If by 'run' you mean 'own', no I have not. OTOH, have I managed divisions, hired and fired employees, dealt with clients and been held accountable for profits and losses? Yes, I've done all those things. I've even ate losses to make clients happy and ensure their continued goodwill. But again, how is that relevant?
I'm sure she was a sale, and IMHO probably not a very big one. You indicated you 'ran' a business? Is it still operational? Why not? Perhaps there's a lesson in customer service here for you as well...just sayin'.
Now, hypothetically, let's say that 15 years from now, this gal is running her own successful boutique and a similar situation occurs to one of her customers. I would wager pretty much everything I own that she would refund the money without hesitation, and somehow, still manage to make ends meet for the business, regardless of policies, legal entitlements etc. How? Is she smarter? Is she a better business person? Maybe, maybe not...but her actions would reflect a difference in personal sympathy and human decency. That would be the only difference, and one obviously lacking in the store in question.
Yes, I did co-own a business. I sold out to my partner when I moved to another state. The business was doing well when I left.
I sided with the business on this because I have thought there was probably another side to this “story”.
It now appears all this debate is moot as the store issued a refund to the girl’s father and he has donated the money to charity because the boy’s family doesn’t need help with the funeral expenses.
I thought the whole issue was that the evil store would not bend their policy so to refund this poor girl her money so she could help pay for the boy’s funeral.
I feel very sorry for the boy’s parents, who have lost their son and had to see this drama on the public stage in their deepest time of grief.
Bull. They offered to make a donation to a memorial set up in the boyfriend's name. That shows human decency. It wasn't enough to satisfy these craven people.
The viewpoint you push is disordered. It's chaotic and ruinous. It's also the foundation of socialism and our entitlement culture.
These people are using a sob story to force money out of the hands of people to whom it rightfully belongs, not simply by appealing to the shop (which has already agreed to a donation) but by force.
They are immoral cretins and economic terrorists.