OT CompUSA Caution

[OnyxBlackheart]

Blame the change on eBayers, people who recieve 'promos', contest winners from manufacturers, and people who buy on the Net who return the product to CUSA and used to get refunded for it. I don't blame them for enforcing a 'must have a reciept' philosophy in that they were losing alot of money by giving poeple refunds for items that weren't purchased there. The only real way to make this better is to do 2 things:

1) Do what Fry's does and serialize everything. or
2) Do what Target does and issue Gift Reciepts so that if you do get something you dont like as a gift, you can return it.

Their new policy also is designed to stop the people from buying the product, trying it out (or using it just for the few days they need it), and then returning it.

Makes good business sense to me.

 

[wiin]

No wonder companies are going belly up. wayyyyy too many people ripping up stores in any way possible. hey why worry. we can always blame the foreigners for our failures. Anyone ever worked in a restaurant? The things people do to get a free meal is just unbelievable

 

[rbb]

OnyxBlackheart -

Actually, they are starting to put the serial number on the receipt for some items right now. When I bought my ATI 8500DV from them a couple of weeks ago, the computer prompted the cashier to record the serial number on the receipt.

RBB

 

[daddyo]

<< Their new policy also is designed to stop the people from buying the product, trying it out (or using it just for the few days they need it), and then returning it. >>



Suppose I bought a new Geforce 4, took it home, and tried to install it in my Epox motherboard, only to find that it doesn't fit.

Or suppose my PSU couldn't supply enough juice. Or some other oddity prevented it from working at all.

I really don't feel that it's my responsibility to take the burden of risk in a retail purchase. There's a reason most states have lemon laws when it comes to automobiles.

CompUSA is crap, and I wouldn't buy anything over $30 from them.

 

[GetReal]

<<

<< Their new policy also is designed to stop the people from buying the product, trying it out (or using it just for the few days they need it), and then returning it. >>



Suppose I bought a new Geforce 4, took it home, and tried to install it in my Epox motherboard, only to find that it doesn't fit.

Or suppose my PSU couldn't supply enough juice. Or some other oddity prevented it from working at all.

I really don't feel that it's my responsibility to take the burden of risk in a retail purchase. There's a reason most states have lemon laws when it comes to automobiles.

CompUSA is crap, and I wouldn't buy anything over $30 from them. >>



Hmmm... Lemon laws have nothing to with a consumers inability to reasearch the product that they are purchasing or to cover impulsive purchases where the consumer changes their mind after using the product. Lemon laws cover reoccuring product defects. In the cases you mentioned above, the defect is clearly the consumer. While I agree CompUSA is about as bad as it get in retailing, it is not their responsibility to absorb the cost of consumer incompetence. This is why that they have to implement and enforce such strict return policies in the frst place. Manufacturers provide specifications for the products that they sell and a few minutes reasearch by lazy consumers will save us all a lot of money since such actions by consumers are simply passed along to those who who really don't deserve it.

 

[loudmouth]

yep...CompUSA sucks. Found this out the hard way. I bought something, don't remember what, on my credit card and went back to return it a few days later but didn't have my receipt the store didn't take it back. I told them it was on my CC and I would have proof but they still wouldn't consider even giving me a Gift Card...bas-tards. From tht day I refuse to shop at CompUSA.


I remember it was Red Alert and yes it was sealed. Once they lost me they lost 50 other people. When will these companies learn. There are going to be those that abuse the policy but it better in the long run.

 

[SunnyD]

After taking 9 months to get me my $75 rebate off one of the two SprintPCS phones I bought from them (the other rebate I gor after 4 months)... calling 3 times, faxing copies of receipts to them twice, and talking to managers of the store twice, you wonder why my forbids me to shop there anymore.

Incidentally, CompUCrap ended up giving me a gift cert from the store for $75, then a week later I got a cash check for $75 to cover the rebate, and a $10 giftcard as an appology for the mess. I came out ahead in the end, but I feel like I deserve it.

SunnyD

 

[ajf3]

Actually... Target and gap just changed their return policy recently - another store did too, but I can't recall which one it was. Anyway the new policy is no receipt, too bad - no cash, no gift card, no "lowest sale price" credit - nada.

They can however, pull up the transaction from your credit card if you don't have the physical receipt.

 

[MarkM]

two comments:

1) that CompUSA follows their long-standing and clearly published (as in, printed on every receipt you get from them) policies is hardly news, let alone a hot deal. This has been theri policy for AT LEAST FIVE YEARS, and was enforced that long ago when I tried to do a return just a day too late.

2) why does it seem more and more people who celarly know better (to the point they even label their thread "OT") keep posting things that don't belong here?

 

[ajf3]

Ah - just remembered: Old Navy.

All three of these require receipts or the cc used for purchase for _any_ kind of return. I believe Old Navy even requires it for an _exchange_ (ie, a different color or different size of the same item).

fwiw - the register girl said it was due to "theft'.

