Tried to return a rusty bolt at the hardware store and got a life lesson instead

I brought back a bolt that snapped in half on a Saturday job and the old guy at the counter in Austin just looked at me and said, 'Son, you're not paying for the bolt, you're paying for the knowledge of how tight is too tight.' Didn't even refund me. Has anyone else gotten roasted by a hardware store employee?

3 comments

3 Comments

piper_kim2d ago

That older guy sounds like he runs the place, guess that's just wisdom with a side of no refund.

dakota4151d ago

Tbh I don't know if it's that deep. Old guys at hardware stores just like to hear themselves talk sometimes. Could've been a bad batch of bolts too, you know?

wren6382d ago

Dude YES. I had a similar thing happen at a mom and pop auto parts store near me. Brought back an alternator I bought that died after like a month and the guy behind the counter just goes, "You know what killed it? You probably bumped it with that rusty wrench you keep in the trunk." I was so mad because he was right, my wrench was covered in gunk from another job. He didn't refund me either but he did show me how to clean the alternator terminals with a wire brush and some rubbing alcohol. Ended up learning more in that five minute chat than I had in a year of watching YouTube tutorials.