Costco LIFETIME warranty?

[Maximus96]

i went and bought a 17" Princeton LCD for the wife after reading this thread. Its about $100 more than other 17" from online places like Newegg, but i justify that by the peace of mind and the length of return period. As a matter of fact, i have to go and see how my local store handles it because the LCD has an absurd number of dead pixels, i counted past 25 and stopped counting. i wonder if its the way the cashier just picked it up from one cart and tossed(!) it into another cart.

 

[ams30gts]

could possibly be. was probably a seasonal worker

 

[CheetahMk2]

Costco is great. I swear I will buy any laptops I need to from there, they are that good. True, I'll be stuck with preconfigured models, but considering I got one from them and the monitor started to get dead pixels after 5 months and they let me exchange it says worlds about customer service. I don't understand why you would try returning something after YEARS, but they are trying to be nice. Don't dick them over, especially since they are nice.

 

[critzi]

Costco also has excellent prices in its pharmacy dept, and you DO NOT have to be a member to have your prescriptions filled there! Anyone can come in, without a membership card, and get their meds at low prices.

 

[IEC]

Originally posted by: BarneyFife
I agree. Don't abuse the policy. If you buy a tv and it lasts 6 years and breaks, just move on.

Agreed. If it breaks within a few years that's understandable, but a freaking 6 years? I mean, come on...

 

[Superdoopercooper]

I've been wanting to purchase a plasma TV but would have to finance it currently and I don't have an AMEX card. I've heard that on most AMEX cards, you have to pay off the balance ever month. Is that true with the Costco offering?

Why don't you wait and save up the $$, and then pay cash with your debit card. You'll really enjoy the TV much more if you aren't paying for it every month for the next 2 years.

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: ams30gts
could possibly be. was probably a seasonal worker

I wouldn't have let anybody throw that box. Or if I did, I would have been angry with them (and myself). Of course, you should return it. I bought my LCD online from Dell, and it has no dead pixels (Planar PX191). Shipped Fedex, I guess. When you buy certain types of things you shouldn't let checkout people abuse them, is my experience. I checked out a few DVD's from my local library a couple of days ago and the guy pulling the disks to put in the empty DVD cases was just handling them like they were big silver dollars. I admonished him after the first and he started holding them correctly. It's not like he'd never heard how to properly do it, it's just that he didn't GAF. He probably doesn't have a DVD player. Almost all DVD's from the library have finger prints on them and I used to figure them to be from borrowers. Now I have to think they are just as apt to be by the library staff.

 

[aphex187]

I think Costco is different compared to many retailers...

Costco requires a membership that you have to pay for. Its money out of pocket for the first year, however if you have a executive membership it pays for itself (your 2% over a year can pay for the membership itself at the very least if your a regular shopper)

One thing about Costco is outside of electronics and clothing you tend to buy in bulk, which means you spend more money. Most people I know shop in Costco on a regular basis because Costco tends to offer great prices and quality product. IMHO they are way above Sams Club in terms of quality of product and quality of service.

People spend a *lot* of money as costco members, for instance, our 2% back check last year was over $300 which means we spent well over $15K in the year at costco. NO other retailer we do business with probably gets that kind of money from just us. This is why costco can do what they do and us members PAY for the priviledge of being able to return stuff beyond what most retailers would. I ususally wont return something over a year after I've purchased it unless it goes defective.

People buy extended warranties from Best Buy and other retailers all the time. With this warranty they too will take a product back a few years after the fact and most likely replace it (since the original product is no longer for sale). The differerence between Costco and these other retailers is that with Costco, you've alreay paid for the priviledge up front.

I spend a lot of money at costco and pay my dues (on 2 accounts no less, business and home). If people want to return stuff way after the fact and Costco takes it - its fine with me. Costco knows people will do this and accept it. They purchase in bulk and sell in bulk, they make a good profit or they wouldn't be in business.

To those of you that worry that Costco will stop doing this with returns - stop. Its part of Costcos business plan - they wouldn't be doing so well if they didnt have policies like this. Its one of the core reasons people shop at costco. Its the Nordstroms of bulk retailers.

 

[apinkus]

After reading the posts here, I went to Costco today with a Carpet Cleaner I had purchaed at Costco that had stoped working recently. Not knowing when I had purchased the item, no reciept or box. I took it to my local Costco. They had trouble finding the item in their database. They suggested I do my regular shopping while they researched the item. After being in the store about 45 minutes, I decided to see if they had made any headway. The young woman told me they had found the item # in their database which was deleted sometime in 2000. Which made the Carpert Cleaner over 4 years old. She then proceeded to issue me a Costco Cash Card For $248. The last selling price at the time the item was last sold at the Store.

