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PrintHelp Me Hank: Help Me Hank! Bottle bill rip-off
Shoppers know a nickel doesn't buy much. So, this school librarian never thought she'd be so upset over losing five cents.
Laurie Bell, recycler
Laurie reads a lot, and she shops a lot. And in this case, she was sure not getting that nickel was not by the book.
Laurie Bell, recycler
Here's the scoop. Every week on her way to class, she stops to buy a snack and always a bottle of water.
Laurie Bell, recycler
She pays her five cent bottle deposit, takes her receipt and continues to class.
Laurie Bell, recycler
But one week after class, Laurie thought to herself, recycling is good. So, she went back to the store for her bottle refund. When she handed over the empty bottle, things did not go as planned.
Laurie Bell, recycler
But the cashier said we don't give deposit refunds.
Laurie Bell, recycler
And Laurie thought, what if it wasn't just her nickel the store was keeping?
Laurie Bell, recycler
But with an empty bottle and no nickel she headed home.
Laurie Bell, recycler
So, why wouldn't the store take it back? We know the law allows some exceptions:
Did Laurie not buy it at that store? Nope. Here's her receipt.
Was it a non-deposit bottle? Nope. It's clearly marked.
Had the store stopped selling the water longer than two months before? Nope. Again, her receipt shows the purchase date.
The law is on Laurie's side. She should get her nickel.
When we called the store they passed us to "corporate." Corporate was baffled and agreed store policy is to follow the law. They said Laurie should have complained to the store manager.
And sure enough, we brought Laurie's bottle to the store and got her nickel back. And with that small change returned, Laurie's going to start her own bottle refund fundraiser.
Laurie Bell, recycler
So, know your rights when you're going for a refund.
(Copyright 2007 Sunbeam Television. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)