We own a gun shop in a small town here in central Texas. We carry a wide variety of firearms, ammunition, reloading supplies, hunter's gear and tactical gear. We have run our store front about four years now. We aren't getting rich, but the shop pays its own way and we have been rolling everything back into the shop adding inventory. We make a real effort to ensure our customers understand what they are buying and try to fit the product to their intended purpose.  Our town is small, population around 1400.

One customer came in this afternoon and attempted to return a Surefire 500 Lumen Fury flashlight. He stated it didn't focus the light beam and would not work for him. The flashlight worked as designed with no defect. The package was destroyed. Our employee tried to explain we would not be able to sell the flashlight since the packaging was destroyed.

He began talking extremely loud saying things like, "This is a small town and it will cost you more than the price of the flashlight if you don't give me a refund."

I stepped over to try and resolve the problem. I told the customer we had a return policy that called for a 20% restocking fee and that was to allow us to discount the product and be able to sell it. He told me he would keep the flashlight and that this is a really small town and it would cost me more than 20% in the long run.

At that point I was close enough to smell the alcohol on his breath. I suggested he return on our next business day and we would see how we could work things out.  He became rally belligerent and repeated," I have had my say and you will see, this is a small town."

Ok he got under my skin at that point and I repeated myself that he should come back another time. He asked why and I told him it would be easier for him to understand when he wasn't drinking. He called me an ass and left. I am pissed.

Bottom line, don't try to return products when you have been drinking.

Ok rant over.

Other people in the town probably think he's a drunk asshole too.

Pics of wife?

Holy Wall Of Text!!

Wonder if he was carrying too. If so, that could have went really bad for him if you had called the cops

Not sure he has a wife.

I agree with you about not returning products when drunk and that the original package should accompany the product. And you are right!  However, so is he.  In a small town like this a belligerent customer spewing lies or half truths about your shop could hurt your business.  I hope it all works out well for you

In for pics of building fire

Sounds like you were dealing with a coworker if mine. He's a real dumb shit like that but we are in north east Texas.

If he returns it I will buy it at at discount though

I'll give you ten bucks for the flashlight.

"Enter" is your friend

No easy way to deal with a drunk. Drunk women are worse.

I'm not sure I'd allow someone who smells like alcohol to darken the door of my gunshop, if I owned one.

Sounds like he needed more $$$ for booze and figured that flashlight was going to pay for the rest of his bender.

FPNI.  

If its that small of a town, he probably already has a reputation...or will soon.

Did he drive off? Would he have gotten a DWI if stopped?

did he walk or drive home?

TL;DR

Should have given him a swift kick as he left.

I prefer to return products the same way I purchase them, thank you very much.

What part of Texas?

drunk in a gun shop is a bad idea. you might just get your ass shot...

No Silly, your wife.