Most Bizarre Items People Have Attempted to Return to Stores

Most store returns are routine: wrong size, wrong color, wrong item. But every now and then, a customer walks in with something so unexpected that the staff can only stare. Across the country, employees have logged stories of returns that defy reason — from half-eaten snacks to items the store never even sold.

Half-Eaten Sandwich

A cashier once watched a customer walk up to the counter holding a sandwich with two bites missing and ask for a refund because it "didn’t taste right." Store policy was clear: opened food cannot be returned. The customer argued, but the answer stayed the same. No refund for a half-eaten lunch.

Used Toiletries

A store worker once stared at a half-empty shampoo bottle handed back by a customer who claimed the “lather didn’t live up to the commercial.” Since health laws forbid reselling opened hygiene products, the refund was denied. Explaining that rule for the hundredth time, though, proved harder than the return itself.

Dead Christmas Tree

Two months after the holidays, a shopper dragged a brown, brittle Christmas tree through Costco’s doors, insisting it “died too soon.” To everyone’s shock, the store actually refunded the money. News outlets later confirmed it was real, and the moment quickly became a viral symbol of extreme return policies.

Burnt Nightgown

Store clerks occasionally see strange things, but a scorched nightgown with medical cut marks left them speechless. The customer explained that it belonged to her late mother and wanted a refund. The situation was so sensitive that staff quietly declined while trying to keep their composure.

Mismatched Shoes

One retailer opened a return box only to find two completely different pairs of shoes, both worn and scuffed. The buyer swore they arrived that way. After checking records, the store confirmed otherwise. The mismatched pair never made it back to inventory, but it did earn a permanent spot in employee lore.

Empty Wine Bottle

Store employees can handle just about anything, but one Costco worker was caught off guard when a shopper brought back an empty wine bottle and asked for a refund, claiming it “caused a headache.” Since alcohol returns typically require sealed containers, the manager had to decline. The customer left unsatisfied, and the bottle stayed behind as evidence of a strange day.

Vacuum Bag Full of Pet Hair

When a shopper claimed their vacuum “didn’t work,” employees quickly learned otherwise. Inside the bag was enough pet hair to choke up the vacuum. Employees had to toss the used bag before inspecting anything else. While stores usually test defective items, refunds don’t apply to appliances packed with evidence of overuse.

Cooked Roast Beef

Grocery staff have seen questionable returns, but one customer crossed new territory by presenting a fully cooked roast and calling it "too tough." Since stores can't restock cooked food, the roast was disposed of immediately. The employee on duty reportedly just nodded and moved on with their life.

Pregnancy Test

Store workers say returned pregnancy tests are among the strangest refund requests they see. One shopper even asked for an exchange because she “didn’t like the result.” Health regulations prohibit stores from accepting any used medical products, especially diagnostic kits. Even unopened ones are usually final sale.

Returned Coffee Grounds

An unsuspecting clerk opened a returned coffee container only to find potting soil instead of grounds. The customer had swapped it out, hoping no one would check. Retail fraud like this costs U.S. stores billions every year, but this particular scam earned a round of disbelief.

Baby Mobile

A nursery employee opened what was labeled as a “baby mobile return” and instead found a Betty Crocker cookbook and chicken bones neatly packed inside. The box looked untouched from the outside. Sometimes, staff restock returned items without careful checks, which can lead to discoveries like this.

Used Candle Jar

One woman brought in a nearly spent candle, the wick gone and wax mostly burned, saying it "didn't smell strong enough." Bath & Body Works actually replaced it for goodwill's sake. The refund shocked employees, but it also proved the brand's reputation for customer-first generosity is well-earned.

Live Fish Return

Pet store staff were surprised but prepared when a buyer returned a live Betta fish a few hours after purchase, saying it was “too stressful to own.” Pet return policies exist for welfare reasons, so they moved the fish to a quarantine tank and resold it later.

Expired Coupons

Cashiers nationwide can relate to the determined coupon users who hand over discounts that expired years ago. Federal rules forbid stores from accepting them, but that doesn’t stop hopeful shoppers from asking. The National Retail Federation reports that outdated and fake coupons cost retailers millions every year.

Comforter With Stains

The sight of a comforter covered in questionable stains is enough to ruin anyone’s shift. A couple returned theirs, claiming it was “used once.” The employees trashed the bedding immediately, sanitized the counter, and denied the refund politely. Retailers frequently encounter hygiene-related returns, but this case was memorable for all the wrong reasons.

Old Electronics Trade-In Attempt

Tech employees were bewildered about the man who brought in a dusty VCR, claiming he’d “just bought it.” The serial number proved it hadn’t been sold in decades. Stores like Best Buy often deal with this kind of attempted trade-in, where people try to swap or “upgrade” without receipts.

Dead Plant in a Bag

One shopper returned to a home improvement store with two dried leaves sealed in a plastic bag, insisting they’d fallen off a “defective” tree. With no receipt or evidence of the tree itself, the staff couldn’t help. Plant warranties usually don’t cover neglect or the weather.

Ouija Board

Two teens brought back an Ouija board, saying “it didn’t work.” The store labeled it as “damaged” and processed the refund anyway. Ouija boards, first sold commercially in 1891, are still marketed as novelty games rather than spiritual tools. Retailers occasionally handle novelty-item returns, but few reach paranormal levels of disappointment.

Used Litter Box

Nothing prepared employees for the customer who dropped down a litter box still filled with clumps and waste, complaining it “didn’t work right.” Refund policies can be flexible, but not with biohazards. Management sent a memo afterward reminding everyone that some items should never make it past the door.

Melted Ice Cream Tub

A customer once showed up at a grocery store clutching a melting tub of ice cream, demanding a refund because "it melted on the way home." Employees explained that once it leaves the freezer aisle, it's up to the shopper to keep it cold. Since retailers can't resell melted food, the store refused the return.