NO RECEIPT / NO RETURN mantra this post-Christmas season

from JoeUser Forums

Apparently more and more businesses have decided that customers are welcome to take the shaft, greased or not, when it comes to post-Christmas returns this year.

How do I know this?

Well, suffice it to say that I have a couple of HD DVD movies that I got as gifts which I'd love to return/exchange for something more to my tastes but unfortunately I'm stuck in this hell right now because I got the gifts without a receipt of any kind.  Sadly the gift giver lost the receipt before giving me the gift, but ass-u-me-d that I'd be able to exchange these movies for something else with no problem, receipt or not.

What a total p-i-t-a.

I actually checked around a little after trying to deal with the Buy More like store (big box store, featuring either Blue or Yellow shirts on employees, big yellow tag logo that says Best Buy, you know the place....) and found that Wally-world, and Target Dog and it seems just about every other store in my area have all decided that returns without receipts just won't be accepted.

I know I'm dating myself here, but you know, I actually remember back when businesses were more consumer friendly and weren't out to tell customers to lump it when it came to being stuck with unwanted gifts.  They *used* to take returns cheerfully, used to give store credit if there was any question at all about an item, and many used to just cheerfully hand customers returning items *cash* to take along their merry way in the thought that the cash would be spent in the store snapping up items that were on sale.

Yeah, times are tough for these stores.  So tough that they can't afford to take back unopened items without receipts knowing that they'd just put 'em right back on the shelves and sell them to the next customer that walked in the door.  NOT.

These businesses are all working toward the same goal -- all sales final.  PERIOD.  They don't want to have to have customer service departments, except to deal with customers that are bringing in items that need to be repaired under the over-priced consumer non-friendly extended service plans that they have foisted upon these customers. Those are big profit generators for these businesses, so dealing with the occassional customer bringing in broken products is worth it.  Giving customers back credit for items only to watch them spend it in the store isn't profitable at all since the items were already sold and profited upon.

I wish I could say that things would get more consumer friendly in the future, but I really doubt it.  I expect more and more businesses to head the direction that Best Buy seems to be heading in here.  Like I noted, it seems that the local Wal-Mart and Target are doing the same already, so it may already be too late.  I do know I will definitely not be recommending that people buy me gifts at these stores in the future.  (Yes, I know, it's the thought that counts, but who here really likes being stuck with gifts that they really don't want/need?)

7,997 views 10 replies
Reply #1 from JoeUser Forums Top
Yep, there was a news story on one of the local channels this morning talking about this exact issue. The stores are basically saying screw you.

I understand that they do have a huge scammer problem this time of year, people shoplifting and then returning for refunds, but that doesn't mean they should treat every customer like a thief. If one simply wishes to exchange one thing for another it's pretty obvious they didn't steal it.

Reply #2 from JoeUser Forums Top

I understand that they do have a huge scammer problem this time of year, people shoplifting and then returning for refunds, but that doesn't mean they should treat every customer like a thief. If one simply wishes to exchange one thing for another it's pretty obvious they didn't steal it.

Well, to be fair, the loss prevention folks would probably tell you that even just exchanging items for other items still rewards the 'thiefs' that shoplifted items from the stores as they just exchange a piece of stolen property for another piece of property that they never had to pay for, but it still sucks.

I'm a persistent SOB though, and I hold a grudge for a long, long time.  If Best Buy doesn't want to cooperate, it'll cost them over the long haul.  I'll get my money's worth of nagging the crap out of them, writing letters to the editors to places like Consumer Reports, and Consumers.org, and other similar places, as well as complaining to the appropriate authorities in the state and perhaps taking it up as a political (comsumer protection) issue for the local pols to see about sticking their noses in so that all of the stores that do business in the state can deal with more red tape and interference from the liberal minded protectionists that call themselves politicians here.

But, more to your comment -- yeah, I don't like being called a thief, and no amount of looking around on the computer system is going to find the purchases that the gift givers who got me these items made.  These were purchased by old-timers that barely believe in banks, and do business in cash.  Ask them for their name and/or phone number and you'll get no where fast as they've had enough telephone solicitations to last a lifetime and they refuse to give out their personal info to doctors and hospitals, much less a crummy (their words, not mine) retail store.

