Harddrive return policy of Fry's and Walmart

[jongasse]

I bought a 2TB Harddrive from Fry's last week for myself and a 1TB one from Walmart for my GF last week.

Both have been opened and used and require an external adapter to work. They individually cost $100+.

Today I see my friends and family have gifted us some 500GB portable HDDs that do not require an external adapter to work.

I am thinking of returning the 2TB Harddrive from Fry's and 1TB one from Walmart, but am unsure how this will go at the store.

While both stores state to have no issue with accepting returns for such items, I have heard from multiple sources that they (store managers) sometimes override the policy for $100+ purchases, specially external Harddrives, specially when nothing is wrong with them (they are not defective etc)?

Does anyone have experiences with returning external Harddrives to Fry's and Walmart without issue? :|

 

[Harvey]

Start by contacting the stores, yourself, to find out if you even have a problem or if they'll just accomodate your requests. Otherwise, you're spending time looking for a solution in search of a problem.

Good luck.

 

[esquared]

I bought a 2TB Harddrive from Fry's last week for myself and a 1TB one from Walmart for my GF last week.

Both have been opened and used and require an external adapter to work. They individually cost $100+.

Today I see my friends and family have gifted us some 500GB portable HDDs that do not require an external adapter to work.

I am thinking of returning the 2TB Harddrive from Fry's and 1TB one from Walmart, but am unsure how this will go at the store.

While both stores state to have no issue with accepting returns for such items, I have heard from multiple sources that they (store managers) sometimes override the policy for $100+ purchases, specially external Harddrives, specially when nothing is wrong with them (they are not defective etc)?

Does anyone have experiences with returning external Harddrives to Fry's and Walmart without issue? :|

You can return an external hard drive within 15 days for refund. If it's used, make sure the data (if any) is removed. All parts should be in like-new condition. Original box manual, cord, etc.

They will ask you what's wrong with it, why are you returning it. I just would tell them the truth. Say you want something without the external adapter. They will refund your money. They have a 100% satisfaction guarantee. All your reason needs to be is you changed your mind.

They will ask you if you want Fry's credit so you can buy something else. Since, you are within the 15 day window, tell them to refund your CC or cash or however you paid for it.

Now I haven't returned something in awhile at Fry's but certain items have a 15% restocking fee attached to them if it is opened. These have usually been laptops, cameras, GPS units, etc. I don't know if the external hard drives have a 15% restocking fee attached if they are opened. If there is, you should have seen a label on the box saying as much.

Now thew above comments are only for Fry's Electronics. I do not know how Walmart works as far as returns.


edit:
Now your comment above "(store managers) sometimes override the policy for $100+ purchases, specially external Harddrives, specially when nothing is wrong with them"

I am not sure what that means. Never heard of it. Store managers can't override their policy by not giving a refund if that is what you meant. Especially for 100.00 purchases. That's nonsense. If you meet the criteria of returning an item, it cannot be refused no matter how much it costs. It's not a store manger's discretion to refuse you if he/she feels like it.

Now it is a store manger's discretion to accept a return if you don't meet every criteria for a return. Let's just say the return date for instance. They are quite flexible to this but you probably would get store credit if you were outside that return date range.

I will say in all my years of shopping at Fry's I have never been refused a return, ever.

 

[jongasse]

You can return an external hard drive within 15 days for refund. If it's used, make sure the data (if any) is removed. All parts should be in like-new condition. Original box manual, cord, etc.

They will ask you what's wrong with it, why are you returning it. I just would tell them the truth. Say you want something without the external adapter. They will refund your money. They have a 100% satisfaction guarantee. All your reason needs to be is you changed your mind.

They will ask you if you want Fry's credit so you can buy something else. Since, you are within the 15 day window, tell them to refund your CC or cash or however you paid for it.

That's reassuring but I also called their CS @1-408-350-1484 and they said I will only be eligible for store credit if I opened the box (which was shrinkwrapped).

Perhaps the in-store policy is different?

When and where do you usually buy your drives?

Now I haven't returned something in awhile at Fry's but certain items have a 15% restocking fee attached to them if it is opened. These have usually been laptops, cameras, GPS units, etc. I don't know if the external hard drives have a 15% restocking fee attached if they are opened. If there is, you should have seen a label on the box saying as much.

I don't recall it having a restocking fee, but I will call the store tomorrow and confirm unless you have anything else to add.

If they verify that it's good for a return, I will do so, otherwise the HDD stays with me (I am worried because I remember a person being denied a return for a hard drive at a Fry's store but I don't know the specifics as I was in the checkout line but near the returns area)