stores selling used items as new

[rh71]

So we patronize Babies R Us a lot these days and have had our share of returns since not every product (lots of them) is going to be satisfactory. Well we got a walker from someone but when we opened the box (with messy tape job to begin with), we noticed the parts were not in plastic bags and the screws were floating around in there. Upon examination there were a few food stains and a tiny bit of hair. Nasty. The wheels were a nice shade of black from dirt when they should come white. We do have a gift receipt (so we know they bought it 'new' from the store).

Is it common to re-sell returned items as new? I thought they had to return it to the manufacturer for inspection... isn't there a whole process for this? I guess it depends if management at that store is lazy, but I can't imagine why they'd take the risk and get in trouble with corporate... I'm definitely writing a complaint to headquarters about this problem. People drive many miles to pick something up and I'd be pissed if a part was missing/broken. Now we gotta drive over and do a swap at our own convenience.

 

[yinan]

I think its illegal

 

[PokerGuy]

Originally posted by: yinan
I think its illegal

If it's not, it sure should be!

 

[Scarpozzi]

Originally posted by: PokerGuy

Originally posted by: yinan
I think its illegal

If it's not, it sure should be!

That's why I only buy underwear that's wrapped in SEALED plastic. I don't want someone else's boys in my hanger....if ya know what I mean.

 

[KB]

It is fairly common. I have had similar situations at Walmart and Bass Pro. People like to buy two similar items and then return the cheaper item in the expensive items packaging, thus getting the more expensive item at the cheaper items price.

 

[Blayze]

Got a Samsung laser printer this summer from Office Depot and it was pretty obvious that it had been used and return.

Its common lately. I would take it back and get another one.

 

[Newbian]

Originally posted by: Scarpozzi

Originally posted by: PokerGuy

Originally posted by: yinan
I think its illegal

If it's not, it sure should be!

That's why I only buy underwear that's wrapped in SEALED plastic. I don't want someone else's boys in my hanger....if ya know what I mean.

That doesn't mean anything.

They hide the ones with skid marks in the middle where you can't see them.

 

[hanoverphist]

at frys electronics they put a return sticker on it. i avoid those like they are asking for marriage. other places ive taken the stuff back and told them it was used when i opened it, give me a new one. i made the home depot guy open 5 boxes for a tv hanger to find one that was new and complete. he was amazed at how many sets were missing pins, screws and parts.

 

[Crusty]

Happened to my Dad @ Best Buy with an almost $3k TV. Get it home after a several hour shopping ordeal only to open it and find out it was definitely used and resold as new. The best part is that they didn't seem to care at all, and I'm sure the next person who buys that TV will go through the same process.

 

[Tiamat]

I hate it when this happens. It is almost as if we, as customers, should open the packages at the store to inspect them for integrity. That way if the box ends up having a brick inside rather than the real product (worse case scenario), your case is actually believable with witnesses.

 

[Scarpozzi]

Originally posted by: Tiamat
I hate it when this happens. It is almost as if we, as customers, should open the packages at the store to inspect them for integrity. That way if the box ends up having a brick inside rather than the real product (worse case scenario), your case is actually believable with witnesses.

Yeah....but as soon as you open the box, someone else will question whether or not it's new.

I don't care about certain things being repackaged. I understand how returns and exchanges can make things difficult on the retailer...but when it comes to certain products...especially big ticket items or items that should be sanitary, the retailers need to make a policy and stick to it.

 

[Wheezer]

Thats why when I make a purchase, if it's not in a sealed bubble wrap display where I can see what is inside.....I open up the item.

-people return stuff and "say" that they never opened it.

-employees rarely verify

-some employees are just lazy and don't give a shit and put it out as new no matter what

-manufacturers screw up and fail to include the proper parts

it's a buyer beware market....more often than not you just gotta be willing to open the box, and make sure the shit is new and everything is there.....nothing like buying something big or expensive then spending another 2-3 hours shopping just to return home, open up your shit just to find out it's a well used return or missing components.

 

[Billb2]

Originally posted by: rh71
Well we got a walker from someone but when we opened the box (with messy tape job to begin with), we noticed the parts were not in plastic bags and the screws were floating around in there...
We do have a gift receipt (so we know they bought it 'new' from the store)..

How's the date on the recipt?

 

[waggy]

stores don't give a crap. some will even shrink wrap the product so it looks new.

 

[mugs]

This is the downside to customer-friendly return policies. We want to have our cake and eat it too, but that's going to cost someone some money.

 

[gorcorps]

It's probably more common than people like to admit. My buddy got the replacement plan at best buy for his rock band 1 kit, and when he returned his faulty guitar they just swapped it with one from a new package... and then put the package back on the floor. Awful

 

[axelfox]

IIRC, in some states stores cannot accept returns or exchanges on undergarments.

 

[Q]

Haven't been to Gamestop lately have you?

 

[BoomerD]

Originally posted by: hanoverphist
at frys electronics they put a return sticker on it. i avoid those like they are asking for marriage. other places ive taken the stuff back and told them it was used when i opened it, give me a new one. i made the home depot guy open 5 boxes for a tv hanger to find one that was new and complete. he was amazed at how many sets were missing pins, screws and parts.

For years, Fry's had a horrible reputation for just putting returned goods back on the sales floor with NOTHING to tell the unsuspecting buyer that it had been returned. People got motherboards that had been broken, fried, (fry's?) and many other damaged goods were sold as new.
At least now, with the POSSIBILITY of a "returned" sticker on the package, you have a chance of getting "new" for your money.

 

[SlickSnake]

Originally posted by: KB
It is fairly common. I have had similar situations at Walmart and Bass Pro. People like to buy two similar items and then return the cheaper item in the expensive items packaging, thus getting the more expensive item at the cheaper items price.

This is most often occurring in the stores, by the employees, when the stores are closed, or in the backrooms. Even the customers buying the products will swap out the items in the stores if they think they might get away with it. The last thing a customer product swapper wants is a returned items paper trail using an ID all over town from swapping out expensive items for cheaper ones then returning it in expensive boxes. If you try to return it, you risk being caught or simply denied the return. People will even sometimes just walk off after attempting store merchandise fraud and failing and then leave the questionable items at the counter.

 

[BigPoppa]

Originally posted by: gorcorps
It's probably more common than people like to admit. My buddy got the replacement plan at best buy for his rock band 1 kit, and when he returned his faulty guitar they just swapped it with one from a new package... and then put the package back on the floor. Awful

Unless you watched them put it back on the floor, you're telling quite the lie there. The opened set is sent out with the broken item and Best Buy receives credit from the manufacturer. Theres actually zero reason they'd want to put it back on the floor.

 

[bobdole369]

If a store knowingly sells a used item as new - they violate the inferred warranty of merchantability. The stores know this, so if you bring the item back, 95% of the time they will simply swap it out. Notice that "New" means "unused". Also simply opening the package and putting it back together and returning it is the same as "New". OP is obviously dealing with a "used" product that was mistakenly sold as "New". If the store gave you any guff about a refund or a return you have every right and reason to sue them for your damages. Mistakes happen - stores have slim profit margins and they will take every opportunity to make back that money on the item that they accepted as a return. So they do this sort of stuff hoping the unsuspecting customer will not notice. It mostly works.

 

[oddyager]

Pretty common practice with mattresses, too, and it's not limited to those no-name stores.