So, now I get to smile, say thank you, and I appreciate it, for gifts I don't need or want and think about how pissed off I am with Best Buy until I either get satisfaction by getting my refund or until I sell the items up on eBay with some nice long story that generates a ton of publicity and ill will towards their stupid return policies.

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Reply #3 from JoeUser Forums Top
These were purchased by old-timers that barely believe in banks, and do business in cash. Ask them for their name and/or phone number and you'll get no where fast as they've had enough telephone solicitations to last a lifetime and they refuse to give out their personal info to doctors and hospitals, much less a crummy (their words, not mine) retail store.


Yep, I am exactly the same way. It's been years since I've written a check and the only credit card I have is a prepaid thing that points to a mythological address and phone number.
Reply #4 from JoeUser Forums Top
I don't even bother exchanging things anymore. If I end up with something I don't like or doesn't fit I usually just give it away.

It's too much of a hassle.

We like Best Buy because they are one of the few places on the island that carries a broad selection of electronics at a reasonable price.

One thing I'm grateful for is the move toward instant rebates instead of mail-in rebates.

Reply #5 from JoeUser Forums Top

I understand that they do have a huge scammer problem this time of year, people shoplifting and then returning for refunds

When I worked for a BBS, I heard many a story about someone walking in, picking up an item, and then trying to return it (she was observed doing the "shoplifting") without ever leaving the store.  So it is not that uncommon.

And I can understand retailers not wanting to increase their inventory with merchandise from other sellers.  BUT, as you point out, it does not put them at the top of the future shopping list.  I guess they decided that the goodwill garnered is just not worth the price of a DVD.

Reply #6 from JoeUser Forums Top
Gone are the days of the "Customer is always right" even when they were not! Gone are the days when the stores would do any and everything for you within reason of course but they would make a gigantic effort to please their customers. Gone, gone, gone! They still do want your money and they will continue to give the sales but they continue to mark merchandise up three times it's value! I've kept my receipts just in case anyone wanted to send anything back but I agree with Tex that it is such a hassle that it's not worth doing that at all!

One thing I've noticed with returns though, too many of them, the store policies too loose, the prices of their new merchandise goes way up!
Reply #7 from JoeUser Forums Top
I worked at the customer service desk at Target and at Lowes. I truly did not know how many dishonest people there were until I worked at these places. I do think that they are going to extremes in not exchanging merchandise or offering store credit, especially if it's a dvd that is unopened. I do completely understand why they do not give cash refunds without a receipt.
Reply #8 from JoeUser Forums Top
My sister worked at the returns at a Walmart....she told me a bunch of stories...people returning items that were shoplifted (still had security tags on them), worn underwear, stuff from other stores.

My local walmart/Target are moving toward a "one free return per calendar year" to placate the shoppers who are honestly stuck with the wrong item...but if you forget/lose/don't have the reciept more than one time....you are out of luck. I'm starting to use my debit card for everything...at least that way they can look up the purchase. I don't like how they store my info, but *sigh* I dont' worry about it too much.
Reply #9 from JoeUser Forums Top

I'm starting to use my debit card for everything...at least that way they can look up the purchase. I don't like how they store my info, but *sigh* I dont' worry about it too much.

Wouldn't that apply to credit cards as well?  I hope so.  I use mine a lot, but not my debit card.  I always forget to write my transactions down with my debit card.

Reply #10 from JoeUser Forums Top
I have come to believe after witnessing ugly customer behavior both at work and from people complaining about the stupidest things online that the customer is NOT always right. Most of the time, they are wrong. People think that businesses should bend over backwards to appease customers even if it is at the financial loose of the company. How hard is it to hold on to a receipt? Even before I ever worked in retail, I always kept my receipts especially for major purchases and held onto everything important. I get sick and tired of customers that think they are entitled to everything including returns without proof of purchase.