Costco tightens its return policy

'A few jerks' prompt retailer to alter rules on electronics

By CRAIG HARRIS
P-I REPORTER

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/busine..._costco27.html



--
"If you're going through hell, keep going"
Sir Winston Churchill (1874 - 1965)
British Statesman, Prime Minister, Author

I've knew a person who returned an HDTV to Costco simply because the
price had dropped. He immediately bought a newer version of the item
he had returned. I fully understand (and agree with) Costco's policy.

Some stores have a multiple-return policy. If one returns too many
items, they are politely told that their annual returns are limited to
20% of items purchased.

There was a Wall Street Journal article about L.L.Bean's liberal
return policy. Some customer have the chutzpah to use a tent all
summer, and then return it in the fall only to purchase a new tent the
following spring. L.L.Bean doesn't like it, but won't change their
return policy for fear of driving away good customers.

Home Depot has had the same problem with air conditioners during the hot
summer months.

For some folks, it doesn't phase them in the least and they apparently have
never heard of a "guilty conscience".

--

Dave (Since 1962)

-=Perfect Picture. Perfect Sound
Live every moment in High Definition=-

NadCixelsyd wrote:
snipped
There was a Wall Street Journal article about L.L.Bean's liberal
return policy. Some customer have the chutzpah to use a tent all
summer, and then return it in the fall only to purchase a new tent
the following spring. L.L.Bean doesn't like it, but won't change
their return policy for fear of driving away good customers.

My wife used to work for a very high dollar clothing store in Dallas years
ago.
Early each Friday, some of the local "society" ladies would come in shopping
and purchase expensive evening dresses. Then, on Monday or Tuesday they
would return them, claiming some sort of defect. The dresses would have
wine
and food stains on them. The store would take them back each time with no
questions
asked. Funny thing, my wife asked the manager" why they would take them
back when
it was obvious that the dresses were not defective but, were just being used
for a special
event", his answer was, " because they are very important people and such
"good" customers" !!
This sort of behavior ends up costing other, honest consumers more money as
someone has
to end up paying for someone else's lack of decency.
james


"David Zinck" wrote in message
news:[email protected]
Home Depot has had the same problem with air conditioners during the hot
summer months.

For some folks, it doesn't phase them in the least and they apparently
have
never heard of a "guilty conscience".

--

Dave (Since 1962)

-=Perfect Picture. Perfect Sound
Live every moment in High Definition=-

NadCixelsyd wrote:
snipped
There was a Wall Street Journal article about L.L.Bean's liberal
return policy. Some customer have the chutzpah to use a tent all
summer, and then return it in the fall only to purchase a new tent
the following spring. L.L.Bean doesn't like it, but won't change
their return policy for fear of driving away good customers.

And at a national jewelry company (now out of business) the manager
would talk about the people who "rented" jewelry at New Year time.

On 3/2/2007 10:45 AM, james wrote:
My wife used to work for a very high dollar clothing store in Dallas years
ago.
Early each Friday, some of the local "society" ladies would come in shopping
and purchase expensive evening dresses. Then, on Monday or Tuesday they
would return them, claiming some sort of defect. The dresses would have
wine
and food stains on them. The store would take them back each time with no
questions
asked. Funny thing, my wife asked the manager" why they would take them
back when
it was obvious that the dresses were not defective but, were just being used
for a special
event", his answer was, " because they are very important people and such
"good" customers" !!
This sort of behavior ends up costing other, honest consumers more money as
someone has
to end up paying for someone else's lack of decency.
james


"David Zinck" wrote in message
news:[email protected]
Home Depot has had the same problem with air conditioners during the hot
summer months.

For some folks, it doesn't phase them in the least and they apparently
have
never heard of a "guilty conscience".

--

Dave (Since 1962)

-=Perfect Picture. Perfect Sound
Live every moment in High Definition=-

NadCixelsyd wrote:
snipped
There was a Wall Street Journal article about L.L.Bean's liberal
return policy. Some customer have the chutzpah to use a tent all
summer, and then return it in the fall only to purchase a new tent
the following spring. L.L.Bean doesn't like it, but won't change
their return policy for fear of driving away good customers.

On Fri, 02 Mar 2007 15:26:18 -0600, Bernie
wrote:

And at a national jewelry company (now out of business) the manager
would talk about the people who "rented" jewelry at New Year time.

However that is a valid practice.
You can rent most anything, but you do pay for the privilege.
Even the "rich and famous" rent "items" for big social events.

You can rent cloths such as a tux for a wedding and you can rent TVs,
but that is far different than purchasing and returning.

