What's The Cheapest Item You've Ever Taken Back for a Refund?

Scab on 18/12/2017 - 10:15
Last edited 20/12/2017 - 16:59 by 1 other user

I was at ALDI on Saturday and forgot to take a shopping bag so I bought one of their plastic ones for 15 cents.

Went to the car and unpacked everything, then ripped the handle off and took it back with the receipt for a refund of $0.15.

The dumbfounded look on the cashier's face was hilarious, I could tell I was her first for this.

Had heaps of people who were waiting in line behind me that gave me a funny look, was really embarrassed but I stayed strong by chanting Ozbargain a number of times to myself.

So what was the cheapest thing you've ever taken back, and please vote below?

Mod: This thread has run its course and comments are now closed.
Whilst saving money is while we are all here, OzBargain would like to remind everyone that any act of fraud or theft is not okay and never a bargain.

Poll Options

  • 379
    You make Scotty proud, he should adopt you and change your name to Scabby.
  • 22
    You should be promoted to Power User.
  • 175
    You're such a Scab.
  • 38
    It's people like you who make supermarket prices higher.
  • 90
    You should have reused the bag and helped to save the planet.
  • 4
    I've taken back used supermarket bags and exchanged them for new ones.
General Discussion

closed Comments

  • pyramid on 18/12/2017 - 10:18
    +2

    Scab—>Scabby…

  • Savas on 18/12/2017 - 10:33
    +14

    why didn't you just grab an empty box off the shelves? or carry it in your arms?

  • hell0 on 18/12/2017 - 10:36
    +1

    The problem with the bag was that once your bag breaks then so does potentially your products, so it would be slightly angering to see that happen.

    I probably wouldn't go back for 15c unless items broke and it wasnt a case of the bag being over-filled beyond its reasonable limit.

    My cheapest return for exchange was a McDonalds Bacon & Egg McMuffin when I ordered a Sausage & Egg, and the receipt said Sausage and egg. I got to keep the wrong one, too!

    • Scab on 18/12/2017 - 10:40
      +6

      I would never eat replacement food from a complaint, they will spit in it or rub the bacon/patty on their groin first.

      Always get a refund for food.

      • SlickMick on 19/12/2017 - 09:26
        +8

        who would rub bacon or a patty on their groin?? seriously??

        • hell0 on 19/12/2017 - 10:27
          +3

          I was watching Mystery Diners and one of the servers rubbed a hamburger bun on her chest when the customer complained…

          Also, if you think that's bad…
          http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/national/poo-smear-on-syd…

          In the article above, a complaining customer from a leading Australian eatery was given a complimentary bowl of ice cream where the chocolate ice cream was a ice-cream shaped piece of poo… no joke, a big clump of poo!

          From the article,
          "Ms Whyte said she realised something was amiss when she brought a spoonful to her lips and "the stench went through my nostrils". "

          and …"when I swirled the 'chocolate' ice cream around my mouth I found the texture unlike any ice cresm I have ever tried, but took another mouthful before realising"

        • Scab on 19/12/2017 - 13:33
          +1

          I used to manage fast food places, seen far worse done than that.

        • outlander on 19/12/2017 - 14:01
          +1

          Thats just the start. It gets worse.. a lot worse
          A young woman in the US was sentenced to like 5 years in jail for smearing menstrual blood inside hamburgers.

        • Capone on 19/12/2017 - 14:28
          +10

          @hell0:

          Mystery Diners is the most fake show ever.

        • hell0 on 19/12/2017 - 14:36
          +1

          @Capone:

          I figured that a few episodes in but they really do try to make it seem legit… Im charles styles!

        • Capone on 19/12/2017 - 15:42
          +1

          @hell0:

          I was the same. I enjoyed this after watching a few eps at 3am https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qectRXY6vGE

        • [Deactivated] on 19/12/2017 - 17:19
          +3

          @hell0: This reminds me of a great cartoon strip in the British comic VIZ. The Critics, two pretentious and shallow high-culture critics who lampoon the perceived elitism of the "chattering classes". The critics enter a restaurant, on the job, unaware that the waiter is a struggling artist whose career they have recently ruined by slamming his last exhibition. He recognises them and serves them both a plate of poo and pee. They gobble it down, praising the 'piquant jus' of the pee and the 'dark, earthy notes' of the poo!!

