BS: Shop At Costco? Keep Your Receipts!

Subject: BS: Shop At Costco? Keep Your Receipts!
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 21 Jul 06 - 03:00 PM

The first story....

Just before we got married we bought an Epson All In One scanner/printer/copier.... It worked great for about a year or so... I called Epson to sort it out and after 15 or 20 min on the phone with VERY helpful tech support, they simply took my add, and purilatored a brand new printer to me (It actually ended up being an upgrade). I took the old one downstairs and forgot about it. Flash forward 8 or so months, and I'm clearing out some old user manuals and such, and I find the receipt for the old busted printer and I figure "What the hell". I crate it up with the cables, and the install disks and such and take it back to Costco. They don't even bat an eye and hand me back my 200 or 250 or whatever it cost me..... FREE MONEY!!!!

2nd story....

Almost 2 years ago, I bought a Maxtor 160 gig External Hard drive... It was getting close to full with mp3s.... ya... mp3s.... that's it.... I paid 300 bucks for it. Last week they had a 300 gig version on sale for 180 bucks. I went in and bought one.... spent 4 or 6 hours backing up all my MP3s (ya... MP3s) onto it. Crated up the 160 gig version, again with all it's cables and install disks and such. They didn't' even hesitate to hand me my 314 bucks back. FREE MONEY & UPGRADE!!!!!!!!!!!

(Actually the above collection is mostly mp3s. About 90 gigs or so at this point... But that's not all it is)

3rd Story....
I plan to do exactly the same thing to upgrade my Logitech Harmony Universal Remote

So, if you shop at Costco, never forget that up to 2 or 3 years later you can still take the item back for a full refund (This doesn't apply to food or clothing I'd imagine.... and for complete computers they're changing the time limit to 6 months)

It's like getting paid to upgrade.

Subject: RE: BS: Shop At Costco? Keep Your Receipts!
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 21 Jul 06 - 03:02 PM

Actually, you don't even have to keep the reciepts.... All necessary info is on your membership card

Subject: RE: BS: Shop At Costco? Keep Your Receipts!
From: Wesley S
Date: 21 Jul 06 - 03:14 PM

There's no such thing as free money. It comes out the other end somewhere. It may be the cost of doing business but you'll pay more for milk, eggs, or something else. We all end up paying for "transactions" like yours. Thanks.

Subject: RE: BS: Shop At Costco? Keep Your Receipts!
From: Rapparee
Date: 21 Jul 06 - 03:16 PM

Borders on fraud, CH.

Subject: RE: BS: Shop At Costco? Keep Your Receipts!
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 21 Jul 06 - 03:19 PM

Not at all, either one of you... Costco KNOWS people do this!

d'uh

Subject: RE: BS: Shop At Costco? Keep Your Receipts!
From: Wesley S
Date: 21 Jul 06 - 03:28 PM

We know what Ken Lay was up to also. Doesn't make it right. Just fraud on a smaller scale.

And yes - they do follow those transactions on your card. Count on it. Eventually they will decide that they can't afford you as a customer anymore.

Subject: RE: BS: Shop At Costco? Keep Your Receipts!
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 21 Jul 06 - 03:31 PM

Ya... right....

*shrug*

Your loss Wesley.....

Subject: RE: BS: Shop At Costco? Keep Your Receipts!
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 21 Jul 06 - 03:37 PM

Another tale from a chum on some other message board

"I had an iPod that was one of the 40-gig first-generation ones. Naturally, like most of them did, it went out on me after about two years. I didn't have the receipt, but I showed them how it had locked up and the other problems with it, and they took my membership card and handed me the full purchase price in cash. I used it to buy a 30-gig Video iPod. Their return policy is great, it sure keeps me going back to their warehouse to buy things because I know if there's a problem, they won't put up a fuss. I refuse to shop at Best Buy and Circuit City for that reason. They are completely ridiculous with their returns and repairs."

I am not alone... are you?

