Alert, costco return policy will be changing at the beginning of the new year

[ponyo]

Originally posted by: oogabooga

Originally posted by: Naustica

Originally posted by: Eeezee

Originally posted by: FoBoT
so?
taking advantage of a corp. just because you can isn't the right thing

I wouldn't call it taking advantage of a corporation. You can purchase extended warranties just about anywhere. Your membership is essentially an extended warranty on anything you purchase at Costco except for computers, and soon televisions. Costco television sets are often more expensive than other stores until you include an extended warranty.

Exactly. Costco makes most of its money from membership dues. I buy lot of things from Costco because of the guarantee. Lot of impulse buys. Costco definitely don't have the lowest price. If the policy is changed, Costco will have to compete on price alone on TVs if they want my business. That means I will probably never buy another TV from Costco since they rarely have the best price.

As a shareholder and member, I've 100% faith that the management will do whatever it's in the best interest of Costco.

While you do pay for costco membership, I wouldn't say it's akin to an extended warranty. You pay to be able to purchase bulk/wholesale (semi) at their store, not for the right to return anything whenever they want. That is something they extend to the member to make sure a member gets what they want... not use and return merchandise to get other merchandise they will use and return....

It's Costco's business decision not to offer extended warranty and offer their 100% guarantee. I'm not going to judge people. They can do whatever they want. People will abuse the system no matter what. I've no sympathy for Costco on this issue.

BTW, I purchased the 42" Vizio plasma and the 32" Spectre LCD today from Costco. Wouldn't have bought either without the guarantee.

 

[Maximus96]

every now and then somebody comes along and says he or she heard from this or that about costco wanting to revise their return policy. this 'rumor' has been floating around for a while, so far nothing happened.

 

[moks78]

Originally posted by: RossMAN
It was bound to happen, thanks to all the greedy selfish inconsiderate assholes who abused their return policy.

Exactly!

Been a member for eight years now but never bought any electronic stuff fm them just food for the family. Somehow, I find cheaper electronic stuff thanks to the HD forum.

 

[Cal166]

Few years ago, my friend took me to costco for the first time, upon entering, I looked over the return line and saw a woman returning a half eaten fruit dish and gotten full refund for it. I was like wtf, it was half eaten!

 

[jpeyton]

Great news. The fact is, an "unlimited satisfaction guarantee" makes no business sense, and only opens the doors for people to take advantage of your policy.

Costco can easily replace it with something more limited than their current guarantee but less limited than competitor's guarantees.

 

[maddogchen]

damn... why now? why when I haven't ever used this cool policy

 

[creedawg]

When will the new return policy on HDTV's go into effect? Jan 1, 2007....

Cree

 

[Skunkwourk]

good, im sorry to say but even my friends are guilty of abusing their return policy. I gave them a heads up but I don't know if they'll learn their lesson.

 

[nnnyyy]

I tried to return a vizio tv the other day at costco. It was purchased about 35 days old but I didnt have time to install it until a few weeks later. Everything was in box and just like new. I didnt even open the cables, manuals, etc. After mounting it on my wall, it wasnt big enough so I tried to return it. They wouldn't let me. They wouldn't even give me credit for the current price (the price dropped since I bought it). They said their return policy is 30 days and they are enforcing it. They emphasized that too many people are taking advantage of their return policy. Totally understandable but only 30 days? I bought the tv at costco knowing I wouldn't have time to install the wall mount within the normal 15-30 day retail return policy. This was in the SF bay area. Might be different at other locations or with different CSRs.

Just a heads up to y'all who buy TVs at costco because of this generous policy. On the other hand, if you are within the time frame you are golden. I watched a couple return an LCD (they were infront of me in line). I saw them drop it while taking it out of their trunk. They had no manuals, no box. Just the dinged TV and a remote. But they were able to get a full refund!

 

[theeedude]

What's the point of Costco again? I don't get it. You have to pay money to shop at a giant warehouse with insufficient parking, stand in a long line like you are in the USSR, they don't even give you bags to put your stuff in, and have to buy a lot more stuff than you need to save a few bucks? I had some of those Costco cash cards from friends, so I didn't even pay for membership, and I still stopped going there. It's simply not worth it. Even less so without the warranty.

 

[Maximus96]

i got an email from their corporate office saying there is no time limit on tv returns. i think your local costco is tired of the returns and decided to refuse you. they probably thought you didn't know their corporate policy well enough to put up a fuss. if you made a scene i'm sure you would have been able to return it.

 

[OVerLoRDI]

I know a family that basically lived by the Costco return policy they just practicly recycled crap via Costco. I felt it was horribly wrong when you've got 2 plasmas hanging on the wall and seem perfectly satisfied with them.

