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Had to choose between helping a customer or following store policy last night
So this lady comes in 5 minutes before close wanting to return a half eaten bag of chips with no receipt. My manager already left for the night and our policy says no returns without a receipt after 30 days. But she had this look like she was having a really rough day, crying a little. I ended up giving her store credit anyway and just ate the cost myself with my employee discount. Has anyone else bent the rules for someone and regretted it or was it worth it?
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skylerm558d ago
...and like, did you actually feel good about it after you got home? I've done something kinda similar before, gave a guy a free tire patch when it was against store rules because he looked like he was on the verge of a breakdown over a flat. But then I spent the whole night worrying my boss would catch it on camera or the guy just took advantage. It's one thing to help someone in the moment, but did it feel worth it the next morning when you thought about your paycheck? Because for me that guilt messed with my sleep way more than the gesture felt good.
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patel.leo8d ago
@skylerm55 you said "did you feel good about it after you got home" and honestly yeah I did. Even when I lost sleep over it (which happens sometimes) I still felt like I did the right thing. Helping someone who's clearly in a tough spot isn't just about the moment, it's about knowing you made their life a little easier. That guy you helped probably remembers you more than you think. I'd rather risk getting in trouble than be the person who walks past someone struggling (you know?). And honestly, if my boss fires me over a tire patch, that says more about them than me.
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the_joseph7d ago
I remember reading a study once that said small acts of kindness actually boost your own mental health more than the person you're helping. Sounds like you got that effect even with the worry about getting caught. Do you think you'd do it again if another customer in the same situation came in tomorrow?
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