The customer's first-born child.

What? It's a food item.

It does look a little photoshopped...

Note the highlights, how it was blurry but the highlight is perfect edges. But the highlights could have been edited in...

Me, I would ask for a can of coke (unopened and sealed... incase they were mad about it breaking). Extra service if it was Coke C2.

I'd set my receipts to print with 60 random food items. This way the employees could play Return Receipt Bingo for a chance to win fabulous prizes!

I'm shocked they demand "no frosting." What about those delicious oatmeal raisin cookies?

Oh, and if any of you are thinking "PHOTOSHOPPED!" I can guarantee you it's not. I've been to Mikey's Hook Up.

I think it's adorable. I especially like the all caps "NO FROSTING". I hate raisins so I'd happily part with my tainted oatmeal cookies.

I'd ask for a cupcake.

@KTK1990: The photo was taken by a Gizmodo editor of his own receipt. I also called the store myself, and spoke to an employee who confirmed it IS on their receipt.

One thing I noted was that it never said you have to GIVE the store the cookie. Just that you have one with you when you make the return. It's a loophole!

Look, if they want to demand NO FROSTING, that's their right. It's their shop and their rules.

We should be grateful they are merciful in their demands!

But it better have raisins....damn, now I want an oatmeal cookie!

@GitEmSteveDave+$240InPudding:
Gasp. So the cookie is then like a membership pass?

I think that nulls their whole return policy - they can't *actually* expect customers to come bearing cookies with every return, which means that they can't *actually* make me pay a 15% restocking fee, and if I bring back the item on day 16 then they should take it back. I mean, they were joking about the cookie - so how is the rest of the policy valid?

Apparently it's not a fake reciept. Just check out their blog:

"BUT WAIT! There's more! Mikey's now offers totes as well. Available in black with white screenprinted logo only, these totes are a stylish way to transport Hookup purchases, groceries, beloved household pets, even oatmeal cookies by the dozen for bulk returns* The totes are available for $5, and are also available now. Here, Hookup figurehead/employee of the millennium Martha models the fresh threads, looking def while anxiously awaiting the next headphone sale.

...

*see Mikey's Hookup receipt for details"

[mikeyshookup.com]

of course this is a joke

@GitEmSteveDave+$240InPudding:

ok, then it isnt and its pretty cool :)

@KTK1990: It is. I totally couldn't work there for this reason alone. Unless they have a treadmill behind the registers.

@Taliskan: Probably a snack to have while you're waiting on them to process your return.

I'd demand male brownies.

@burnedout: why can't they expect it, it is in the terms of the return policy so if you want to return your good you can bring some cookies. now go get me some cookies.

@buthidae: Hahahaha nice one.

@katstermonster: Yeah, just had to show up the day I skipped breakfast and am craving something sweet.

Also, I think they should at least print a recipe for the cookies on the receipt somewhere. I mean, some people like to bake. Like me!

And for the sake of the pun gods: "I've heard of a site requiring cookies, but this is ridiculous"

mikey's is a really good example of a local electronics store... its nice to have alternatives to best buy and radio shack when you need something immediately and can't wait for delivery from an online vendor

independent's are still around, and they wan't cookies

@GyroMight: Or perhaps it would go like this:

"I'd like to return this alarm clock."

"Which return food item did you bring?"

"The Anchovi Pizza Slice with Black Olives"

"Oh that's Frank. He'd LOVE to take care of you."

(*Over the loudspeaker* "Anchovi Pizza" *Frank show up in a hurry with a smile*)

"We'll get this sorted...NOM NOM NOM... out in just a minute."

@GitEmSteveDave's$10SamsungTV: +1
I completely agree. And if I bring in delicious homemade cookies, do I get special consideration, like a waived restocking fee??

On a side note, has anyone ever told you that you look a lot like Michael Showalter? Maybe it's just your facial expression in that picture

I make an awesome oatmeal cookie. Wonder if great homemade cookies get you VIP service?

More then likely the person who was programing this part put it in there as a joke to the owner (I have done things like this before). Only the owner thought it was cute and told them to leave it in.

I did one site for a friend that owes a nice Inn in Big Bear Lake (find what one :)) that was turn down for AAA membership. Why? Not going to tell you, but its funny as hell (He fills up each weekend, its not his place). Its hidden on his site. I change the name and URL every week. He does a give away to the guest who finds it. It's not bad, just funny.

I think this is hilarious. If I had to return something here, I'd probably bake some oatmeal raisin cookies and bring them in with the item, just as a thank-you for making me laugh.

@KTK1990: I agree, it has to be faked....come on...Oatmeal Raisin! Who would demand an oatmeal raisin cookie? If you are going to extort something for a return, at least make it something respectable like a Chocolate Chip cookie.

/sarcasm

@Taliskan: The cookie is a lie.

@burnedout: I think you're trying too hard...

I once made a reservation at Enterprise to rent a car, and when I called to confirm, they young man there said my reservation was good and jokingly told me to make sure I brought cookies for him when I came to pick up the car.

He was so sweet and nice that I actually DID bring a plate of cookies when I picked up the car, but he wasn't at work that day.

Pretty sure they didn't save the cookies for them, greedy bastards.

Mmmmmm cookies.

It's not even 8:30 on the left coast and you all have me wanting cookies and brownies. It's going to be one of those days.

@burnedout: They're free to waive the cookie requirement if they so choose. Without a severability clause, it is theoretically possible to get the entire contract nullified if the cookie clause is found invalid but this would require a court finding and for most transactions it isn't worth this trouble... and, contrary to popular opinion, judges are not without a sense of humor. :)

@dialing_wand:
Hah. Thanks for the chuckle, that was amusing.

I would demand Chocolate Mousse. Simply because there is no other better dessert on earth.

Their receipts really do say this. I've never had to return anything I've bought there though, so I'm not exactly sure if the cookie part is mandatory for returns;)

Well, I might ask for key lime pie, except that a lot of places that make key lime pie are just going through the motions. So that wouldn't be such a good idea.

White chocolate maybe, or perhaps something with cinnamon.

You shouldn't return hookups anyway. Even the bad ones are good.

@Taliskan: I always thought that brownies were without gender.

Next thing you know we are going to have horror stories about cookie checkers at the receipt counter.

@WraithSama: All I have to say is, LOVE IT!!! They could increase employee happiness at my work by instituting a version of this!

@GitEmSteveDave's$10SamsungTV: Plus one of the other Giz commenters posted the email reply they got from the store confirming it's on the receipt and that, yes, it's tongue-in-cheek and they don't actually require cookies for returns. Makes me wish there was one of those in my area as it shows the store's got a sense of humor and likes to have fun. And cookies.

@TinkishDelight: In the email response to a Gizmodo commenter that asked them about it, that part's in there because Mikey's deathly allergic to frosting. So if they give you crappy service, you could always get back at them by bringing in some heavily frosted cookies ;P