 

[Bullhonkie]

Originally posted by: nnnyyy
I tried to return a vizio tv the other day at costco. It was purchased about 35 days old but I didnt have time to install it until a few weeks later. Everything was in box and just like new. I didnt even open the cables, manuals, etc. After mounting it on my wall, it wasnt big enough so I tried to return it. They wouldn't let me. They wouldn't even give me credit for the current price (the price dropped since I bought it). They said their return policy is 30 days and they are enforcing it. They emphasized that too many people are taking advantage of their return policy. Totally understandable but only 30 days? I bought the tv at costco knowing I wouldn't have time to install the wall mount within the normal 15-30 day retail return policy. This was in the SF bay area. Might be different at other locations or with different CSRs.

Just a heads up to y'all who buy TVs at costco because of this generous policy. On the other hand, if you are within the time frame you are golden. I watched a couple return an LCD (they were infront of me in line). I saw them drop it while taking it out of their trunk. They had no manuals, no box. Just the dinged TV and a remote. But they were able to get a full refund!

Which store was this at?

We just recently bought a TV from the Costco on Senter Rd in San Jose and we were told by multiple people at both the checkout line and customer service center that the return policy on TVs is only one year.

First I'd ever heard of that but everyone we spoke to seemed pretty adamant about it. Didn't ask to speak to the store manager about it though. Do individual Costco stores get to set their own return policies regardless of what the corporate policy is?

 

[Eeezee]

Originally posted by: Maximus96
every now and then somebody comes along and says he or she heard from this or that about costco wanting to revise their return policy. this 'rumor' has been floating around for a while, so far nothing happened.

Yeah, only I spoke to a customer service rep at an actual costco. This is not really a rumor anymore.

And going by some of the replies in the thread, they're already starting to enforce some unknown return policy? Wtf?

 

[Fullmetal Chocobo]

Originally posted by: dartworth

Originally posted by: her209
I buy Costco meat.

They have great meat...love those chops...

Size of alternators and in bulk?

 

[cliftonite]

Originally posted by: her209
I buy Costco meat.

I return it after digestion.

 

[nnnyyy]

Originally posted by: Bullhonkie
Which store was this at?

We just recently bought a TV from the Costco on Senter Rd in San Jose and we were told by multiple people at both the checkout line and customer service center that the return policy on TVs is only one year.

First I'd ever heard of that but everyone we spoke to seemed pretty adamant about it. Didn't ask to speak to the store manager about it though. Do individual Costco stores get to set their own return policies regardless of what the corporate policy is?

I was at the South San Francisco store. On a side note, I was able to return it earlier today. yah! Went to a different store, told the CSR it didnt fit my room. He was hesitant and got a manager over. Manager says "cant do it, too late." I made a little fuss about the policy and how it isnt stated anywhere on the receipt. And how no one made me aware of this "new" policy, etc. He gave me a full refund after a little back and forth (but only this time he says).

 

[waggy]

is there a link saying what it is now?

 

[Uppsala9496]

Any truth to this "rumor"?
I bought a 37" LCD tv back in late September. I just got my Xmas bonus and was thinking of returning the 37" and upgrading to the 42". It would cost me $300 more, so I am thinking they won't have an issue, but just want to make sure before I lug the tv back.

 

[DieselUV]

i'm ok with them changing it. i don't think the abuse was cool. people are so freakin greedy.

 

[BlueWeasel]

I only wish I had a Costco nearby. The closest one is ~100 miles away.

 

[RossMAN]

Originally posted by: BlueWeasel
I only wish I had a Costco nearby. The closest one is ~100 miles away.

:brokenheart:

 

[DVK916]

The costco here is strict on returns. If you return a TV they demand you still hae everything. They won't take it back if your missing the remotote or power cord. Which sucks.

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: Eeezee
I just spoke to customer service. They're changing their HDTV return policy in the very near future. She didn't know exactly what their policy would be, but it would no longer be unlimited satisfaction guaranteed.

Thank a lot of people, some of them here that use the return policy as an upgrade one.

There are very few companies keeping these types of policies that also discount.

Hammacher Schlemmer still offers a lifetime guarantee on all it's items.

 

[BillyBatson]

i worked at costco in electronics and handeled returns. i saw when ppl took advantage and i also saw when they didn't but still returned stuff. yes a lot of their sets are over priced and they almsot never carry new models usually rebadged older models.
i won't agree with them if they end up doing a 6 month return policy like on computers but i will understand it and it will still be better than other places especially since they still won't have restocking fees or anything. sucks though, i hope they make it 1 year.
i will call my former coworkers/friends tomorrow to see if they know about this or if it is even true