the value of manners

Well the silly season is well and truly upon us, apart from depressing world news which I wont recount, I have just witnessed people doing inconsiderate and dangerous things over the last few days.   Who would try and ram a camper van with your family in vehicle, even if it is a SUV (WTF), who smashes glass bottles on a beach where small children play barefoot (and yes I cleaned up the glass when I found it).  Why do normal people do such things?

I do a bit of online trading on trademe , especially coming up to Xmas.  My daughter likes Disney videos and I wanted to get her a couple of Walt Disney movies that she doesn't have.  Alice in Wonderland is one of her faves so that was on the list.  I bought one that was advertised as the Disney version but when it arrived it was a cheap version done by another animation company.    New feedback had also appeared on the Traders profile that was quite scathing that made it apparent I was not the only person this had happened to.  The feedback also implied the trader was not responding to emails about the matter.  Anyway, although I was mad, I sent a polite email requesting a refund if I returned the dvd.   The Trader responded by thanking me for my polite email and agreeing to the refund.  Now it took awhile and I did send another polite (but threatening further action) email and this morning the refund is in my account.

I am a firm believer that you catch more flies with honey.  After all, I like to be treated with courtesy and given the option of redress if I stuff up.   There is always the option of getting stroppier later if needed.

How do you respond when someone mistreats you (either unintentionally, or on purpose), do you have a stock standard response depending on the situation?

  btw I really like this laughing icon, it is so cute!