restocking fees

[browercreed]

Recently I was searching for a digital camera for my son. Best Buy, Target, and several others told me he could return the camera if he didn't like it, but there would be a 15% restocking fee. I have seen several mention on this forum that they would try a camera and return it if it didn't meet their expectations. This will prove rather costly in the future. Perhaps the days of tryng a camera within a certain time period may be over. Has anyone else experienced this?

[talkingdog]

I had that happen to me at Circuit City on a video camera. picture was fine in the store with the bright lights. Not so good at home with regular lighting, grainy. Tried to return for upgrade but would still have the restock fee. I don't buy much from those places anymore for anything. Go to Costco you can return almost anything. Had a 2 year old Sea Doo tube that popped and they took it back. Computers are the only things with a limited return time.

[pagnamenta]

I'm guessing you live in the U.S. because of the store names. If you want to get around the 15% restocking fee, have your son (a minor) purchase the camera with cash or check from his own bank account. Because he is a minor, no contract is final and he can return the camera at any time, as long as it is in the same condition as he bought it in.

[browercreed]

Don't guess that will work cause my son is not a minor - he's 21 now and in college. Guess I'll get one from Walmart since they don't charge those fees yet. I had just noticed several ppl on this forum would buy several and try them then return them. That could get rather expensive.

[SpecialK]

Being a retail customer service manager for a hobby-goods company with a bunch of stores and a website, I understand both sides of the restocking fee issue.

We often get items that may be returned as "new", but they are in hardly resellable condition - smashed or UPS-labelled packages, ripped-open plastic bags, etc. We can not sell them as new, and we only hope we get "near-new" prices for those items someday in a warehouse sale.

We also have to pay someone (if I don't do it myself) to open the box, see if it really is complete, new and working, process the return paperwork, and have somebody in the warehouse put it all away.

There is more to it than, "gee, my $149 camera really sucks with only 2 MP and 3x f5.7 lens, and even though I never read a review and apparently I never tried it at the store, I'm going to return this almost like new item that my baby only spit up on once, because I want a XTi instead. The store should do that shouldn't they?"

No, we shouldn't.

[browercreed]

I never realized how ppl abused the return policy until I came to this forum. On one, the guy had "banged up" his camera and was returning it for another one. This sorta messes it up for those who have a legitimate reason to return their item. As for me, I will just have to have my son choose the one he wants before purchasing it. Only thing is, they said they would charge that even if you got it and found it defective. To me that's not quite fair, but you should have to return it within a very short period of time.
Just reading the messages here though, many ppl will be affected by this policy.

[Rhys]

I can see a day when returns are like they are in Britain. In Britain once you buy something, that's it. It's yours and you cannot return it unless it's defective (not damaged by the end user). Even then, you have to force the store to give a refund rather than a credit by citing the Sale of Goods Act 1984 (goods must be fit for the purpose for which they are sold and be of merchentable quality).

[pdxmatts]

We bought a SD800IS camera from Circuit City. When we opened it, the AV input plastic door was ajar and we could not close it. We took it back within 30 minutes of buying it.

They said it was not defective and that we just had to wedge the rubber seal in a certain way for it to close. We said no thanks, we know what defective is. They refused to let us return it without a restocking fee or an exchange because they said we opened it and that they could not resell it. We never even used it. No seals were broken. Ridiculous! So, after a long battle with them, we exchanged it for a different camera (any camera just to get out of there before the manager got punched):mad:

The very next day I went to a different CC and returned the exchanged camera unopened and did not pay the fee. How stupid was this, we had to go through all of that running around and exchanging and fighting and gas. Do not do business with CC, you will regret it if there is a problem or you simply changed your mind about the product. I am sure Best Buy will be the same.

I will only buy from Costco now, no hassles at all and you can actually open the camera and try it and if you are not completely satisfied even 6 months later, they will take it back and refund all plus shipping. I would rather have that piece of mind, even if I have to pay alittle more than the online guys. Although Costco prices are outstanding most of the time.:D

[davew]

So I get my D50 @ the local ritz (Scranton PA)
At end of sale they toss in this big cd cover type thing with software, printer paper, a few cd’s and this Xerox paper with a class schedule and stuff on it.

Well there was dust up inside the camera and it bothered me to look through the eyepiece and see the dust.

(No it was not on the lens or the mirror or sensor it was somewhere else that just annoyed me every time I looked into the viewfinder)
So I figured I would take the camera back after only 4 days of use
Then go to C City and have them price match the price and get a new one..
This is where the fun begins

I walk over to the Ritz Camera Both in my local Scranton PA Boscovs store,
I have all the stuff (so i thought) and the receipt.
They look over the camera quick and then open the software package (NOT THE NIKON SOFTWARE mind you, they toss in extra stuff of their OWN)
They ask where the Xerox paper with the class schedule is and that they wont return the D50 without it OR if they do return the D50 they are going to minus me 300$ back because the Xerox paper with the class schedule and the printed tickets for free classes are worth $300 and need to be put back into their inventory?????????????????????????
I explained I will not even take your classes so what does it matter?
I at that point DID hit the roof
I explained you want to give me $285 back TOTAL when I Paid $585?
They stated that was policy..

This crap isn’t even on the receipt how can it be LEGAL?
How can they pull this kind of stunt?

They toss this cap in the bag at the end of the sale and explain nothing they just tell you that there is a free class schedule and passes in there and some cd’s and printer paper..

It is not stated anywhere on the receipt that you have to even bring the cd’s and stuff back ?


SO I wanted a manager and the girl at the counter called her manager on her Cell and stated the manager was on her way in..

15 minutes go by and the manager shows up and explains the SAME EXACT thing to me.

