Costco Return Policy

[My Dream]

I was at Costco yesterday evening with my DW returning a Kirkland brand type saran wrap since I had to move the box the edge of the counter to utilize the sharp metal serrated edge to get a proper cut. In other words it usually just tore instead of cut the plastic wrap. I ended up exchanging it for the type that you just slide a plastic cutter along the top.

On to my topic at hand. The person in front of me was returning an office type chair (recliner) that had approximately 8 rips mostly to one side of the chair which appears to have been rubbing up again some object for quite some time. Along with the rips in the fabric it had several paint stains on it. It didn't look like a manufactures defect, but I was totally surprised when I over heard that the item was purchased over 3 years ago. The last things I heard was the customer repeating the words, " no way, no way” several times and ultimately getting her money back. Once before I saw a customer (Costco) return a DVD player because she claims that it didn't come with the instructions manual. The employee told the customer that it can be obtained online for free, and that it was odd that this customer noticed the manual was missing after 2 1/2 years. Keep in mind that there was nothing wrong with the DVD player. When the employee stated that they could get the manual and mail it to the customer, she simply replied that they had already purchased another DVD player and that she just wanted her money back.


I just don't get it!

[poboy]

Back in the dark ages I had a job at sears while in college and worked in the shoe department. People would bring back shoes that looked as if they had used to test stopping ability against shotguns. Since the "uppers" were guaranteed, policy was to replace with a new pair, which we did.

[dex]

The simple answer is - People sell their integrity for very little mone

[cute fuzzy bunny]

Yep, costco had to revise their computer return policy when people started buying laptops there and then returning them after 2 years and buying a new one. Now its six months for computers.

That having been said, the costco return policy has worked out well for me. I bought a set of their cookware and about a year later all the coating came off of two of the pans. I think it was just not anodized properly. I sheepishly called and asked if they could be returned. You bet...I didnt need the original box or other stuff, just bring them back. Slapped cash in my hand and I bought another set.

Usually costco's prices are the best for the quality...sometimes they arent...but with a satisfaction guarantee like this i'll pay a little extra.

Sams Club offers the same type of policy, implemented a little under a year ago. However the sams version is sometimes used to avoid having to actually service the customer. Bought my wife a nice $500 watch from the samsclub.com web site a couple of years ago. It stopped working about 3 months later. The local watch repair guy said he couldnt get parts for it. I could find no mention of the manufacturer and how to send in a watch for repair. When I bought it into the store the employee at the jewelry counter said "well, we dont carry that watch here, so I cant help you with getting it fixed...just go over there and return it and get something else". Which I did.

For both the "unwritten" policy is that they'll take stuff inside of a year, with manager approval usually called for when the return is made more than a year later.

Dex is right though...fatwallet is laden with people bragging about how they regularly and consistently take advantage of the costco return policy.