Subject: RE: BS: Shop At Costco? Keep Your Receipts!
From: Rapparee
Date: 21 Jul 06 - 04:10 PM

From the law dictionary at FindLaw:

fraud
Latin fraud- fraus

1 a: any act, expression, omission, or concealment calculated to deceive another to his or her disadvantage

specif
: a misrepresentation or concealment with reference to some fact material to a transaction that is made with knowledge of its falsity or in reckless disregard of its truth or falsity and with the intent to deceive another and that is reasonably relied on by the other who is injured thereby.

Consolidated Laws and Statutes of Canada, Part X:

Fraud
        

380. (1) Every one who, by deceit, falsehood or other fraudulent means, whether or not it is a false pretence within the meaning of this Act, defrauds the public or any person, whether ascertained or not, of any property, money or valuable security or any service,

(a) is guilty of an indictable offence and liable to a term of imprisonment not exceeding fourteen years, where the subject-matter of the offence is a testamentary instrument or the value of the subject-matter of the offence exceeds five thousand dollars; or

(b) is guilty

(i) of an indictable offence and is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years, or

(ii) of an offence punishable on summary conviction,

where the value of the subject-matter of the offence does not exceed five thousand dollars.

Affecting public market
        

(2) Every one who, by deceit, falsehood or other fraudulent means, whether or not it is a false pretence within the meaning of this Act, with intent to defraud, affects the public market price of stocks, shares, merchandise or anything that is offered for sale to the public is guilty of an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding fourteen years.

R.S., 1985, c. C-46, s. 380; R.S., 1985, c. 27 (1st Supp.), s. 54; 1994, c. 44, s. 25; 1997, c. 18, s. 26; 2004, c. 3, s. 2.

Subject: RE: BS: Shop At Costco? Keep Your Receipts!
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 21 Jul 06 - 04:17 PM

I have defradude no one....

*shrug*

Your loss....

Subject: RE: BS: Shop At Costco? Keep Your Receipts!
From: RichM
Date: 21 Jul 06 - 04:33 PM

I am disappointed in you, CH... Despite your congenital rudeness, you appeared to have some principles, before this particular act.

Subject: RE: BS: Shop At Costco? Keep Your Receipts!
From: number 6
Date: 21 Jul 06 - 04:34 PM

So what are you trying to get across here CH?

Sorta like the kid in 4th grade who let's everyone know how easy it is to steal a chocolate bar at the corner store.

No wonder all this junk at the big box stores is priced way beyond it's value

sIx

Subject: RE: BS: Shop At Costco? Keep Your Receipts!
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 21 Jul 06 - 04:40 PM

So you've never been to Costco, 6?   Very little there is 'over-priced'... It's mostly a clearance warehouse.... and I've never had ANY serious problem with any of the stuff I've bought there....

Just so happens the have a VERY lax returns policy.... That's what I'm trying to get across.... If you're a Costco Customer, and you're not using the Returns Policy, YOU'RE the one getting ripped off.....

RichM.... Blow it out your hind end, IF you can get it out around your head.....

I mighta figured the colossal pack of wankers here would find something to piss and moan about when handed info on how to get a really good deal from a reputable source....

*shakes head* What was that about where not to look a gift-horse again?

Subject: RE: BS: Shop At Costco? Keep Your Receipts!
From: Wesley S
Date: 21 Jul 06 - 04:45 PM

Clearance milk, eggs, bread, peanut butter, medicine, futniture, - kinda like a Walmart but they sell food in large quanities. Extra large jars of peanut butter but you have to but two in a package.

Subject: RE: BS: Shop At Costco? Keep Your Receipts!
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 21 Jul 06 - 04:49 PM

I once bought enough mustard that we didn't have to buy it again for 3 years! LOL

And it was STILL under its "Best Before" date....

Hard to go wrong for 20 bucks.....

Bulk "Fishermans Friends" at less than half the "Other Store" price per package.... for a guy who eats them like candy....

Now if only they carried bulk guitar strings!!!

