Mike Morin

Just like a bad dentist, I struck a nerve. In my last column, several of you shared stories of trying to return items to sellers for a variety of reasons. Some were courier problems. In other cases, Internet retailers ship extra stuff or duplicates and tell buyers to keep the added merch and not bother to return it.

I was heartened by the many pet owners who praised Chewy, the online cat/dog product supplier. Chewy suggests customers keep or donate over-filled orders of unneeded products to their local animal shelter. You can’t believe how many people saw this and shared their Chewy stories with me.

Allow me to follow up on a couple stories from my July 3 Telegraph column and add a few new ones I’ve received. In addition, I have an update on the reader who was “gifted” $242,000 from the Internal Revenue Service. But first:

From romance novel writer Ashlyn – “Here’s a funny story about an order I was too embarrassed to return. I ordered note pads with my name. It was supposed to say: Hot Romantic Comedy. I forgot the T. They actually said: ’Ashlyn Chase, Ho Romantic Comedy!’ 

“Wait, it gets worse. Guess who discovered my typo? My mother-in-law!”

Ginger told me, “I have an extra TV stand because they shipped the product, then next day said they were out of stock and refunded my $400. I didn’t know it had been shipped, so I purchased a second one elsewhere. They both arrived at the same time.”

Another writer friend, Jill, shared this: “My oldest bought my youngest a really expensive motorized car when they were first available ($1000). It was too small for him. He called to return and they said, “Just keep it.” Full refund. That was a decade ago. A couple Christmases past, another messed up order for a motorized scooter. “It was our error. You can keep it.”

My friend Gina has a small business making pet treats. She reached out knowing Lady Baba and I just acquired an eight-month old puppy, Portia, and wrote: “Hi Portia Rose! She is adorable! She should be the cover dog on the packaging.”

I informed Gina we are sitting on multiple offers and could make room for hers. Think of the money Lassie raked in for her owners back in the day.

Nothing wrong with having your teenagers and pets contribute to household expenses.

Finally, you read a note I received from “anonymous,” who said she attempted to return a whopping $242,000 accidental tax refund she received. She added there was no “straight line” to do just that. Here is her latest status on the quarter-mill she got from Uncle:

“First, IRS sent ($242,000) electronically. I had my bank return it electronically. Two to three weeks later I received a check in the mail for the same amount. Sent it back. Haven’t heard a peep nor have I received my refund.”

Memo to anonymous: For $121,000, I can keep your identity out of the paper.

Contact Mike Morin at mike morinmedia@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter at @MikeMorinMedia. His column runs the first, third and fifth Sundays of the month.

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