Office Depot rant/question

[dabuddha]

I'll start with the Cliff notes to make it easy reading.

1) Purchased cordless phone on 8-27-2002 from Office Depot and paid for the extended warranty
2) Gave phone to parents as a gift.
3) Phone started crapping out around 07-15-2003.
4) Office Depot tells me that the extended warranty doesn't start till after the Mfg. warranty expires (Was told otherwise when the phone was purchased)
5) Office Depot also tells me that if I didn't register my product, then the extended warranty won't cover my product (WTF??)
6) Waited till after 8-27-2003 and went back to Office Depot to get my phone replaced.
7) Now told by Office Depot that I have to call this 800 number to get a claim check (Gift Certificate type deal) for the phone. They won't change it at the store as promised.
8) Call the 800 number and the automated instructions tell me that I have to mail the phone to them with my original receipt at my cost (WTF??)

Now I'm not sure how to proceed. The phone was over 100 bucks so if I have to, I'll go ahead and send it off but I feel like I'm getting the shaft here. Anyone else have any experience with Office Depot regarding extended warranties?

 

[chin311]

thats retarded, they should have taken it back the first time.

 

[DurocShark]

Warranties = BOHICA

Extended Warranties = BOHICAWNG

 

[EagleKeeper]

Originally posted by: dabuddha
I'll start with the Cliff notes to make it easy reading.

1) Purchased cordless phone on 8-27-2002 from Office Depot and paid for the extended warranty
2) Gave phone to parents as a gift.
3) Phone started crapping out around 07-15-2003.
4) Office Depot tells me that the extended warranty doesn't start till after the Mfg. warranty expires (Was told otherwise when the phone was purchased)
5) Office Depot also tells me that if I didn't register my product, then the extended warranty won't cover my product (WTF??)
6) Waited till after 8-27-2003 and went back to Office Depot to get my phone replaced.
7) Now told by Office Depot that I have to call this 800 number to get a claim check (Gift Certificate type deal) for the phone. They won't change it at the store as promised.
8) Call the 800 number and the automated instructions tell me that I have to mail the phone to them with my original receipt at my cost (WTF??)

Now I'm not sure how to proceed. The phone was over 100 bucks so if I have to, I'll go ahead and send it off but I feel like I'm getting the shaft here. Anyone else have any experience with Office Depot regarding extended warranties?

#4 - Verbal promises will not override written contract.
#5 - Baloney on the registration - If you have the receipt, that will work. The registration just makes it easier for them to look it up.
#7 - If the extended warranty states that it will be replaced, OD must replace it.
#8 - What does the warranty state? That determines the rules of the game. You could try another OD to see if they will try for customer satisfaction.

 

[Spac3d]

Originally posted by: DurocShark
Warranties = BOHICA

Extended Warranties = BOHICAWNG

Wanna decode for us humans? kthx.

 

[Turkish]

thats a damn ripoff story... they should have replaced it when you first took it back ...

 

[dabuddha]

Originally posted by: Xiety
thats a damn ripoff story... they should have replaced it when you first took it back ...

Exactly. I know warranties are usually rip offs but since it was for my parents, I figured it'd save me some grief. If it breaks down, they can just take it to Office Depot and get it exchanged. Every other store does that at least.

 

[Amused]

What make and model was it?

 

[dabuddha]

Panasonic KXTG2247S

I learned awhile back that Panasonic's whole line of 2.4 ghz phones have problems with them. I'm still using my panasonic 900 mhz phone and it works like a charm. It's over 5 years old and I'm able to talk for hours straight without draining the battery completely.

 

[AdamSnow]

Never buy extended warrenty anywhere unless the item is at high risk of getting destroyed...

Even then, I wouldnt... purchase the item with your credit card and the credit card company will automatically double the manufacturers warrenty.

Phone has a 1 year warrenty, if you bought it with your credit card, you now have 2 year warrenty... etc.