        • Yamai on 19/12/2017 - 19:20
          +1

          @hell0:

          You know ‘mystery diners’ is not real right, please god tell me you know this.

        • useruser on 20/12/2017 - 01:45
          +1

          @hell0: God that made me chuckle :-) Didn't read the article but your commentary was enough to give me goose bumps!

        • Jay43 on 20/12/2017 - 08:20
          +2

          @Capone:

          "Hi, my names is Charles Stiles and I'm with a company called Mystery Diners"

        • antonthenet on 20/12/2017 - 09:26
          +1

          I was watching Mystery Diners and one of the servers rubbed a hamburger bun on her chest when the customer complained…

          I feel like I'm telling a kid that santa isn't real, but Mystery Diners is fake.

          http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/what-realit…

          I've seen maybe 5 episodes and they used the same actor in it twice.

        • dealman on 20/12/2017 - 12:19

          @outlander:

          Why is this worse than shit..

        • Savas on 20/12/2017 - 12:24
          +1

          @Jay43: Mystery Diners is fantastic

        • Plasma Ball on 20/12/2017 - 14:37

          @hell0:

          Mystery Diners is a fake show where they just 'recreate' what apparently 'happened'.

      • follow on 19/12/2017 - 15:52

        That's why you only do it at Subway

        • Scab on 19/12/2017 - 15:55
          +3

          I stopped eating foot-longs after what happened with Jarrod.

      • Pinchy on 19/12/2017 - 21:36

        I doubt this would happen much. Probably as rare as any other gross scenario. I worked in fast food before and this never happened.

    • dust on 19/12/2017 - 14:32

      I once got a cheeseburger with no cheese. I ate about half the cheeseburger and then took it back for a new cheeseburger (with bonus groin residues?)

      • Scab on 19/12/2017 - 15:47
        +1

        Fillet O Fish?

        When I worked in fast food I used to get people picking up half eaten chicken from the car park and bins then take it in and complain in the hope of getting a replacement.

    • dealman on 20/12/2017 - 12:28

      He should really change the title to

      What's The Cheapest Item You've Ever Taken Back for a Refund?

      What's The Cheapest Item You've Damaged and then Taken Back for a Refund?

      Scab, you are a perfect example what's wrong with some people, your mum would be ashamed !

  • Seraphin7 on 18/12/2017 - 10:50
    +4

    This post has made my day. I feel like you got a win over Aldi on this event.

  • bobbified on 18/12/2017 - 10:57
    +3

    So what was the cheapest thing you've ever taken back, and please vote below?

    (Price Error) David Jones Lifestyle Canvas Duffle Bag Navy $0.07
    https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/278966

    This wasn't "taking something back for a refund" as such, but I think all the people who went into the store, online or called up DJs and caused a scene demanding an instant refund of $0.07 was pretty bad.

    I almost felt ashamed to be an ozbargainer after reading some of the stories.

    • Savas on 18/12/2017 - 11:13
      +8

      hahaha, I just opened a PayPal dispute.

      • bobbified on 18/12/2017 - 11:54
        +1

        So it was you! haha!

      • jimmej on 20/12/2017 - 14:33
        +1

        Yep - i did the same. David Jones got a lot free money that day.

    • Ughhh on 18/12/2017 - 14:05
      +12

      Some of the things People are so proud of…. Makes me embarrassed. One of the reasons why I don't tell any of my friends nor mention anything about this site to retail staff. New low.

  • Diji1 on 18/12/2017 - 11:17

    The dumbfounded look on the cashier's face was hilarious

    Remember when the environmentalist idiots had us move from free bags with almost no plastic to $0.15 bags with printing on it which fall apart despite being made of much more oil?

    • inherentchoice on 19/12/2017 - 17:46
      +4

      Shh you're speaking common sense. That's not allowed.

  • battler on 18/12/2017 - 11:19
    +10

    got overcharged 17c for a couple of metal brackets worth about $5 each from Bunnings.
    went straight to the service counter for the 34c refund.
    told them 'it's the principle'

    • hell0 on 18/12/2017 - 12:12
      +10

      I hate it when people say 'it's the principle'… It's the money, be honest, there's nothing wrong with getting your 34c back…

      If you found out you were overcharged and you had to drive back 2 hours to the store I am sure you wouldn't… so much for the 'it's the principle' argument.

