Do you think it's illegal to go return an item (you didn't buy from that store) and exchange it for store credit?

[Hoeboy]

Say you have an unopened game. You went to a store, told them you have an unopened game, and asked if they would want to accept it for store credit. Now you didn't lie and say you bought it from there and lost the receipt. Just that you don't want the game and if they would take it. If they say yes, do you feel that it's illegal? I see it as an agreement between both parties.

 

[Moonbeam]

Well if it's an agreement between both parties then why not beginn to reach that agreement with a statement like, I didn't buy this here, but.... What you are basically asking is, 'is it ok to withold information if you don't formally lie, since where you actually bought it and their taking it in exchange for something they have doesn't seem to hurt them. Well if there's no harm, why the reluctance to fully disclose. Then if they say yes, you won't have any ethical questions at all.

 

[fatbaby]

i woulda returned it...

since i'm an idiot and i've had my fair share of bad experiences, i guess my ethics went down the toilet :|

 

[rgwalt]

I wouldn't volunteer any information when returning the item. I would say "I have this item I'd like to return, but I don't have the receipt." If they asked if you bought it there, you should be honest about it. However, in any case, it is an agreement between two parties.

Ryan

 

[vi edit]

Illegal, no, unethical, yes.

I have problems with people getting software packages like Office Premium as promotional handouts or Contest Winnings for free or next to free, and then taking them to Best Buy and cashing in for $1,000 in store credit.

It just doesn't seem right.

Yes, the store can turn right back around and sell the software, but they loose money in the deal.

 

[rgwalt]

Originally posted by: vi_edit
Illegal, no, unethical, yes.

I have problems with people getting software packages like Office Premium as promotional handouts or Contest Winnings for free or next to free, and then taking them to Best Buy and cashing in for $1,000 in store credit.

It just doesn't seem right.

Yes, the store can turn right back around and sell the software, but they loose money in the deal.

vi has a good point here... Returning something that you didn't pay for (except for gifts from friends/family/etc) is bad. You should sell it to someone else in that case.

Ryan

 

[FelixDeCat]

Which stores are we talking about here?

Theres a difference between illegal and unethical.

Id say its both illegal and unethical.

 

[crypticlogin]

My first question would be "Why can't you return it to the original place you bought it from?" Depending on the answer to that, well...

 

[vi edit]

I look at it like this -

You "aquire" a retail, unopened program from one source or another for free, or next to free. This software *RETAILS* for $1,000. That's what joe blow consumer would get for it. Well, you take it to a store and get a full refund for it. The store has to in turn sell it for $1,000.

The problem here is that the store doesn't aquire the software from their vendors/suppliers for $1,000. It might only cost them $800. Them giving you a full refund just cut them out of $200.

That's not everything though. Not only did they make $0 profit on the sale of software they returned, they also made zero profit on whatever you buy with their own in store credit. It's their money that you use to buy their own goods.

They get screwed twice.

 

[BrunoPuntzJones]

How about a real example

MSFT is giving away Xbox games and stuff for people who work in retail stores that sell their products. You sign up, take some quizzes, and after enough "points" you can exhange it for mechandise. Halo for example is $8 shipped. The thread (in hot deals) was asking if it would be ok to take this game and return it to a store for credit.

I have no idea if it would be illegal, but I wouldn't feel right doing it. I'd sell it on eBay or FS/FT or something.

Sell on eBay $30

Return to store for $50 credit

WC3 at gogamer $35

WC3 at store you have credit at=$60

You just spent an extra $5 and did the "morally incorrect thing".

I wouldn't be suprised if the case was cut (or something like promo CDs used to be) or has a NFR sticker on the game.

 

[Hoeboy]

If it's such a big problem then why are most stores so lenient on this issue? They never really ask you ANY question or make you fill out ANY form whatsoever. It's rather easier to return it without a receipt than with a receipt as long as you are buying something else from the store.

Does anybody happen to know if it's written in as a law stating you cannot return an item to the store if you didn't buy it from there regardless if the store agrees???

 

[vi edit]

If it's such a big problem then why are most stores so lenient on this issue? They never really ask you ANY question or make you fill out ANY form whatsoever. It's rather easier to return it without a receipt than with a receipt as long as you are buying something else from the store.

It's usually because the person running the return counter is a bubble headed 17 year old who's concept of profitability is that of your average 5 year old. These people are working minimum wage, have absolutely no care as to whether or not you are bending their employer over a barrel, and are simply counting the clock for their shift to be over.

