I tried to return the still-shrink wrapped lab manual to the campus bookstore yesterday. The assistant manager told me she would have to take a 15% penalty fee from the refund, since I was returning it past the "last day to return books for a full refund" day. (Which I don't understand, since that day happens to be the day after school starts, and how are people supposed to be sure what books they need *before* seeing their professors?)
I said "No, that doesn't seem reasonable to me. I bought this book on a recommendation from your staff member. You need to return all my money."
She tried to give me a hard time about it. I held my ground. (The fact that I needed to take a piss at the moment didn't help).
I explained that the book is still shrink-wrapped, the information they have from the professor is wrong, the book is *not* the book in the course syllabus for requirements. She checked her PC, went to the section where all the textbooks were, came back with another book and plunked it on the counter.
"Look," she said. "You're supposed to get either this book, or this one. This black one is $260. The one you're trying to return is only $160. Are you sure you don't want to keep it?"
"Thank you for illustrating my point," I said. "You've just told me I need one or the other. Your staff member told me I need both. The professor told me I need neither of those books. There's obviously some kind of information snafu, and I won't let you penalize me for something beyond my control."
She consulted with her superiors and ended up giving me my money back.
I apologized for being so troublesome.
She said that her supervisors told her to do the full refund to avoid making me an "enemy."
I'm glad it worked out in the end.