      • poboy on 18/12/2017 - 13:18
        +1

        Likewise, suing someone 'for the principle', quickly slows when the legal costs are realised.

        Everyone has a price.

        • ozzpete on 20/12/2017 - 00:34
          +6

          Some people actually do have principles, and those principles are worth more than any amount of money can buy.
          Some people (maybe even most people) 'have a price' as you say.
          However some of us do not have a price and our principles and morals cannot be comprimised.

      • SlickMick on 19/12/2017 - 09:36
        +14

        no, it's the principle.

        When I get home and find some of the fruit I bought are bad, or something I thought was on sale was charged full price, I do the maths and do nothing about it (then whinge for years that I've been ripped off).

        However, my wife, "a lady of principle", would get straight back in the car for a 34c refund no doubt. No way it's cost effective, but she's willing to put herself through the hassle in order to put them through some hassle just so they know they can't get away with it.

      • outlander on 19/12/2017 - 14:05
        +5

        Me too. In most cases, 'the principle' really means its-not-worth-making-a-fuss-over-but-I'm-too-mental-to-let-it-go

        But like slickmick says, better that than denying it and then spending years stressing over it

      • Harold Halfprice on 20/12/2017 - 12:38

        Maybe for you it's about the money, for others that's not always the case.

        Do you always hate things that others do because it doesn't perfectly align with your way of thinking and point of view?

  • PJC on 18/12/2017 - 11:20
    +5

    … then ripped the handle off and took it back with the receipt for a refund of $0.15.

    Naughty, naughty.

    • Scab on 18/12/2017 - 11:23
      +5

      The car park had cameras, I hope they don't bust me and I get charged with wilful damage or fraud.

      • PJC on 18/12/2017 - 11:27
        +5

        Even you can't blame that one-armed man. Ssshhh! Do you hear sirens?

        • tight-a55 on 20/12/2017 - 09:47
          +2

          your screwed now…. batman's on the case

    • SlickMick on 19/12/2017 - 09:43
      +17

      Oh, I didn't read the original post properly. I thought you were getting justice on a faulty bag. I was proud of you for that.

      I was going to say it wasn't very ozbargainish of you to pay 15c for a bag, but oh dear you had a premeditated plan to recover that 15c?? That's beyond cheap and I think it's beyond scabby. I think you should have a psych assessment done - there seems to be some sinister stuff going on in there.

      :)

      • Scab on 19/12/2017 - 13:43

        I think you should have a psych assessment done

        Already did one years ago, they were the ones who suggested I seek out and join Ozbargain.

  • PAOK11 on 18/12/2017 - 11:39
    +1

    The girlfriend and I made the manager at HJ refund us a burger because it did not have bacon & because her burger was cold. The original burger tasted better without the bacon probably because the bacon burger most likely had spit in it. I will never refund a food item again unless it is inedible

  • Nutrino on 18/12/2017 - 11:53
    +27

    You purposely ripped the bag then returned it?.

      • Nutrino on 18/12/2017 - 12:02
        +53

        IMO yes. Also I probably would have not posted about it either.

        • Scab on 18/12/2017 - 12:04

          I feel terrible now.

        • PleasureMe on 19/12/2017 - 22:33
          +1

          @Scab: loser

    • ItsMeAgro on 20/12/2017 - 15:25

      You really didn't think this whole post was a joke…?

  • minniethemoocher on 18/12/2017 - 12:09
    +6

    You need an option - my times worth more than 15 cents

    • Scab on 18/12/2017 - 12:16
      +5

      It's not though, I'm cheap.

      • hell0 on 18/12/2017 - 13:23
        +1

        I am not sure everybody knows this, but I remember years ago Scab saved $1 and purchased 180 bitcoins as a joke, and everybody laughed at his saving… Still has them today… and value is in the millions… so when you laugh at his 15 cents, think twice.

        • Harold Halfprice on 20/12/2017 - 12:44

          The thing with bitcoin is that you haven't made shit until you cash them out.

      • 88mph on 18/12/2017 - 22:10
        +1

        Scab, is that true?

