I detest taking things back anywhere. Like you I only return something to the grocery store if it is spoiled.

And I often don't even do it then...unless I am going anyway...or need a replacement right now!
I figure with the price of gas, a $1.99 item in the trash ain't no biggie.
But I have returned a bag of spinach that I needed that night and was mucky, and sometimes complained like when I was charged for boneless chicken breast when I wanted and got bone in.

I hate returning things too. Unless it is spoiled, and I can get back there quickly (who would keep spoiled food for any length of time anyway?) then I just toss it.....

Alexa

I would not have the nerve to return a six pack with bottles missing! Is it me, or is purchasing 3 jars of peanut butter, overkill??

Rarely do I return something.... I did get several sacks of KA flour that was riddled with little varmints... and I called the store immediately upon opening the first bag... they told me to just put them into plastic sacks and bring them whenever I came back...which was the next day because I needed the flour for baking bread...and they were wonderful and refunded my money plus gave me 10 lbs of Martha White flour... it seems the entire shipment was riddled with varmints.. yuk..

I return non grocery items all the time but almost never food.
I did return some deli ham once, about seven dollars worth because it was slimy and obviously bad.

I balance the cost of the item vs the cost of my time and distance to travel. About the only thing I can remember returning is milk that was off when I opened it and no where near the expiration date.

Teresa

Keeping it to groceries, if I don't like it, it's a learning experience and I won't buy it again. I'd be embarrassed to return something simply because I didn't like it. If it's spoiled I'd return it only if when factoring time and cost of the return, it makes sense to return it right now. If it's more effort than it's worth to make the extra trip, I'll casually mention it to a department manager the next time I see him/her at the store as a courtesy.

In an area like mine there are many choices for grocery shopping. I've chosen my primary two stores for a reason. As I see it, it's not in my interest to waste employee time and corporate expense on my trivialities.

Again - These opinions limited to groceries, at stores where I don't pay for the "priviledge" to shop.

Oh, and while I'm at it: If you're on the checkout line bickering about the price of something you thought was on sale, chances are you were wrong. So please do the half dozen people on line behind you a favor and pay for it and then go to the customer service desk to be shown you're wrong, rather than waste everyone else's time.

Aldi's, Tj's, costco and Sams Club have a satisfaction guarantee, so yes, if I don't like it, I will take it back. Most of them are not too far, so it is no big deal. I have also called the service desk and told them the issue, gotten a name and not have had to return the item itself. Just show the reciept or item label. As one person told me, they didn't want the stinky meat back either!

Why do I bother? Because the store set the policy for their quality standards. The best way for them to know if they meet them is through returns, not self sitters.

I usually dont bother to take things back because it's out of my way. But one time I made the exception.

I bought a 1/2 a watermelon wrapped in cellphane. I got it home and was unwrapping it and there was a bandaid stuck to it, it had slipped off someone's finger. Now that grossed me out to no end so I got back in my car and took it back; with the bandaid.

They asked me if I wanted another one but I couldn't bring myself to get one. Isn't that gross????