So, the other day I needed to return some items I had bought at Walmart. It would be my first time making a return in Mexico, as I’ve been quite careful not to buy anything I thought might not work out. Stories of other expats trying to make returns had not been particularly encouraging.
But John had rejected the power strip I had bought at his request as soon as he saw it, and I wasn’t putting up with a $6 bum lightbulb, so I strolled confidently up to the returns counter. As I waited my turn, I read over the returns policy, and determined that nothing would stand in my way.
I gave the customer service clerk my reasons for returning the items. She took the lightbulb out of the box, and spent a good 2-3 minutes examining it, turning it around, upside down, holding it up against the light. Finally, she got on the phone and asked someone else to come take a look. Great!
So, the return nazi marched up to us, and asked my reason for returning the lightbulb. She mimiced the actions of the first girl, but dissatisfied with this, she went as far as to completely disassemble the light bulb in order to inspect the internals. I don’t know what she found, but she eventually gave up on it.
Next, she asked why I was returning the power strip. ‘Ah, the cord is too short’, I responded. To which I was shot an incredulous look that said ‘Yeah, right. First a bad lightbulb, now a short cord. You’re just messing with me! I’m throwing you out of here on your %*@!’ Well, not exactly, but that was a pretty cold, hard glare she gave me!
So, she takes the power strip out of the box. It’s encased in a plastic bag, which she holds up to the light, and very carefully checks for any rips or holes. I was lucky. The bag was pristine. She still seemed unsure, so the customer service girl helped me out by telling her that I was making an exchange, not a pure return. Okay, fine, I could go get my items for exchange and bring them back to the counter.
But I had to press my luck. ‘I’d like to purchase other items from your fine store as well. How can this be accomplished?’ Oh boy, the return nazi was in a tizzy now. Customer service girl came to my defense again. Their Spanish got too fast for me to comprehend, but I’m pretty sure customer service girl said something like ‘Oh, she’s just a silly gringa. Give her a break!’ Return nazi walked off in a huff, and customer service girl processed my return. Thanks customer service girl!
When I got to the lightbulb aisle, I found return nazi waiting for me. She very graciously helped me find the lightbulb I was looking for. She then asked if I would like to test it out. ‘Umm, sure, how can I do that?’ So, she took the lightbulb out, walked me over to the lightbulb tester, and screwed it in. This one was not a dud. Silly gringa!
By the way, as far as I know the word ‘retorno’, although a real Spanish word, in not used in this sense. Generally, a retorno means return from some sort of journey. On highways, you will see signs for a ‘Retorno’ where you are allowed to make U-turns. When I made my return, I said ‘Quisiera hacer una devolucion’. Not sure if that’s completely correct, but it worked.
Oh this made me laugh out loud. I can picture this perfectly and am sure I have had almost the identical scene a time or two. For those living in gringo-land… this must just seem absurd, but for those of us who have chosen to live south of the border, this is daily life. You really have to find your sense of humor if you want to live in another culture. We have just traded certain (U.S.)challenges for new ones. Thanks for this story, so funny and typical.
Are you kidding me? What’s so special about that? Remember this is Wal-mart you’re talking about. Have you been to a Wal-mart around here lately? The language may be different, but the attitude doesn’t change on either side of the border.
This is why I only go to Target.
All in all, it’s still amusing to laugh at other peoples misfortune.
Good point, Gerry. When I was living in Chicago, I wouldn’t have been caught dead in a Walmart! But this last Christmas season, I had the “opportunity” to make a return at a Walmart in suburban Chicago. In my opinion, the process couldn’t have been more different. After waiting in a very long line, the very disinterested clerk gave me a cash refund without a receipt. I think I could have brought in a live goat, and she would have given me money for it!
Michael and I had to return a portable grill to the Wal-mart in CANCUN in the first week of our living here. The box was TAPED shut and when we got all the way home, we discovered this was probably because half the parts to assemble the grill were missing.
We had to go ALL the way back to Cancun and argue with their Returns Nazi, but in the end, we got a grill with all the guts.
Now I would NEVER make a rookie mistake like buying something from Mexican Wal-mart and not checking for all parts BEFORE leaving the store.
You’ve been tagged.
http://heatherinparadise.com/2007/11/17/ive-been-tagged/