  • ihbh on 18/12/2017 - 12:34
    +21

    You omitted the option of being a knob.

    If you don't value your time, why did you have to rip off the handle? At least they could have resold it for someone else to use.

    • PleasureMe on 19/12/2017 - 22:35
      +1

      major knob. unfortunately the world is full of these kinds of low-lifes

  • [Deactivated] on 18/12/2017 - 12:54

    I've hit them up over 15 cents on unsupplied items at Woolies online because their refund system deducts a discount if you used a $240 for $200 voucher. So whatever they didn't deliver they only offer a refund of 2/2.4 of the value.

    I use the following analogy. I bought an apple for 50cents from you online. My voucher entitles me to $240 worth of produce. You didn't deliver it. You're refunding me 42 cents. If I walk into a store will they sell me the 50 cent apple for 42 cents? No? Then you owe me money.

    They can't fix it and you end up getting a $5 credit.

    • Savas on 18/12/2017 - 13:27

      Do they still do that? That has never happened to me.

      • [Deactivated] on 18/12/2017 - 13:46
        +1

        Maybe the finally got around to coding their system properly. Last time for me was probably 3 months ago.

        • Savas on 18/12/2017 - 14:34

          the information in PayPal to me all looks correct from 6 months ago

        • [Deactivated] on 18/12/2017 - 15:16

          Thank you for contacting Woolworths Online regarding order number 23040338.

          A store credit of $5.00 has been added to your account. Please enter the coupon code lalalal-PQ-fTa at checkout to redeem the next time you shop with Woolworths Online. Minimum spend of $50 applies. Coupon valid until 10 Sep 2018.

          Coupon Code: Expiry Date: Amount:
          lalalal-PQ-fTa 10 Sep 2018 $5.00

        • [Deactivated] on 18/12/2017 - 15:17

          You need to be paying any balance over the $240 mark via e-gift card.

  • Ryanek on 18/12/2017 - 14:18
    +3

    Wait you ripped off the handle on purpose?

    • Scab on 18/12/2017 - 14:19
      -8

      Yes, but I'll never admit it in court.

      • Ryanek on 18/12/2017 - 14:21
        +56

        Really not something to be proud of. It speaks volumes of your moral character and pretty disgusting if you ask me. This site is about bargains not fraud.

        • Scab on 18/12/2017 - 14:22

          Do you think I should go back and tell them and pay the 15c?

        • Ryanek on 18/12/2017 - 14:28
          +16

          @Scab: I'm not interested in trolls. End of thread.

        • Scab on 18/12/2017 - 14:30
          -4

          @Ryanek:

          Please don't tell ALDI.

        • PJC on 18/12/2017 - 15:32
          +1

          I told them you were hiding in Corlette.

        • Scab on 18/12/2017 - 16:10

          @PJC:

          Have you been to Corlette?

        • PJC on 18/12/2017 - 16:29
          +1

          @Scab: Not for years now.

        • Scab on 18/12/2017 - 16:32
          +1

          @PJC:

          I don't live there, just across the water but want to someday buy a place in Shoal Bay.

          The Tomaree Peninsula is lovely.

        • Wystri Warrick on 18/12/2017 - 17:23
          +1

          @Scab: is she pretty?

  • angelkulit025 on 18/12/2017 - 14:23
    +7

    Wow, just wow, I couldn't handle that embarrassment. It's really not worth my 15 cents.

    • Scab on 18/12/2017 - 14:26
      +1

      I couldn't handle that embarrassment.

      You have to psych yourself up beforehand, I sat in the car for half an hour prior and slapped the side of my face until I couldn't feel anything.

  • elf888 on 18/12/2017 - 16:02
    +29

    I have one time need to change $5 note for some coins , Woolworths Cashier was going to do this, however she stopped by the supervisor said this against the policy.
    I took the gum at the counter, paid for it. Went to the supervisor and ask for refund, so now i got the coins. She looks angry but say nothing to me.

    • [Deactivated] on 18/12/2017 - 17:38
      +2

      That's gold! Silly cow.

    • bobbified on 18/12/2017 - 18:34
      +4

      If I was the supervisor, I would've asked you to give back the earlier change and given you back your original $5 note after the refund! Just to stir you back! haha

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