Take it to a small business person who ACTUALLY has an interest in the profitability of their company and you'll see a whole different picture.

 

[Hoeboy]

<<It's usually because the person running the return counter is a bubble headed 17 year old who's concept of profitability is that of your average 5 year old. These people are working minimum wage, have absolutely no care as to whether or not you are bending their employer over a barrel, and are simply counting the clock for their shift to be over.

Take it to a small business person who ACTUALLY has an interest in the profitability of their company and you'll see a whole different picture. >>



Actually a lot of stores require the okay and unlock key from managers for disembursing store credit. I know this is true at Circuit City, who is also known to be pretty lenient on accepting items for store credit.

As for a small business person, I assume you would mean a non-retail chain, mom & pop store. They would be less lenient but then again they would be less lenient on a lot of things that would otherwise be OK normally.

 

[fatbaby]

heh i guess i'm a a$$ hole but couldn't you turn that into a full time job?

buy 10 logitech z560 speakers from newegg for $150 each...then go to best buys, return it for $200...make $50 for each speaker...

buy 20! optical wheel mice for $8 each @ amazon...go to staples...make $17 on each mouse...

buy 20 copies, jediknight 2 jedi outkast for $15 each...go to staples...sell it for $50 and make $35 each copy...

 

[DaveSimmons]

Originally posted by: Hoeboy
If it's such a big problem then why are most stores so lenient on this issue? They never really ask you ANY question or make you fill out ANY form whatsoever. It's rather easier to return it without a receipt than with a receipt as long as you are buying something else from the store.

Does anybody happen to know if it's written in as a law stating you cannot return an item to the store if you didn't buy it from there regardless if the store agrees???

Because the store policy is to assume most of its customers are honest?

What you want to do is unethical, immoral, and fraud regardless of whether it's against any specific law.

 

[Nefrodite]

Originally posted by: vi_edit

If it's such a big problem then why are most stores so lenient on this issue? They never really ask you ANY question or make you fill out ANY form whatsoever. It's rather easier to return it without a receipt than with a receipt as long as you are buying something else from the store.

It's usually because the person running the return counter is a bubble headed 17 year old who's concept of profitability is that of your average 5 year old. These people are working minimum wage, have absolutely no care as to whether or not you are bending their employer over a barrel, and are simply counting the clock for their shift to be over.

Take it to a small business person who ACTUALLY has an interest in the profitability of their company and you'll see a whole different picture.

its because they are trying to be nice. some people really do lose their reciepts. i have certainly done that. small business can't afford to be that nice.

 

[NikPreviousAcct]

Dunno about illegal, but morally incorrect. You didn't pay for the object. Basically, the store is giving you the same amount of money that you spent on the item to purchase something else in the store. If you didn't pay for the object, you shouldn't get credit for it.

nik

 

[Hoeboy]

<<heh i guess i'm a a$$ hole but couldn't you turn that into a full time job?

buy 10 logitech z560 speakers from newegg for $150 each...then go to best buys, return it for $200...make $50 for each speaker...

buy 20! optical wheel mice for $8 each @ amazon...go to staples...make $17 on each mouse...

buy 20 copies, jediknight 2 jedi outkast for $15 each...go to staples...sell it for $50 and make $35 each copy...>>


Because you cannot receive cash back with no receipt?



<<Because the store policy is to assume most of its customers are honest?

What you want to do is unethical, immoral, and fraud regardless of whether it's against any specific law. >>


No where did I state I wanted to do this. It's a poll to see what the opinions are. And your last statement is contradictory. Fraud whether if it's against any laws???



<<Dunno about illegal, but morally incorrect. You didn't pay for the object. Basically, the store is giving you the same amount of money that you spent on the item to purchase something else in the store. If you didn't pay for the object, you shouldn't get credit for it.>>


Morality = opinion. I really want to know if there are any written laws against it, and not whether it's immoral.

 

[dexvx]

You can't do that as a full time job because frankly if you return over 20 items per week at any store, they'd be fairly suspicious. Its more like a once in a while situation, but it is immoral.

 

[DaveSimmons]

<<Because the store policy is to assume most of its customers are honest?
What you want to do is unethical, immoral, and fraud regardless of whether it's against any specific law. >>

No where did I state I wanted to do this. It's a poll to see what the opinions are. And your last statement is contradictory. Fraud whether if it's against any laws???

fraud (fr&ocirc;d) n.
1. A deception deliberately practiced in order to secure unfair orunlawful gain.
2. A piece of trickery; a trick.
--The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition