never even shopped at a nursery before, so I can’t understand how the hell this happened the way it did either.
If this guy got fired and acted like that, either this is a “straw that broke the camel’s back” situation or his boss was a raging douchebag and you did the guy a favor and kicking the statue was his way of venting. I am willing to bet it is the former scenario rather than the later and that this particular employee probably had multiple strikes against him already.
You are also a big baby.
Threaten a credit because you weren’t getting your way, typical customer.
Managers don’t just hand cash. They wanted you out of their store.
All customers like you are tah. “wahh, am i the meanie i wasn’t being served properly, i wasn’t treated properly as a customerrrr”
Don’t feel bad at all.
It’s absurd that he charged you for using the dolly for five minutes.
It’s absurd he didn’t just refund you that charge, or ask how to do it if he didn’t know.
This was not on you.
The boss sounds pissed off with him if there was yelling from the office.
But this kind of unintended shit is why I tend to let things go. But I can afford to eat 18 bucks.
NTA