Customer tried to return an unripe watermelon, vendor started an argument with a knife in hand!

With the warming weather, summer fruits have taken their place in markets, greengrocers, and street market stalls. Interest has increased in the indispensable flavors of the table, especially watermelon and melon, which are appetizing in appearance. In recent days, there has been an increase in complaints due to watermelons and melons that were bought after being deceived by their fresh, ripe appearance at the stall, only to be found colorless and tasteless when sliced for serving at home.

Consumer Union officials announced that because unripe, 'kelek' (immature) watermelons and melons are in the status of 'defective products,' consumers can demand an exchange or a refund from the seller.

Similar problems are being experienced in Adana, which has an important place in watermelon production and consumption in Turkey. In 2019, a person was stabbed in Adana due to an unripe watermelon.

Özcan Eskiyürek also went to the local market set up in the central Seyhan district, where he had bought the watermelon, because the watermelon he bought the day before turned out to be unripe and was therefore a 'defective good.' Eskiyürek wanted to return the watermelon.

The market vendor, who did not accept the return request, said with a knife in his hand, "You have to pay, I am paying. If you want a good watermelon, you will go and buy a watermelon for 20 TL per kilo. You will pay 150-200 TL for a watermelon, and then you will eat a good watermelon."

The elderly man, who was shocked by the vendor's harsh reaction, later shopped from another watermelon vendor who claimed to sell watermelons with a 'return guarantee.' It was also observed that some vendors in the market started selling watermelons and melons with the 'guaranteed' label.

Eskiyürek, whose request for a watermelon return was not accepted, said, "When I took the watermelon I bought yesterday home and cut it, it turned out to be 'unripe.' I brought it to the vendor I bought it from today and showed it, and I said I wanted to return it. They did not accept the return. They also said many things on top of it. Not only did they not pay the refund, but my request to exchange it with another watermelon was not accepted either. These are 'defective goods.' If I hadn't cut the watermelon at night but during the day, I would have brought it back on the same day. But unfortunately, they do not accept it."

Watermelon producer İshak Kaya, who stated that he sells watermelons and melons with a return guarantee so as not to victimize customers, said, "Watermelon and melon prices are very reasonable. 10 TL per kilo. We give it to the customer with a return guarantee. The customer buys it, takes it home, and cuts it. It turns out 'unripe,' they don't like it. We take it back. But my product is not 'defective.' The watermelon is guaranteed, and the melon is guaranteed. One hundred percent guaranteed. I give it cut, or if they take it without cutting and don't like it, they can bring it back."

News Source: İHA