Conversation with clerk at J. Crew: Me: I'd like to return this shirt, if I can. I have the tag, but I lost the receipt! I just can't make the shirt work with anything else in my wardrobe, so I hope you'll take it back. Her: I'll just have to give you store credit. Me: Oh, that's fine. And I bought the shirt right after New Year's, when you were having a promotion, so it was an additional 20% off. Her: Well, I need the receipt to give you... wait... why are you telling me that? Just to be nice? Me: Uhh... That's the price I bought it for, so... Her: Well, thank you for your honesty. Me: Well, it hurts everyone in the end, doesn't it? [smug smile] Besides, it's only a dollar or so difference. My morality is worth a dollar, I think. Her: Yeah. [thinks: weirdo] Me: [thinks: I almost looked like a hero, the one customer who could have given her faith in humanity again. But then I had to go and suggest that my ethical principles work on a sliding scale. ]