Planning to return used gear...

[LarryHinDC]

Returning something is not the same as stealing.

You're right; buying something with the intent of using it and then returning it isn't stealing, it's fraud. The return policy is intended for people who make a legitimate purchase and find that the product didn't meet their needs.

 

[Jrock1062]

Here is the issue IMO just because it is legal doesn’t make it right. Taking advantage of anyone or thing (corporation) is wrong. Your sense of entitlement is way off base and your moral compass is not pointing in the right direction I don’t need a law to tell me right from wrong no one has to be honest but everyone should be

 

[Jrock1062]

I don't know about cosco's return policy, but lets look at lowes, and home depot. both have 90 no questions asked return policies, on most things, there are some items that have a 30 return limit. it does not say unused, unopened, or any other limitations, gas power items have to have the tank drained, power tools need to have all packageing, and parts, other than that return at will. as someone already pointed out, these two giants still have the lowest prices around, and will match their competors prices plus 10% if you find it lower. so where is there a price increase passed onto the consumer?

so if i take advantage of their pricing policy by finding something cheaper somewhere else, and asking them to match it plus the 10% does this mean I'm stealing as well???

I've talked with managers, not 18 year old store stockers, at the stores i deal with, and they have no problem with anyone using the policy, . they see it this way they will refund the money on 100 items, and book the sales of 10,000 items. even the returners spend money on the wood, drywall doors, shingles and such.

Have you checked there stock price lately poor behavior hurts people you just don’t see it. State pensions, 401ks, people’s savings, mutual funds. Your short sighted in deciding what bad behavior hurts who because you don’t believe its wrong then its ok that’s like me saying because it doesn’t effect me it fine you need to have a moral compass and look beyond yourself

 

[diverdowndh]

As a partial owner (and loyal customer) of Costco, I resent the suggestion that it is OK to abuse their liberal policy on returns. The policy exist so that those with ligitimate (and I don't need to define it, you know what I mean) issues can return merchandise without aggrivation. It is not so that unethical people can borrow merchandise.

I simply do not understand the mentality of people that think it is ok to take from "big corporations." Don't you realize that the owners of "big corporations" are just us everyday joes. You are stealing from us, not some big faceless entity.

No kidding... when some corporate VP rips the insides out of a company (can you say Joe Nachio and/or Qwest???) we stand back with our mouths open in disbelief. Whether on a large scale or small scale, if you devalue something and return it with the clear intentions you have spelled out, where does that lost value get repaid? That is stealing, short and simple. Taken or lost value that is not returned is stealing.

 

[ScubaSarus]

Oh come on!!!!!!

How do you think I get to wear new underware every week.

 

[cjaj_70]

IMHO, these two aren't related at all. If you have a problem with something your purchased, later had genuine second thoughts, or were just unhappy with your purchase, that's why Costco has their policy. But, to use your cell phone example, to walk into Cingular and get a free phone, use a couple of hundred minutes since your applying for jobs, and then return the phone after you landed a job, that's wrong. It's the buying, with the intent to return the item after you gotten your use of of it, that myself and others have a problem with.

The point i was making is the liberal interpretation of return policy is the reason they wont deal with the problem at the store.

 

[Otter]

I like the saying "Integrity is how you act when no one is watching."

 

[jeraldjcook]

What a coincidence, this is on CNN today.

Costco CEO gets $3.2M in '07, less than peers - Dec. 18, 2007

Towards the end of the article it talks about Costco's slip in earnings for 2007:
"The slip was partly tied to costs from an electronics returns policy the company concluded some customers were abusing, exchanging items such as flat-screen TVs long after they had bought them for models that had often dropped in price.

In March, the company ended its unlimited returns policy for consumer electronics, giving customers 90 days to return the items."

 

[diverdowndh]

Wow, it would be nice to hear from the poster who made the earlier statements about it not affecting big companies!

 

[Lead_carrier]

Why do you care if someone takes advantage of a giant faceless corporation like costco? If people taking advantage of return policies was hurting the bottom line, the policy would change. Maybe it's dishonest to buy something planning on returning it later, but seems strange that you would waste any emotion on poor costco.
It might be worth being bothered if people were doing this to a mom and pop shop, but costco? Give me a break.

Do you or have you ever worked at a mom and pop shop? you really ought to try it for a while. You will find that people try to do it to them just about as often as the big chains. And the stories that you hear are unbelievable. ( I guess they don't realize we dive also)

Either way, doing it with intent is stealing, period.