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Question about Costco

Muse

Muse

Lifer
Been a member for many years, for me it's well worth the $55/year membership.

One positive thing about Costco (although I don't do it much) is you can return anything and get your money back if you aren't pleased. Have only done this a few times. I don't know the ins and outs, but lately I've been wanting to buy a GPS for driving. A friend has an iPhone, and a road directions app that talks to her as she's driving, tells her when to make a turn, etc. I don't have a smartphone but figure a GPS would do the same thing, maybe a lot more. Costco has Garmin's and I saw 2-3 in the store a month ago. I just looked online and saw a better deal on the one I figured I favored.

In researching GPS's, people mention that the lifetime updates may not play out as you hope. IOW, a unit may not get updates after a certain time. The one I'm looking at (2595) has been out a couple of years I think and I don't want to have to buy another in 2-3 years. Someone said that's why they would want to get theirs from Costco because if it stopped working you could just bring it back and get your money back.

So, question is: If I buy from Costco online do I get the same return policy as if I buy in the store?
 
online is the same as the store. Costco will even refund you the shipping cost if any.

But it's 90 days return for televisions, projectors, computers, cameras, camcorders, touchscreen tablets, MP3 players and cellular phones. It doesn't list GPS on there so maybe that's excluded. I don't know. However, if you're planning to return it after 2-3 years, that's dickhead move.
 
ponyo said:
online is the same as the store. Costco will even refund you the shipping cost if any.

But it's 90 days return for televisions, projectors, computers, cameras, camcorders, touchscreen tablets, MP3 players and cellular phones. It doesn't list GPS on there so maybe that's excluded. I don't know. However, if you're planning to return it after 2-3 years, that's dickhead move.
Click to expand...
Huh? Why? I'm not planning on returning anything, but if the lifetime updates turns out to be an SOL after 2-3 years, I wouldn't hesitate to return it if I can. Is that shitty? :|
 
Muse said:
Huh? Why? I'm not planning on returning anything, but if the lifetime updates turns out to be an SOL after 2-3 years, I wouldn't hesitate to return it if I can. Is that shitty? :|
Click to expand...

Let me be the voice of reason here:

Yes and no. Costco doesn't warranty the product, Garmin does. Garmin probably has a one year warranty and Costco has a buy back program where they get credit if its returned. After that warranty or more specifically, after that model becomes discontinued, Costco eats the cost of the unit.

So, if the unit is still current, no real harm. If its not, Costco eats the cost and that can and does drive up costs.
 
Muse said:
Huh? Why? I'm not planning on returning anything, but if the lifetime updates turns out to be an SOL after 2-3 years, I wouldn't hesitate to return it if I can. Is that shitty? :|
Click to expand...

Because having unreasonable expectations of their return policy means that it gets reduced over time. Lots of items are excluded now due to similar moves.
 
Muse said:
Huh? Why? I'm not planning on returning anything, but if the lifetime updates turns out to be an SOL after 2-3 years, I wouldn't hesitate to return it if I can. Is that shitty? :|
Click to expand...

Because there's no such thing as lifetime updates for GPS. "Lifetime" is couple years for manufacturers. After couple of years, the manufacturer will claim the device lacks the hardware for newer updates and that will be the end of life. Sort of like "lifetime" warranty for video cards. So you'll return that GPS to Costco. They will take it back. It is shitty because only people with shitty moral would do that. I'm also Costco shareholder so it all filters down.
 
ponyo said:
Because there's no such thing as lifetime updates for GPS. "Lifetime" is couple years for manufacturers. After couple of years, the manufacturer will claim the device lacks the hardware for newer updates and that will be the end of life. Sort of like "lifetime" warranty for video cards. So you'll return that GPS to Costco. They will take it back. It is shitty because only people with shitty moral would do that. I'm also Costco shareholder so it all filters down.
Click to expand...
Oh, so you are putting me down because I'm taking money out of your pocket if I return something at Costco! 🙄 :whiste: Be assured that I have been contributing to your bottom line for years and years.
 
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AznAnarchy99 said:
I don't know why anyone would buy one of those standalone GPS systems anymore.
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'Cause I don't have a smartphone, reason enough? And even if I did I don't think a smartphone app would have all the features of one of the better GPS's, based on the reviews I'm reading.
dainthomas said:
Google Maps is always up to date.
Click to expand...
I use it on my computers, print out the maps/directions, but it's tough navigating sometimes with a piece of paper in your lap. My eyes are such that I have to take off my glasses to read, too, so it's a juggling act on the freeway at 70MPH, I don't like it, it makes me nervous and irritable. I'd like a device that just tells me "take the HWY 41a exit 1/4 mile, get in the left lane, make a left turn at stop sign."
 
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Muse said:
'Cause I don't have a smartphone, reason enough? And even if I did I don't think a smartphone app would have all the features of one of the better GPS's, based on the reviews I'm reading.
Click to expand...

Better features like updates that just stop after a couple years so you have to keep buying new units?
 
Muse said:
Oh, so you are putting me down because I'm taking money out of your pocket if I return something at Costco! 🙄 :whiste: Be assured that I have been contributing to your bottom line for years and years.
Click to expand...

If enough of you did it and it was really hurting the bottom line, Costco would change their policy. Just like they did with TV and other electronic items. Until couple of years ago, there was no item exclusions. But so many people like you were using Costco as free TV rental service, they changed it to 90 days.

Is it within your right to return it? Of course. Is it a dickhead move? Of course.

The GPS is like $140. If you get couple years update out of it, that's good. Once the updates stop, it doesn't mean you can't use the GPS. You'll probably get good 5-10 years use out of it. $140 seems pretty reasonable.

If you're really hurting for money, get something like Nokia 520/521 phone. You can buy one for like $50 on sale and that has excellent standalone Nokia GPS app you can use offline. I would expect Nokia and Microsoft to keep that app update for longer than any Garmin GPS.
 
I agree that it would be a shitty move to return it. I wouldn't expect a GPS unit to last forever. I would say 3-4 years tops. Even if you couldn't get map updates in 4 years you would suck to return it if it still works. Roads don't change all that much. Hell before GPS units there were Thomas guides. I know I didn't buy a new one each and every year. Maybe every five years or more.
 
this is my gps:

rm_ef_ca_n_c.jpg


and my backup:

r_leo_chart.jpg
 
I bought a Garmin GPS last spring at Costco. Perhaps the best $125 I've ever spent. At the time, we didn't have smart phones, but now that we do, I still use the Garmin. the thing just works. Yes, the voice is annoying and can't pronounce many common street names, but they're also printed on the screen, so it's no biggie.

Yes, if a couple of years down the road, your unit will no longer download maps, just return it to Costco and get a refund. By then, there will probably be an implantable chip to replace it. 😛
 
My garmin is 9 years old and I no issue with updates. Its a app for your pc. Connect gps to pc, have the garmin updater check for updates and apply. Not hard
 
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