With a Return Policy like this I plan on buying at Costco more and more.

This is True Customer Service. Hats off to all the folks at Costco.



Alex

 

[sat4fun]

Just took back a lawnmower that I (ab)used for the season. I got a new lawn and wanted a new mower. The return clerk asked the reason for the return. My reply, I am returning it because you will take it back. No other questioned asked. Am I abusing the policy? No. They have a generous return policy. Using a generous policy does not an abuser make.

EDIT: This is why Costco kicks ass over Sam's. Ninety days, with receipt for Sam's.

 

[JafCo]

Originally posted by: Muse

Originally posted by: Gothgar
Costco is badass... my favorite place to shop, for just about anything, I have gotten all my pants there for a while, where else can you get a nice pair of wool slacks for 20 bucks?

Well, I've never bought pants at Costco probably because I figure there's no way I can try them on. At Ross, they have try-on rooms with mirrors. I bought a very nice shirt or two at Costco, though, and reasonably and I'm wearing my favorite coat at this very moment, bought at Costco for a great price. Got some great sheep skin slippers there a couple weeks ago at a great price. I've not used the return policy much at all, but will keep it in mind now. I did return one or two things, in like-new condition and soon after purchase. If I'd been thinking of the return policy I probably would have gone ahead and purchased the Pelican Xbox wireless controllers for $40 a couple of weeks ago. It was the only set I saw there, but don't have any Xbox stuff yet, so I figured I wouldn't. I could have returned them if I didn't think I would want them or use them.

(a) the Pelican XBOX controllers are just fine. Especially for 2/40.
(b) just buy the pants and try them on at home, and then take them back if they are the wrong size. Wrong size is a classic, legitimate return reason. Noone would ever accuse you of abusing a return policy for that.

 

[cirthix]

i bought my lcd from costo about two years ago. if it ever breaks, i'll know that costo has a good return policy. thanks op for making this thread

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: JafCo

Originally posted by: Muse

Originally posted by: Gothgar
Costco is badass... my favorite place to shop, for just about anything, I have gotten all my pants there for a while, where else can you get a nice pair of wool slacks for 20 bucks?

Well, I've never bought pants at Costco probably because I figure there's no way I can try them on. At Ross, they have try-on rooms with mirrors. I bought a very nice shirt or two at Costco, though, and reasonably and I'm wearing my favorite coat at this very moment, bought at Costco for a great price. Got some great sheep skin slippers there a couple weeks ago at a great price. I've not used the return policy much at all, but will keep it in mind now. I did return one or two things, in like-new condition and soon after purchase. If I'd been thinking of the return policy I probably would have gone ahead and purchased the Pelican Xbox wireless controllers for $40 a couple of weeks ago. It was the only set I saw there, but don't have any Xbox stuff yet, so I figured I wouldn't. I could have returned them if I didn't think I would want them or use them.

(a) the Pelican XBOX controllers are just fine. Especially for 2/40.
(b) just buy the pants and try them on at home, and then take them back if they are the wrong size. Wrong size is a classic, legitimate return reason. Noone would ever accuse you of abusing a return policy for that.

I guess that didn't occur to me because I don't go by there all the time. It's around a 5 mile trip each way, and I go in about every 2 months. I suppose I could still return the ill-fitting pants after two months, however I know they may well not be featuring the item in two months. If that were true, they'd probably have to bulldoze those pants, which seems a shame. I'll look for those controllers next time I go in, which will be within 3 weeks - they didn't have the soda I'm addicted to, so I have to.

 

[imported_gimper48]

Costco return policy rocks... I bought a Leather furniture set from them 2 years ago. A seem started to come loose on the back of one of the pieces. Since they no longer carry that product they are taking the entire set back and refunding me my entire purchase price tax, ship everything. I will be buying my next sofa from them for absolutely sure. This is incredible... No hassle at all they just looked up my reciept online (only works if you bought it online) and said yeah no problem. Someone will call me in 4-6 weeks. I got a call in 3 days and they picked it up in 2 weeks from the time I called. They rock absolutely.

 

[iwearnosox]

Props to Costco, the last company out there to truly care about the customer. Please, don't abuse them. :beer:

 

[SirPsycho]

Yeah, this reminds me... I'd like to go check out the new Costco Home store in Tempe. Has anyone been there yet, or to the one in Kirkland, WA? I bought a Lane leather chair from the local warehouse here in Phoenix, and it was a great deal at $400. I ended up sleeping in this chair for several weeks after I had sinus surgery so I could sleep upright, and it was about as comfortable as my $2000 Tempurpedic bed. I wish I would have bought the matching couches when they still had them.

