Did you ever have one of those incidents you just didn’t see coming, that turned out far different from anything you could have imagined? Those are usually the things that really stick in our minds for years to come, because of the shock factor I suppose. This is one that happened to me.

We were having a yard/garage sale to clear out some clutter and make a little fun money at the same time. Our good friend and neighbor, Annette, came out of her house, carrying her morning coffee, and wandered over to investigate our Saturday morning sale.

Annette casually observed all our treasures displayed on makeshift tables set up in our adjoining driveway. Knickknacks, a few tools, some outgrown but still serviceable clothing items – the usual yard/garage sale fare. Then Annette spotted the “deal” – an electric blender still in its original box, for the low low price of FIVE dollars! (Annette had dropped and broken the pitcher of her blender the previous weekend, wasting an entire quart of margaritas. No explanation necessary.) Needless to say, she seemed quite excited at finding such a rare bargain only a few steps from home. My wife informed Annette that it had been a wedding gift from her grandmother Mary, at her first wedding almost twenty years before, but that she had never needed it. The blender was still in its original packaging, in all its Harvest Gold glory. Good as new, right? Wrong.

That evening my wife and I went out to dinner, and when we returned home, were rather puzzled to see Grandma Marys’ blender sitting there on the step. On picking it up, we discovered a note inside the clear pitcher.

“Smoke came out of your grandmothers’ blender when I plugged it in. Maybe its a sign. I want my 5 dollars back.”

I thought she was trying to be funny with the sign comment.

At the time, Annette and I both worked for a big box retail store (who shall remain nameless) that is rather discriminating about their refund policy. Since Annette had written a note, I thought it appropriate to write back with a little humor.

My note went something like this –

“Dear Unsatisfied Customer,

Here at YardMart we do not offer refunds on electrical appliances unless they are less than 1 year old, and returned in their original packaging. Thank you for your concern, The Management.