Ok, so I was walking through the old lady section of a major department store trying to get out after lusting after some really cute skirts. All of a suddent I get this sharp pain in my heel (I am wearing sandals) and look down to see that I have just stepped on a sharp needle like object. I look closer and it is one half of those huge security tags they put on clothing to keep them from walking away.
I go up to the cash register and tell the girl that I want to see the manager. At this point, I am bleeding rather profusely so they also call security for a bandaid. So out comes the bandaid, they get my info for the incident report and the manager comes out to beg my forgiveness (I was fine. I have had ever immunization imaginable and a tentus in the last year).
Anyway, their incident department has called and checked on me.
So here is the problem: Do you think it is tacky or unethical to ask for a gift certificate for my trouble? They still have the skirts and after all, I am not sueing them.
They probably could have offered one, but IMO asking for one is sort of tacky. This incident sucked, and I’m sure it hurt, but it was an accident. Accidents happen to everyone. This accident was pretty crappy seeing you got injured (I’ve stepped on a tack before and that shit hurts) but it was something you could have done anywhere and they couldn’t really have prevented (hopefully if someone knew that thing was on the floor they would have picked it up). You could have stepped on something equally sharp in the parking lot. Or in your home. Or at a beach. Etc. IMO, unless it was something the store could have prevented, tough luck. I’m sure they had no idea one of those things was on the floor. AFAIK, it’s not a common occurence.
So if you want the skirt, buy it. And put some Neosporin on your foot. Hope it heals well, foot injuries are annoying.
I’d go back to that store and buy the skirt.
Ask to speak to the manager, tell him how grateful you are for all the help they offered you that day, and you just wanted to let him know that it hasn’t affected your patronage of the store. Then leave.
Best case, you get a discount, worst case, you did the right thing.
Doesn’t sound like you had any actual compensable damages or expenses as a result
of the incident. I think Irishgirl has an excellent solution. You wouldn’t be asking for
any favors, just giving them an opportunity to offer one. If it doesn’t work you’ve
really lost nothing, including your pride, but I’d bet works. Let us know if you try it.
That’s assuming the manager isn’t some work-a-day slob with a title, just like a half dozen others who do the same job at the store and who put the incident out of their mind the second the customer clears the metal detectors.
The OP survived and is none the worse for wear. Fishing for a discount would be as tacky as fishing for a compliment. Don’t.
Well, I don’t think that irishgirl was necessarily condoning fishing for a discount. I think she was condoning giving the manager some feedback on how the situation was handled. I think the manager would appreciate that. If anything, it seems to be going out of the way for the managerperson.
Just wondering why did you bring up your type of footware you were wearing?
A sandal does not offer good protecting, which would seem to indicate that you are willing to assume some risk, but it also sounds like the object went through the sole anyway, so even a sneaker wouldn’t have helped.
Yes, sorry, I think it would be unethical and tacky to go back and ask for a reward for your doing the right thing(not bringing a lawsuit). I’ll admit it is a little disappointing that they didn’t offer you a gift certificate, but here’s a suggestion: write a letter or an email to the company explaining what happened and how pleased you were by everyone’s concern, etc. Maybe you could express an opinion that they could switch to some antitheft device that isn’t potentially harmful, just in case it happens to someone else. It is possible that some higher up will send you a gift certificate in appreciation of your recommendations(and your not suing them), but even if you don’t get a financial reward, you can always bask in your moral superiority.