Roger Halstead (K8RI & ARRL life member)
(N833R, S# CD-2 Worlds oldest Debonair)
www.rogerhalstead.com

On Fri, 02 Mar 2007 04:28:15 GMT, "Hugh Candlin"
wrote:

'A few jerks' prompt retailer to alter rules on electronics

By CRAIG HARRIS
P-I REPORTER

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/busine..._costco27.html

Actually I'm surprised that any chain hasn't changed these policies
long ago. Best Buy, Circuit City, Home Depot, Lowe's made changes in
their return policies long ago.

BB and CC changed their policies long ago, not long after the big
screen projection TVs came out. People were buying them on Fridays
before a big game, throwing a "game party" and then returning the set
the first of the week. Now they can only exchange them.
When I purchased an HDTV I explained that I was going to buy but if
the set I tried was not to my liking I would like to try something
else. They basically said that if I was buying I could try as many as
I liked although I'd assume there would have been some limits sooner
or later. As it turns out the 40" Samsung I tried first was the one I
liked. Of course, 6 months later I could purchase the same or a better
set for at least a $1000 less, but that is not their fault and I'm not
complaining as we have certainly gotten plenty of use out of that set.

However With BB and CC they do have a policy of price matching within
(I believe) 30 days. If your purchase an item and the price goes down
within this return period they will refund the difference. They also
have price matching against their competition which I think is
returning the difference plus 10%. Lowe's and Home Depot will at
least match each others prices although I'm not so sure that they
don't do the plus 10% as well.

As for Lowe's, it depends on the circumstances. I purchased a large
hammer drill. brought it home and proceeded to burn it up within 10
minutes. I took it back, explained I was drilling 3/4 inch holes in
1/2 steel which would be stressing the drill motor considerably.
However I did think it should have stood up better/longer than 10
minutes and I would like to purchase a larger one. That was the
largest they had and they gave me a new one no questions asked. I
thanked them and promised to try to be a bit more gentle on the new
one. However on that one I'm sure they were able to return it to the
manufacturer to get their money back or another drill.

I warned them before they opened the case that the drill was hot and
really *smelled* I'm only 10 minutes from the store and the drill
motor was still almost too hot to handle. They quickly closed the case
and had some one take it outside before it stunk up the whole store.

BTW when I say burned up, I really mean it. I was hanging on for dear
life while bumping the trigger (those big drills have a *lot* of
torque). All of a sudden the torque dropped way off. I looked down to
see smoke blowing from the vents. Almost immediately the smoke
changed to flame.

Some one mentioned the air conditioner returns at Home Depot. Back
with the Y2K scare people were purchasing generators like crazy.
Almost every one knew what they were going to do. Keep them until
after New Years and then return them. I told the guy at Lowe's I did
need a new generator, but I'd wait until the flood of returns started.
His look showed he though as much of what those customers were doing
as I did. After about two weeks Lowe's put up a sign that they
would not take any more generators back. It may have cost them a few
customers but customers like that they don't need. I was able to
purchase a brand new, still in the crate, 9500 watt generator for less
than half price. They had a "stack" of the things although most were a
bit smaller and they were happy to sell it at the price I paid. It
will power my whole house and in the 7 years I've had it I've put over
110 hours on it due to power outages.
Roger Halstead (K8RI & ARRL life member)
(N833R, S# CD-2 Worlds oldest Debonair)
www.rogerhalstead.com

Hugh Candlin wrote:

'A few jerks' prompt retailer to alter rules on electronics

By CRAIG HARRIS
P-I REPORTER

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/busine..._costco27.html



Never made any sense to me why a TV should be subject to return after 90
days. You know the jerks are out there to take advantage of it. You
see them everyday on the freeway, in restaurants, or such.

'A few jerks' prompt retailer to alter rules on electronics

By CRAIG HARRIS
P-I REPORTER

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/busine..._costco27.html

Actually I'm surprised that any chain hasn't changed these policies
long ago. Best Buy, Circuit City, Home Depot, Lowe's made changes in
their return policies long ago.


I think such changes would scare away some honest buyers without deterring
real abusers, unless they change to No Return (or really short) policy. I'd
definitely not buy from the store or manufacturer again if a product broke
right after a short return period or warranty. Luckily I've had only one
such case.

Sorry, I didn't phrase that well. And I misquoted the manager. What he
actually said was that a lot of people "give themselves a free loan" of
the jewelry. They purchase it on a credit card just before an event,
then return it a couple of days later.

On 3/3/2007 12:45 AM, Roger wrote:
On Fri, 02 Mar 2007 15:26:18 -0600, Bernie
wrote:

And at a national jewelry company (now out of business) the manager
would talk about the people who "rented" jewelry at New Year time.

However that is a valid practice.
You can rent most anything, but you do pay for the privilege.
Even the "rich and famous" rent "items" for big social events.

You can rent cloths such as a tux for a wedding and you can rent TVs,
but that is far different than purchasing and returning.

Roger Halstead (K8RI & ARRL life member)
(N833R, S# CD-2 Worlds oldest Debonair)
www.rogerhalstead.com