Love More. Live Better. A Southern Couple's Guide to Successful Living

This Mucho Moolah Money tip is probably more for our younger readers, but hopefully all of the readers will find some value in it!  I wanted to talk about saying no, canceling services and returning items.  I don’t know why, but for some reason, we have a negative stigma in this country about it!  This is completely ridiculous!

When we buy something or request a service, it is perfectly within our right to return it or cancel it, for whatever reason we deem worthy, with the exception of damage that we caused.  Why then, do some people fear returning things or canceling services?  My guess would be that it has to do with the marketing of retail companies, the “strength” of the sales people, and the idea that people (friends, family, the cashier) will think poorly of us for returning it. 

Well, as far as the retail companies go, they spend millions (maybe even billions) on marketing every year, so why wouldn’t they be able to give us the idea that we shouldn’t cancel their service, or return their product.  You have to stay strong and recognize this tactic for what it is…marketing, period. 

As for the sales people?  It’s their job to be pushy, get you to buy something, and, if you come back to return the product or cancel the service, convince you that you shouldn’t.  They aren’t looking out for your needs (in general…there are exceptions, but very few) and they don’t really want to be your friend…they just want their boss to see that they are doing their jobs, and that is it.  So what do you do/say when you want to return something or cancel a service and the sales team won’t “let” you?  Before you go back to the store in question, decide on what you’re going to say.  Let’s say that you are going to say “the device doesn’t work as promised, and I’d like a refund…here is my receipt.”.  Now, if/when they try to talk you out of it, you simply, but firmly repeat your first statement.  Repeat it again, and again, if you have to.  If you still haven’t made them listen, ask for a manager, and state the same sentence for them.  Eventually, they will decide you aren’t worth their time, and will do as you ask. 

When it comes to our friends and family, we all want them to think we are financially stable and secure.  When we return an item or cancel a service, some of us fear that our friends will think we don’t have the money to pay for it, and we feel embarrassed.  Whether or not this is true, it doesn’t matter.  Your business is your business, and keeping your budget balanced is more important than what someone thinks of you and how much money you have.  Don’t worry about what they think.  It’s NONE of THEIR business!

No matter what you’re trying to return or cancel, never forget that it’s your money in question.  You paid for the item or service, because at the time, it was worth more than the money in your hand, but when you decide it is no longer worth that money, don’t feel that you don’t have the right to get it back (or stop paying for the service)!