Oh man, that's so true. I read somewhere that a stiff block on a curve just follows the shape it already has, so you're not really fixing anything. Makes total sense now.

Honestly, how far can you take that idea before it gets weird? I've used a clay bar made from old play-doh that actually worked in a pinch. Some folks swear by using coffee filters for a final wipe down because they're lint free. But a lot of household stuff just scratches the clear coat, like using paper towels or dish soap. You gotta be real careful with the cheap hacks.

Sounds like a place that just wanted to avoid any argument at all costs. But come on, an empty bag? What's there to even return, just the bad air? Seems like a policy that gets taken advantage of way too easily. They must have had zero rules for what counted as a real problem.