Which of the following sentences presents the bad news most effectively?
a. We understand that you threw away the receipt because you planned to use the product, but that does not mean we can refund your money.
b. Without a receipt there is no possible way we can refund your purchase.
c. You obviously used the product, which means that you cannot receive a refund.
d. To keep our costs low and our prices competitive, Nelson Hardware only offers refunds for unused merchandise returned within 30 days with a receipt.
e. Many customers lose their receipts, but unfortunately we still cannot refund your purchase.

D. To keep our costs low and our prices competitive, Nelson Hardware only offers refunds for unused merchandise returned within 30 days with a receipt.

Explanation:

It is challenging to present bad news effectively. The managers or leaders have to deal with it in their day-to-day activities.

A. The first option is a direct "No". Therefore it is a piece of direct lousy news. It cannot represent an effective way of presenting bad news.

B. The second option tells the situation from the formal way of showing bad news. However, it does not represent any effectiveness.

C. The third choice shows the negative form of acknowledging faulty news. In this case, bad news becomes worse.

E. The last option suggests the same way as the first choice represents.

D. The fourth choice shows courtesy, formal business communication, and effectiveness by reasonably saying all the things. Therefore, when the conversation represents the formal business exercise or application, it presents a piece of bad news effectively.