Originally posted by: masterxfob
Originally posted by: bentwookie
Originally posted by: nikko
I returned a 4 year old 19" monitor that died on me. I didn't have the receipt, but I did have the box. They told me they don't typically return things that old (especially since it was discontinued), but that they would do it for me that time, and they gave me a store credit for the amount I originally paid. For what it's worth, it's the first and only time I've done that. If someone started to abuse the policy, I'm sure they'd note it on their membership profile.
I returned a scanner that was 5 years old. I found the receipt when cleaning out my file cabinet... tried to return it in the store but was rejected by the assistant manager.
I called back a couple days later to speak to the manager and actually got the visiting regional manager.
She approved the return without hesitation...the look on the assistant managers face was classic when he handed me back $370 for a friggin scanner...
this is the definition of abusing the warranty. thanks to people like you, everyone else pays a little more :disgust:
Originally posted by: zaku
you'll need a receipt, and box. but they don't have a time limit on returns. the customer rep told me they 'like' you to return electronic within 2 years, but you can return it later. only thing is the computer packages they sell, i think those are 6 month return period.
What?? That's... amazing! I didn't know that. Maybe BestBuy stores should shop for goods there.Originally posted by: Deucer
Costco is awesome. They can offer this guarauntee because they could be making much more money, but they limit thier profit margin to 10% over cost (this is mandated corporate policy, and any manager whose store goes over 10% is in violation).
That's all rather interesting. Where did you learn of this info? Do Costco publically advertise this somewhere?Originally posted by: Deucer
The rest of their bulk discount savings is passed on to the customer, so the only thing that will result from abusing this policy is higher prices to the consumer at Costco, with the company making pretty much the same amount (maybe a little less due to slightly decreased sales volume).
In short, try not to abuse the policy, this is a great company, with great products at reasonable prices.
Originally posted by: PoPPeR
the reason (from what i've been told) that Costco can offer these generous policies is because of the deals they have with their suppliers. Costco has incredible moving power, and in return the companies allow them to return whatever, whenever, and Costco passes it on to you. They don't care what you're returning for the most part because they don't have to deal with it. It goes straight to the supplier.
Originally posted by: ams30gts
i work at costco and you do not need to have a receipt of box.
everything has a lifetime warranty except computers that have a 6 month.
if you have a receipt you will receive 100% of what you paid. If you dont have a receipt, you will get back what the lowest price was when it was still being sold there.
but trust me, it is true about the warranty.
for example, i bought a AIWA stereo like 5 years ago. cd player broke so i took it back with the original receipt and got full credit for it
And a couple of months ago they stopped mounting and balancing customer tires (tires you bought somewhere else, like Tire Rack).Originally posted by: davedeal
Originally posted by: Classicmac
The local Costco was happy to reprint the receipt for me for an item I purchased a year ago. I was then able to exchange it for a working item. I also went in to have my tires rotated (which came with my new car). I was ready to pay a reasonable price for the tire rotation but they told me that it was free whether I bought it there or not. They tried to get me to pay to have them balanced but I decided against it.
Costco used to rotate or repair every member's tires for free regardless of where they were purchased, however as of Nov. 1st they will only rotate/repair tires that were purchased from them.
Originally posted by: masterxfob
Originally posted by: bentwookie
I returned a scanner that was 5 years old. I found the receipt when cleaning out my file cabinet... tried to return it in the store but was rejected by the assistant manager.
I called back a couple days later to speak to the manager and actually got the visiting regional manager.
She approved the return without hesitation...the look on the assistant managers face was classic when he handed me back $370 for a friggin scanner...
this is the definition of abusing the warranty. thanks to people like you, everyone else pays a little more :disgust:
Originally posted by: masterxfob
Originally posted by: bentwookie
Originally posted by: nikko
I returned a 4 year old 19" monitor that died on me. I didn't have the receipt, but I did have the box. They told me they don't typically return things that old (especially since it was discontinued), but that they would do it for me that time, and they gave me a store credit for the amount I originally paid. For what it's worth, it's the first and only time I've done that. If someone started to abuse the policy, I'm sure they'd note it on their membership profile.
I returned a scanner that was 5 years old. I found the receipt when cleaning out my file cabinet... tried to return it in the store but was rejected by the assistant manager.
I called back a couple days later to speak to the manager and actually got the visiting regional manager.
She approved the return without hesitation...the look on the assistant managers face was classic when he handed me back $370 for a friggin scanner...
this is the definition of abusing the warranty. thanks to people like you, everyone else pays a little more :disgust:
Originally posted by: MickDD
Well there has been a lot of truth, and misinformation posted here. I have been a Costco employee for the past four years and am proud to work for a company that strives to take care of its customers(members).
First, as far as the tires are concerned there was a policy change regarding services offered, it is true that the balancing, rotating, and in some locations air to nitrogen exchange wil be performed only if your tires were purchased at Costco. It is simply to hard for the stores to take care of members who purchased their tires at Costco when we are also taking care of everyone elses tires too. There are usually two really good tire sales a year.
Secondly, THERE IS NO LIFETIME WARRANTY. Rather as stated it is a satisfaction guarantee. Quite simply, if you do not feel you received a good value from the goods purchased you can return them. Six months is the limit on computers due to abuse of the policy in the past. COSTCO IS NOT A FREE LIFETIME UPGRADE FACILITY. I have seen soaker hoses returned because they leaked, a handful of peanuts from a two pound container because they were stale, and some of the choicest prime rib because it was purchased by mistake. All of that aside, we do not get 100% credit from our suppliers. Some products that are in pristine condition are shipped to discount stores for resale. Sadly some merchandise has to be destroyed. The warehouse takes a hit for these costs and it is taken out of its gross profitability at the end of the fiscal year.
We are not held to a 10% profit margin by warehouse. Most warehouses would like to maintain a 15% margin on goods sold. Some departments enjoy a larger markup than others. This is determined by the costs associated with being able to offer the product. Just like any other business! If Costco receives a better price on a product, regardless of demand, it passes the savings on to our members. We take a hit on Wall Street for this practice but without members none of us has a reason to go to work! Most of the profit and buying power is generated by membership sales. The money paid for membership allows you to shop at the warehouses and take advantage of our buying power. Our job then is to ensure we have quality products that will provide a good value to our members.
Executive members earn 2% on purchase with the exclusion of gas, tobacco, and phamacy purchases. They also enjoy access to a lot of other services including travel, car purchasing, insurance, etc. These services do vary according to the state the warehouse is located in. I order my checks from Costco.com because they are much cheaper than my bank.
We do not offer a lot of computer components. Right now, WD 250GB Hard drives run about $129.99 . No video cards, which is kind of a bummer.
All in all Costco is a great company to work for and buy from!
Take care ATers and I hope to see you in the store somday!
Originally posted by: Deucer
Costco is awesome. They can offer this guarauntee because they could be making much more money, but they limit thier profit margin to 10% over cost (this is mandated corporate policy, and any manager whose store goes over 10% is in violation). The rest of their bulk discount savings is passed on to the customer, so the only thing that will result from abusing this policy is higher prices to the consumer at Costco, with the company making pretty much the same amount (maybe a little less due to slightly decreased sales volume).
In short, try not to abuse the policy, this is a great company, with great products at reasonable prices.
"Our margin goal is 10%, and there'd better be a very good reason you
did better than that," Lyons explains. "Otherwise Jim will say,
'Well, why didn't you lower prices?'"
Originally posted by: FrankyJunior
So you can buy a TV at a certain price and then a couple yaers later, return it and get a far better TV for the same price? And just keep doing that forever? That's interesting.