I had a situation today, and I would like to know if I handled this the right way. For my sister's Christmas gift, I'd ordered her this cd with her wedding song [ from the 80's ] on it. I was so excited about giving it to her. I went to the store I'd purchased it at, paid for it [ it wasn't cheap either ] and left. When I got home, I opened it up and played that song. I was very disappointed when I discovered that it sounded NOTHING LIKE that song though it had the same words and artist, it had none of the pretty music at the beginning, and it was too slow. I knew my sister would not appreciate this when she played it. So I figured that since I am a regular customer at this store, that I could take it back, and they could work something out for me, right ? WRONG ! When I called them being very polite and explaining how this song sounded NOTHING LIKE I'd known it to sound, how my sister would be dissappointed, and how I'd paid quite a bit for, etc... The manager told me that because I'd opened it, they could neither refund me nor give me store credit [ How was I otherwise supposed to know how the song sounded if I didn't open it up and play it ? Good thing I did. Better that I got disappointed than my sister. ] I was SO ANGRY that they wouldn't even give me STORE CREDIT especially given that I am a regular customer. So I told the manager, '' So basically I'm S.O.L.? '' ] She said that any other store wouldn't do it either. So I told her that I would NOT be coming back to that store and said goodbye. Was really made me angry was that they were more worried about losing 16.00 than they were about losing a good regular customer who had been going there for the past 12 years ! And that was the first time [ I think ] that I had ever complained about something. When I thought about it, really it was THEIR LOSS ! What are your thoughts ? Thank you

It's just policy. It's the same for DVD's, VHS movies and also computer software. If I were you, I wouldn't get so mad. Instead, be glad that you checked it and realized it's not what you wanted to get your sister. What can you do about it ? This is basically what you should be thinking about...how to turn a bad situation into a "not so bad" situation. How about selling the CD on Ebay? Or perhaps giving it to someone else that may enjoy it?

Honestly, there is no reason to be angry at a store policy! It's just the way things are. It's not personal.

Maybe it would help to search for the song you are looking for by listening to samples on the internet before purchase.

Even if all this doesn't work for you.....Your choices will be to either "suck it up and get over it" or "pout and dwell in your anger" .
There is nothing wrong with being angry but there is something wrong with STAYING angry.

I understand your frusteration, and I agree that the store should have compensated you somehow. Being angry isn't going to fix anything though. I don't know what stores are around you, but here in the Detroit area we have a lot of independantly owned stores that buy and sell used and new CDs. They tend to have more knowledgable sales people, and a lot of rare or collectable stuff in stock. They let you open and listen to a CD before you leave the store lots of the time. I would look in the phone book, see if you can find a store like that, they may have what you are looking for, they may even do a trade for the CD you are not happy with. Good Luck.
Giselle