After battling wither for about 5 minutes and letting her know I am NOT leaving her booth without my $585.00 in CASH as that is what I paid she agreed to take said camera Back.
and give me a full refund.


That local ritz outlet lost me for good over that

[pdxmatts]

Who did you end up buying you next D50 from? Or did you even get the same camera?

[pagnamenta]

Unforunately all returns are up to the manager and in most cases the managers are going to be rude and not want to return you your money. The digital extra package as it's called, is scanned into the computer for $300 then they equal it out so that you don't have to pay for it. They actually keep an inventory of how many they have left, I don't know why. When I sold cameras, I would scan everything out and it would show up on the receit.

Good you got things settled out. I would avoid Wolf/Ritz unless you know exactly what you want.

[francisquito]

Dont buy at Circuit city or any retail.
They will make you go through hassle before you can return your stuff, they want to make the sale or at least take the restocking fee...A steal.
Last time at CC in union city I tried to return a plasma tv and they didnt want to get it just because it was missing 4 screws that you can get at your local hardware or anywhere...and they were not even needed to operate the tv or anything like that, it was only optional hardware...the managers are most of the times rude and not corteous..(Only if they are selling its all good with you),...so at the end i ended up returning my plasma after a loooong discussion with the manager and he sent me back home just to get the screws for him...he was asking several questions how I handled my tv to take it to the store, he was trying to deny the return.

Just go to Costo, they are hassle free, return whenever you want its all good....Customers deserve to have what they are really happy to have.thats the consumer law...if you are not happy with what you paid you can return it...at the end its your hard worked money the one that you are using to pay.

[jdmccol]

Dont buy at Circuit city or any retail.
They will make you go through hassle before you can return your stuff, they want to make the sale or at least take the restocking fee...A steal.
Last time at CC in union city I tried to return a plasma tv and they didnt want to get it just because it was missing 4 screws that you can get at your local hardware or anywhere...and they were not even needed to operate the tv or anything like that, it was only optional hardware...the managers are most of the times rude and not corteous..(Only if they are selling its all good with you),...so at the end i ended up returning my plasma after a loooong discussion with the manager and he sent me back home just to get the screws for him...he was asking several questions how I handled my tv to take it to the store, he was trying to deny the return.

Just go to Costo, they are hassle free, return whenever you want its all good....Customers deserve to have what they are really happy to have.thats the consumer law...if you are not happy with what you paid you can return it...at the end its your hard worked money the one that you are using to pay.


I bet you would be pissed if you bought that plasma TV, paid full price, and the screws were missing.....

I would be, if I bought something and found out it was a return and was missing parts.

[davew]

Who did you end up buying you next D50 from? Or did you even get the same camera?

I ended up with one from best buy for $549.00 (D50 18-55mm)

[Karl Rove]

I bet you would be pissed if you bought that plasma TV, paid full price, and the screws were missing.....

I would be, if I bought something and found out it was a return and was missing parts.

The store should not re-sell a returned item if it is missing parts. If the retailer has a close enough relationship with the manufacturer that they are selling their goods it should be no problem at all for them to supply the store with 4 replacement screws. Given the advent of the internet to replace the telephone and the backyard fence as the best source of word-of-mouth I'm surprised these outlets would risk alienating customer with things like restocking fees and company policies that make people want to go to their competitors and tell every person they meet online to do the same.

Regarding Costco, their return policy is excellent and ripe for abuse. I bought two cameras there because I knew of this policy and I returned both of them within a week in pristine condition repackaged as they came because the images on both were noisy and I went back online and read professional reviews as opposed to customer reviews and seriously regretted my purchase. I've never actually done that before. Costco is changing it's policy as of 01/01/07 regarding electronics. I asked the guy in the store about this and he said digital cameras would only be accepted back up til a year.

This is one reason they have such loyal customers who will drive out of there way to get there. The real problem I see with their return policy being abused is that they don't require a receipt. But we can't use Costco as example of why restocking fees have become neccessary for the major retailers. With many credit cards you can return anything within 90 days if the retailer has refused. That policy hasn't shut any major retailers down has it?

I'm basing my decision to buy a camera in part on whether or not I can get it from Costco, Costco.com or using my American Express. I do not want to abuse anyone's policies. I just want a little more protection and I'm willing to pay a little more for it. The main reason for buying from Costco is not that I can crap all over an item and return it but because I know I will not be charged an arbitrary restocking fee.

Ok, that's Rant #1

[nesbitt_bub1]

why do you guys all buy from large chain companies¬! are there no small independant photograph stores in the US! Personally i'd rather pay £20 more and have a small company to deal with, with friendly non pushy staff, and people that know who your are and when you bought your camera! Hell i've only just moved and got a new camera from the local store in the new city, They already know my face, ask me how the camera is, how my filters are working, and where i've been togging! IMHO thats worth £20 more on the price tag or the camera!

If there was a problem serious problem i'd be walking out of the store with a new boxed camera. If it was fixable they might loan me a camera untill mine was fixed. There also the local dealership for fuji, so they have a lot of trade passing though for repairs, making there customer service brilliant.

Lastly i bought a cheap circ polarizer (hama), when buying it i asked if i could swap it for a better model later in the week, should i decide this one was not suitable... The not only agreed they wrote it on the recipt... as it happens the cheap polarizer is fine with my camera.


Moral of the story, you play with the big boys and your a number.... Pay a little more and support your local specalists, and they respect you.

[danidabi]

I worked at Staples for 4 yrs selling cameras and computers. We only charged the restocking fee on special order items, meaning we brought it in for you cause we don't sell it in the store.

There you have a 30day return on cameras no questions asked. If you live in Canada I would recommend them.