 

[dabuddha]

Originally posted by: AdamSnow
Never buy extended warrenty anywhere unless the item is at high risk of getting destroyed...

Even then, I wouldnt... purchase the item with your credit card and the credit card company will automatically double the manufacturers warrenty.

Phone has a 1 year warrenty, if you bought it with your credit card, you now have 2 year warrenty... etc.

Cash

 

[imported_Mike]

that is their policy, unfortunetly for you...you got a retard of an employee sounds like. Probably told what you wanted to hear, so he could have a higher perchentage. Only thing you can do is send the phone in. Id do that & check your reciept for an employee name/id # and then go have a talk with the store manager. If he is nice he will probably compansate you in some way..(giftcard).

 

[Fiveohhh]

IMO Office depot's CS sucks, Will never buy from them or send any of my friends coworkers that way

 

[imported_Mike]

Originally posted by: Fiveohhh
IMO Office depot's CS sucks, Will never buy from them or send any of my friends coworkers that way

Ya, sucks how customer service varies so much around a particular area when its even the same store. My closest OD is great, next one over are anal. All the best buys in my area are run by a bunch of fvcktards.

 

[Retro2001]

 

[Retro2001]

OD's extended warrenties (for non computer products under $400) are product replacement (refund) type agreements. Basically, if it breaks, you get your cash back. Before about two months ago, only about 1 in 10 or so people who claimed their product broke actually had to send it in....the other 90% were just told to destroy it. Now, all products have to be sent in before checks can be issued. Unfortunatly, the local Office Depot people have little power to override this policy, as the warrenties are covered by a totally different company. What you may (depending on your local OD's attitude, my local one would probably do it) be able to do is buy a new phone then when you get your check take the check and the reciept back in and have them re-ring the transaction (return the phone and then resell it to you)....means you've got to have some cash out of a credit card for a week or two, but they *shouldn't* have a problem doing that. Sadly, OD's warrenties do not take effect until the manufacturer's warrenty expiers, and again there is nothing the local OD people can do about this. On the registration: as long as you've got your reciept, you're covered because your reciept will have a policy number listed on it as a line item. Registration lets you loose the reicept and still be covered.

EDIT:

7) Now told by Office Depot that I have to call this 800 number to get a claim check (Gift Certificate type deal) for the phone. They won't change it at the store as promised.

Just saw that. I'd go back and ask to talk to a manger and explain that to him or her. If you were mislead, they should take care of you.

 

[dabuddha]

Originally posted by: Retro2001
OD's extended warrenties (for non computer products under $400) are product replacement (refund) type agreements. Basically, if it breaks, you get your cash back. Before about two months ago, only about 1 in 10 or so people who claimed their product broke actually had to send it in....the other 90% were just told to destroy it. Now, all products have to be sent in before checks can be issued. Unfortunatly, the local Office Depot people have little power to override this policy, as the warrenties are covered by a totally different company. What you may (depending on your local OD's attitude, my local one would probably do it) be able to do is buy a new phone then when you get your check take the check and the reciept back in and have them re-ring the transaction (return the phone and then resell it to you)....means you've got to have some cash out of a credit card for a week or two, but they *shouldn't* have a problem doing that. Sadly, OD's warrenties do not take effect until the manufacturer's warrenty expiers, and again there is nothing the local OD people can do about this. On the registration: as long as you've got your reciept, you're covered because your reciept will have a policy number listed on it as a line item. Registration lets you loose the reicept and still be covered.

EDIT:

7) Now told by Office Depot that I have to call this 800 number to get a claim check (Gift Certificate type deal) for the phone. They won't change it at the store as promised.

Just saw that. I'd go back and ask to talk to a manger and explain that to him or her. If you were mislead, they should take care of you.

That's what I tried and they refuse to exchange it or give me store credit for it (Store credit because they don't carry that particular model anymore) I'm afraid after this, I'll recommend against shopping at Office Depot for anything.