Others here have suggested they couldn't afford to make the refund. I was being hyperbolic (but not by much). Am I advocating the store cave to any sob story? Of course not. Am I saying that perhaps zero tolerance policies need to be examined for a possible exception in extreme circumstances? Absolutley.
I was sorry to read your account of the loss of your fiance. The fundamental difference is the emotional maturity between a 20 year old who was making an adult decision to commit for a lifetime versus the emotional state of a 16 year old getting ready for perhaps the biggest night of her life. No doubt, both of you were devastated, but I'd wager you were probably a little better equipped to handle it; the fact that it never occurred to you to go for a refund is evidence of that. Was the store 'obligated' to take her emotional state into account? Again, from a legal, contractual, business standpoint, the store would have been within it's rights to tell her to go screw herself. From a human standpoint, yeah...they probably should have taken that into account. I would like to think I would have.
“I was sorry to read your account of the loss of your fiance.”
Thank you, it was many years ago. I have survived and have had a great life with a wonderful husband and 2 dear children.
“No doubt, both of you were devastated, but I’d wager you were probably a little better equipped to handle it; the fact that it never occurred to you to go for a refund is evidence of that.”
Yes, I was devastated, but I had wonderful parents, who were there for me. They also would never have suggested I try to get a refund for anything and would have told me NO if I had thought of it on my own.