I didn't make the Rules

Return policies are put in place so that the employees handling the returns can't be blamed for theft or the people returning the products can't be blamed for theft. While doing a return, employees have great access to the register to take out a lot of money or credit themselves with a "bonus." Clients/guests/customers (whichever) also have an opportunity to walk through the store pick up an item then return it. So, the companies designed specific rules and procedures to head off possible incidents of theft.

Of course, no one understands this.

At Bath and Body Works, I can do returns at the register. At Target, I worked at "Guest Services", which handled returns and exchanges and any other possible problem that people couldn't handle. At Bath and Body Works, the return policy isn't crazy, people usually don't get upset enough to yell and scream, maybe just huff and puff through the whole transaction. At Target, I would get yelled and or another form of verbal abuse at least once a shift. (Talk about healthy work environment.)

The Target policy was very strict, if I didn't follow every letter of the policy I could get fired for theft. Guests, that's what they were called at Target, would be appalled if I asked for a receipt. The policy states that there were no returns after 90 days. The top of the receipt said the same thing. Yet, people would be shocked when I told them the news and showed them on the receipt. They would stomp out of the store like a 5 -year -old and vow never to return to the store. I would see them next week. That's just one reoccurring example.

The thing is, in middle of the yelling and anger that they were letting off on me, it never occured to them that I didn't make the rules. What did they think: I was a 16 -year-old teen executive that climbed to the top of the corporate ladder, made up this new policy , then decided to work at a local store just so I can get yelled at. Please, a little bit of thinking would be nice before you start to yell.