 

[daddyo]

Hmmm... Lemon laws have nothing to with a consumers inability to reasearch the product that they are purchasing or to cover impulsive purchases where the consumer changes their mind after using the product. Lemon laws cover reoccuring product defects. In the cases you mentioned above, the defect is clearly the consumer. While I agree CompUSA is about as bad as it get in retailing, it is not their responsibility to absorb the cost of consumer incompetence. This is why that they have to implement and enforce such strict return policies in the frst place. Manufacturers provide specifications for the products that they sell and a few minutes reasearch by lazy consumers will save us all a lot of money since such actions by consumers are simply passed along to those who who really don't deserve it.

Can we reasonably expect every person who buys a piece of computer equipment to visit forums such as these and read through reams of senseless dribble to deduce whether or not their particular combination of video cards, sound cards, virus scanners, network cards, and operating systems will peacefully co-exist?? I think not.

There are FAR, FAR too many variables in a computer system to be gauranteed that a new component will be compatible. Honestly, I think a better solution would be for CompUSA to be allowed to resell returned merchandise at the original sale price, as long as it's tested to be functional. That's just the cost of goods sold in my book. The other option is to require the manufacturer to accept returns plus shipping costs, but I think that's impossible with a majority of these companies calling home overseas.

 

[Vic]

<< Hell, a store about 15 min away from me has 4 tires hanging in the break room because they retuned them after a lady swore up and down that she bought them at that Home Depot. If your loud, you get a rebate. If you scream, get a full refund and keep the product, no charge! >>



Urban Legend, scroll down for the part about how Home Depot hijacked an old Nordstroms legend.

Back on topic, yes, CompUSA's return policy blows, I have to agree.
Frys' policy is amazing. Last time I needed to make a return, for a wireless keyboard and mouse that crapped out on the 31st day (believe it or not), they still accepted the return even though it was after 30 days.

 

[kermalou]

<< Good to know.
Nothing beats frys return policy! >>



what return policy?

 

[geckojohn]

Fry's has a pretty good return policy. You can try anything out in your computer and still return it for a refund. I used to "try" out different video cards on my computer to see how they were like.

 

[XFreebie]

the reason why fry's return policy is so lax is because they know half the crap they sell is crap. fry's has some of the most defective things especially generic stuff. and u cant return stuff w/o a receipt so u better hold onto it

 

[DowntownII]

So what about CompUSA rebates? I got a Pinnacle TV card from there just before X-mas. The rebate was supposed to be submitted within 1 week of the end of the promotion. Why does CompUSA only give a week when most other places give a month or so?

 

[John P]

<< So what about CompUSA rebates? I got a Pinnacle TV card from there just before X-mas. The rebate was supposed to be submitted within 1 week of the end of the promotion. Why does CompUSA only give a week when most other places give a month or so? >>



I'm gonna go out on a limb here and guess......ummmm......So they can make more money off procrastinators??

 

[lnaComputer]

Another reason is once you cut off the UPC you can't return it, BTW I just got my check for the Pinnacle card and $100 for my activelink/Handspring so at least they started actually paying out their rebates.

 

[boa]

Just remember,m while you are there this week, pick up Serious Sam: The Second Encounter It will be the best $10 you ever spent!

I did an impulse buy of the Predator Sound card. Get this, not only do you have 1 week to send in the rebate, but you also must install the card AND register online before sending the rebate!!!

From now on, CompUSA is a store I will buy only extremely good sale item at (like Serious Sam).

 

[Imdmn04]

i never had any problems returning stuff to compUSA and i have never been charged for the 15% restocking fee.

usually all you need to do is say the product you bought is not in working condition, when they ask me if i opened the box, i tell them"how the hell am i suppose to know if its working unless i open the godamn box and try it" and use as much technical jargon as you can(those people doesnt know jack sh!t) and most of the time after hearing your rambling, they will refund your money back.

 

[vinnyracer]

good one

 

[Havok13154]

<< i never had any problems returning stuff to compUSA and i have never been charged for the 15% restocking fee.

usually all you need to do is say the product you bought is not in working condition, when they ask me if i opened the box, i tell them"how the hell am i suppose to know if its working unless i open the godamn box and try it" and use as much technical jargon as you can(those people doesnt know jack sh!t) and most of the time after hearing your rambling, they will refund your money back. >>



i work for compusa and if you came in acting like an ass about it not working i would give you another one and put exchanve on teh recet so if you brought it back your would get charged the 15%, if you came in and said that it was haivng problems and you where trying to get it to work and your coulndn't and you where NICE i would give you a full refund.

and yes compusa is going down hill, only if the stupid ppl would stop buying from usso i could sit at home and sleep lol

 

[rimshaker]

This goes to show Compusa is losing money up the yinyang. When they started that 15% restocking fee, you know the company is short on cash. Only a matter of time b4 they collapse due to Best Buy.