I Rue The Day...

One time I worked for a seasonal store in the Apple Blossom Mall during Christmas. This little storefront store sold decorations and all sorts of things that had been cut with a laser. The pieces for sale were beautifully cut and the designs were intricate.

We had the usual signage in the store, you know - "If you break it, you've bought it" - that sort of thing. Customers were always handling the merchandise, so someone might break something and my store manager certainly wasn't about to cover the cost. I wasn't about to pay for something out of my meager paycheck, either.

A mother came into the storefront one day with a small boy. She was looking at the $10 laser-cut ornaments, when her son picked one up and promptly broke it in two. Looking back, I think she could have just put it back on the shelf and pretended nothing had happened, but she didn't. She brought it up to the register and handed it to me. I felt badly for her - after all, I didn't think it was worth $10! But, I also didn't think I should have to pay for it. I pointed out the sign that said "If you break it, you've bought it" and rang up the $10 sale. She paid me, but she was clearly upset.

After she left, I thought about what had happened. Just the day before, we lost several ornaments due to "shrinkage" - or what is more commonly known as "theft". Those stolen ornaments were listed on the "shrinkage" sheet and nothing more was done about it. My manager didn't have to pay for them, I didn't have to pay for them, no one paid for them.

I had one of those "You shoulda have a V-8!" moments. I mentally slapped my forehead and thought, "You idiot!" I could have just listed it on the "shrinkage" sheet, or better yet, I could have listed it on the "damaged in transit" sheet. I didn't have to make that mother pay for a broken ornament.

I could have, but I didn't and I rue the day.