Costco return policy = free computer?

[Vulcan]

On one of the TV sites, I've heard people say that they buy 3 TVs and keep the best one or they do it in series and then go back and get the best one. It's too bad when greed and stupidy ruin a good thing.

[I-Hate-Hulse]

Originally Posted by Flames_Gimp

do they sell xbox360? i'll return it when it gets the red ring

That's my plan - I'm sure not relying on Microsoft's crappy return process

[Flames_Gimp]

Originally Posted by I-Hate-Hulse

That's my plan - I'm sure not relying on Microsoft's crappy return process

im buying it to play gta4 when its out..i'll return it when i'm bored with the game

[Azure]

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

I played hockey with a guy from PG who worked at Costco there and he was telling us to buy our sticks from Costco and if they were broken they'd take it back and exchange it. But yeah...If I want to host a barbeque for the weekend and need something...Costco is the greatest rental place on Earth!

Lots of stores do the return the broken stick and get a new one.

Especially if you buy ALL your sticks there.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by photon

Yeah my mom used to be a greeter at WalMart, she would tell crazy stories about the stuff people used to return. Holidays were the best, people would buy, use then return whole piles of camping equipment.. Everything from tents to sleeping bags to stoves.

That's insane!

[koop]

I used to work at Costco and I have seen people return things that they have used for years. I saw some people return one of those big outdoor swing and playcenter things, they must have had it for a very long time with how weathered it looked. It's obvious they got alot of use out of it and all Costco can do with it is throw it out but they were able to return it. Also the BBQs covered in grease that someone mentioned that was a weekly occurrence, you can return anything at Costco.

[wpgflamesfan]

Originally Posted by Flames_Gimp

im buying it to play gta4 when its out..i'll return it when i'm bored with the game

good idea. Another would be to buy one now and keep your ears open for another upcoming price drop and simply return it the day before the drop and get some money back and a brand new system

[Flames_Gimp]

Originally Posted by koop

I used to work at Costco and I have seen people return things that they have used for years. I saw some people return one of those big outdoor swing and playcenter things, they must have had it for a very long time with how weathered it looked. It's obvious they got alot of use out of it and all Costco can do with it is throw it out but they were able to return it. Also the BBQs covered in grease that someone mentioned that was a weekly occurrence, you can return anything at Costco.

Hey nice Avatar..I made that pic yearsssss and yearsssss ago in photoshop

[Flames_Gimp]

Originally Posted by wpgflamesfan

good idea. Another would be to buy one now and keep your ears open for another upcoming price drop and simply return it the day before the drop and get some money back and a brand new system

that is a good idea!

[prarieboy]

I couldn't do it. Seems Like a pretty pathetic thing to do. I know people that do it with computers. I have to bite my toungue when they point out how "Stupid" Costco is.

[Hack&Lube]

That 6 month sign is actually worse for you. Before it was an unlimited amount of time.

[wpgflamesfan]

How long is it for game systems?

[photon]

Heh I'm actually at this point right now, my monitor I got from Costco in August is now $100 cheaper. I called and I'm past the 30 days they usually give for price protection, so they said if I wanted I could return it and buy a new one at the lower price.

$100 is $100, but it just seems wrong.

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by wpgflamesfan

How long is it for game systems?

Forever. The only thing limited to the 6-month policy is computers. The US Costco made the 6 month policy apply to monitors and TVs as well but I had thought Canada didn't implement that yet.

[redforever]

Originally Posted by photon

I know a guy that works at Costco and I asked him about that once.. he said it used to be a lot more loose but that 6 month thing came in just for that reason, people were returning stuff years and years later.

He said that the transactions are on your account and if they see you abusing it they will start denying it, or at least taking a harder look at it.

Mind you I had a 18 month old TV that I returned because it broke and they took it back ok (I totally didn't expect them to, I was prepared to have it repaired).

As for is it moral or ethical, I guess if a company allows it why not use it, though if I was doing that I think it would say something about myself that I wouldn't like.

I dont think Costco policy allows fraud and unethical returns. I think they do however allow returns for defective merchandise, no questions asked. There is quite a difference.

The funniest thing I've ever seen was when some guy walked into the store, grabbed a tv from the aisle, andthen took it to the return desk for a refund, claiming he lost the receipt

I dont consider that funny at all because you and I both pay for that, not the thief.

I was at Eaton's once, when they still existed, making a purchase. I was standing in line, and the lady in front of me was trying to return a broken mirror. She freely admitted that she never put in strong enough nails and it fell and broke, but she thought she should be able to return it anyway.

Well, Eaton's never allowed that return. If they had allowed it, that would have been the last time I shopped there.

There is customer service and then there is abuse by the customer and I am not willing to pay for the latter.

[Maritime Q-Scout]

Here's the thing with the return policy

it's a "policy" that applies in general circumstances. Even with the policy stores don't have to return your merchandice.

When I worked retail (still fill in a few shifts every now and again to help out when needed) I usually tried to do what was best for the customer.

However I had one kid yelling at me because I wouldn't return his opened World of Warcraft.

As for the returning an opened DVD, is that even legal? I didn't think it was, only exchange for the exact same thing.

[The Yen Man]

Originally Posted by redforever

I dont consider that funny at all because you and I both pay for that, not the thief.

Meh, I thought it was hilarious because the plain clothes security guards busted the guy. But regardless, how do you and I pay for it? The price of the merchandise is still going to stay the same. Like I said, the amount lost due to shrinkage / theft from external customers is just a tiny drop in Walmart's overall profits.

Besides, its not external customers they're worried about anyways. Internal theft is a way larger issue for them.

[prarieboy]

Originally Posted by photon

Heh I'm actually at this point right now, my monitor I got from Costco in August is now $100 cheaper. I called and I'm past the 30 days they usually give for price protection, so they said if I wanted I could return it and buy a new one at the lower price.

$100 is $100, but it just seems wrong.

That doesn't seem as bad as buying a computer knowing you will return it to upgrade and doing it again and again and again. If they want to be flexible in the price protection program you shouldn't feel too bad about that. If it was 1 year past then I understand you might be reluctent but if it's a month or so and they want to come to the party then so be it. In the end you will have purchased a product from them you will ultimately keep.

[newts]

You can return anything at Costco because they have all of their suppliers over the barrel.

You think that Costco takes the hit for any of the returns? Nope...returns just go to a reclamation centre and the supplier in turn usually gets short paid. Ie. If Costco owes a supplier $100K, and they have $5K of returned goods belonging to that supplier, Costco will pay $95K and the supplier will bear the costs of the returned goods. As a supplier, you try and fight it and they delist your product, potentially costing you millions in business.

It's not just the consumer who is acting unethically, it's Costco as well. A six month return policy is ridiculous on some stuff, but it generates more business for them at the suppliers expense.

[DementedReality]

Originally Posted by newts

You can return anything at Costco because they have all of their suppliers over the barrel.

You think that Costco takes the hit for any of the returns? Nope...returns just go to a reclamation centre and the supplier in turn usually gets short paid. Ie. If Costco owes a supplier $100K, and they have $5K of returned goods belonging to that supplier, Costco will pay $95K and the supplier will bear the costs of the returned goods. As a supplier, you try and fight it and they delist your product, potentially costing you millions in business.

It's not just the consumer who is acting unethically, it's Costco as well. A six month return policy is ridiculous on some stuff, but it generates more business for them at the suppliers expense.

in theory, the supplier still benefits from a 95% sell rate. If they didnt distribute via Costco, would they have the same sales volume?

in the end, the consumer ALWAYS pays.