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: iwearnosox
Props to Costco, the last company out there to truly care about the customer. Please, don't abuse them. :beer:

I dig Costco, well a lot of the time. I have been grossed out a few times. Anyway, I was at my local Costco a few months ago and the first thing I did was buy gas. I used my ATM card and forgot to pull it from the machine. A day or two later I got a call from a Costco guy telling me I'd forgotten my card. I said I don't normally get over that way except to shop there and it's usually about every other month, and his response was that they will keep the card for me until I come in and ask for it. Two months later, I go to Costco and go up to the personnel and ask for my card. The guy rifles through a box and says they don't have it. He wants me to accept this as my lot. I ask to speak to a supervisor. Another guy looks for it and tells me basically the same thing. These guys are getting pretty abusive already. I insist on speaking to a manager. They tell me they put lost cards in a box and they keep them for 30 days, tops, then they throw them away. I'm upset, of course, but what can I do? I go into the store to shop. Around 15-20 minutes later the woman manager finds me on the floor and hands me my card. Evidently the guy I'd talked to on the phone initially had placed the card somewhere other than the "accepted practice."

 

[bman46]

COstco is by far the greatest and most reputable company on the face of this earth. They even give you a 1 year no questions asked return policy on any computer purchase. Try to find another company that will offer that. I even know people who returned a half eaten box of cookies that went moldy after a few months and Costco gave them half their money back with no problems. Im a big fan!

 

[LIVAN]

2 months is a long time for people to keep your card. It seems to me if you waited two months to go get it, it must not be tht important to you so why should they treat it as something important. I think it's a testament to Costco that they actually found it.

 

[deepinya]

Originally posted by: LIVAN
2 months is a long time for people to keep your card. It seems to me if you waited two months to go get it, it must not be tht important to you so why should they treat it as something important. I think it's a testament to Costco that they actually found it.

Yeah seriously. It would have been easier to cancel the card and get a new one. You should consider yourself LUCKY that they still had it.

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: deepinya

Originally posted by: LIVAN
2 months is a long time for people to keep your card. It seems to me if you waited two months to go get it, it must not be tht important to you so why should they treat it as something important. I think it's a testament to Costco that they actually found it.

Yeah seriously. It would have been easier to cancel the card and get a new one. You should consider yourself LUCKY that they still had it.

Yeah, I did. Thing is, it wasn't worth it for me to drive 12 miles and spend a good hour or more to fetch it. I just figured I'd take my chances and go in two months on my regular trip. The guy did say it would be there waiting for me and he didn't sound like a dunce, so I figured I'd chance it. Worst come to worst, I get another from the bank. It wasn't a check card, just an ATM card, so I wasn't too worried.

 

[jrichrds]

Originally posted by: MuseYeah, I did. Thing is, it wasn't worth it for me to drive 12 miles and spend a good hour or more to fetch it. I just figured I'd take my chances and go in two months on my regular trip.

Beats me why you were so upset they initially didn't have it for you then.
The responsibility still lies with you for losing the card, and then expecting a store to hold it for you for 2 months until it's convenient for you to pick it up.

 

[jck8r]

Originally posted by: LIVAN
2 months is a long time for people to keep your card. It seems to me if you waited two months to go get it, it must not be tht important to you so why should they treat it as something important. I think it's a testament to Costco that they actually found it.

Irresponsible to just leave people with your card.

 

[popeye44]

One of the greatest/annoying things about costco "depends on your POV..." is that every store carries something different. We have 3 stores here in Fresno and each one will have something different. different clothes, Different seasonal items. Different folding chairs etc. To drive from one to another costco here takes 30 minutes at a time so it's very hard to get an idea of what each store has at a given moment.

We've shopped there and thought well we'll just pick that up at the other costco close to the house.. and everytime the one close to house hasn't had it. I think it's great that corporate allows that much leeway in what a store can offer. But it does make it a pain to shop sometimes hehe.

I may start buying my hard drives there as I seem to break drives about 3 days after that 1 year warranty most drive companies have.

Great post OP. I haven't ever returned anything to a costco yet. But I think I will be shopping there for more of my consumer electronics and household stuff.

"it's funny but knowing about a policy and actually remembering they have one when you go to shop can be very hard!"

 

[romav]

Costco is awesome. I actually pay more for some items at Costco because I know that if it fails or I don't like it I can return it without hassle.

I don't abuse that privilege but I have returned a lot of stuff over the years.

Not everything they take back goes back to the manufacturers. Computers are refurbed by Costco in their own facility and you can buy them on-line.

On reason Costco can be so generous is that a nice amount of their profits come from annual fees.