I bought a flat-panel TV mount that some moron decided was too difficult to install – he must have returned it but kept the mounting hardware.

Wal-Mart staff evidently didn’t inspect the return and put it back on the shelf for sale to an unsuspecting customer – me.

I got the package home and learned quickly that the hardware was missing (should have checked at the store of course). I drove back to the store to return the item.

The greeter’s back was turned as I entered – lucky for her as I was steaming mad. I knew the CSR at the return desk wasn’t at fault but I suggested they check items returned for completeness and in some cases simply return them to the vendor rather than taping them together and hanging them out for sale as ‘new.’

Slightly calmer I headed for the exit and the greeter awaited me with arms folded.

“Did you have a return?” she asked in Spanish-accented English.

My blood went back to boil and I said “Yes.”

She proceeded to quote chapter and verse about the need to stop and get a sticker affixed to returns.

I responded: “I’ve spent 2 hours and half a tank of gas driving back and forth to your lovely establishment for an item which should never have been out for sale to begin with. So you’ll forgive me if I don’t care about your little sticker.”

She went into excuse-making mode…it’s not her department etc. etc.

I simply walked away while she continued her silly robotic hall monitor routine. I should have turned back around and upbraided her for yelling at me but my temper was already frayed and I didn’t trust myself.

Once again a large company’s loss prevention system begins and ends with the assumption that their customers are there to rip them off – it’s neither healthy nor productive and in the case of a clear error by the store itself where is the recompense for the inconvenience experienced by its customers? Surely that has to be more important than some twit in a blue bib handing out stickers.