These days everyone has a sense of entitlement. We seem to believe that if we ask to be the exception to the rule, that exception will be made. It's as if the rules are just a suggestion. There are rules for a reason. Policies and procedures exist not just to protect the company but to protect employees. If there's one thing people working retail hate it's people asking us to break rules for them. The expression "just this once" has been used by every single customer asking for an exception to a store's policy, rules, or even state and federal regulations. It's so over-used, in fact, that uttering it practically guarantees you get denied. If you ask for an exception, be prepared to accept the answer.
Just a hint: it's "no".
Never ask someone to break rules for you. Would you break rules at your job for them? Of course not. So why do you expect them to do so for you? You are, in essence, asking a complete stranger to risk his or her job, career, paycheck, livelihood, reputation and integrity on you. What could possibly motivate someone to do that? Just because you want to return something you shouldn't? Buy something you're not allowed to? Go somewhere that's restricted to employees only?
No.
I hate the word "entitlement" because it's become a buzz word to describe too many things that have nothing to do with its actual definition. According to Merriam-Webster, entitlement can be defined as "the state or condition of being entitled; a right to benefits specified especially by law or contract; belief that one is deserving of or entitled to certain privileges; or a government program providing benefits to members of a specified group." Most people are focusing on that third one: the belief that one is deserving of privileges. That belief is what most people tap into when they ask for exceptions to rules. It's what makes people think they have a right to inconvenience others in order to ensure they get what they want that much faster. And because people get away with it so often, they continue to behave in a manner best described as selfish.
Don't be selfish.