(The did carry Estabans "Starter Guitar Set" for a while.... heh)

Subject: RE: BS: Shop At Costco? Keep Your Receipts!
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 21 Jul 06 - 04:52 PM

All goes into the cost of doing business, which gets passed on to consumers. Don't see much difference from shop-lifting.

Subject: RE: BS: Shop At Costco? Keep Your Receipts!
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 21 Jul 06 - 04:54 PM

whatever....

You try to help some ungrateful people who don't know their asses from their elbows.... Look what ya get...

John Prine is right... Some Humans Ain't Human....

Thanks for proving that folks....

I hope ya's choke on it

Subject: RE: BS: Shop At Costco? Keep Your Receipts!
From: Wesley S
Date: 21 Jul 06 - 04:55 PM

It's a little more like date rape than fraud. He's just taking advantage of their good nature. And the rest of us customers pay for it eventually.

Subject: RE: BS: Shop At Costco? Keep Your Receipts!
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 21 Jul 06 - 04:58 PM

I'm taking advantage of nothing... except that which is freely handed to me....

Subject: RE: BS: Shop At Costco? Keep Your Receipts!
From: Amos
Date: 21 Jul 06 - 05:47 PM

Well, you go tplenty of use out of the products BEFORE your eturned them as defective, and in fact they weren't defective -- one because it had been replaced by Epson, the other not at all. Sure, "it's their fault if they're willing to do it...". But it's below the normal standard of a fair exchange.


A

Subject: RE: BS: Shop At Costco? Keep Your Receipts!
From: dianavan
Date: 21 Jul 06 - 05:52 PM

Clinton, this thread tells the whole world that you're a scam artist.

I wouldn't brag about it if I were you.

Subject: RE: BS: Shop At Costco? Keep Your Receipts!
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 21 Jul 06 - 06:14 PM

What scam?!?!?!

"Hi... I'd like to return this."

"O.k... here's your money."

That's the crux of the exchange.... where's the scam?

You people need to get down off your high-horses... the air is too thin for you to think properly

Subject: RE: BS: Shop At Costco? Keep Your Receipts!
From: dianavan
Date: 21 Jul 06 - 06:38 PM

scam - dishonest scheme (a scheme for making money by dishonest means. To obtain money from somebody by dishonest means.

Subject: RE: BS: Shop At Costco? Keep Your Receipts!
From: number 6
Date: 21 Jul 06 - 06:42 PM

"I once bought enough mustard that we didn't have to buy it again for 3 years!

Jeeeezuz H.!!    ........ LOL (good one CH)


sIx

Subject: RE: BS: Shop At Costco? Keep Your Receipts!
From: robomatic
Date: 21 Jul 06 - 06:47 PM

This brings to mind a half-joke half-truth I heard recently about Home Depot:

"I'd like to return this"

"Fine, what was your problem?"

"I'm done with it, of course!"

I had this very experience, except that the supposedly high quality made-in-the-Far-East components to help me install a new lockset in an old door tended to deform and disintegrate rather than guide and mortise.

As for Costco, CH's comments have given me hope, because I have purchased not one, but TWO GO-Video DVD with VCR decks, and they are pieces of trash. I don't feel that I'll be allowed to return them, however, but I may now at least try to.

Subject: RE: BS: Shop At Costco? Keep Your Receipts!
From: GUEST
Date: 21 Jul 06 - 07:17 PM

Is anyone really surprised that Clinton Hammond would pull this kind of thing? He's a twat.

Subject: RE: BS: Shop At Costco? Keep Your Receipts!
From: Bill Hahn//\\
Date: 21 Jul 06 - 08:56 PM

Clinton: Gee---don't know why my first posting did not appear---just one word---ETHICS?

Bill Hahn

Subject: RE: BS: Shop At Costco? Keep Your Receipts!
From: Bobert
Date: 21 Jul 06 - 09:05 PM

Here's my story...

I beat the heck outta a weed eater and so couple years ago I bought a Troybilt and Lowes and it lasted almost a year before I wore it slam out so I took it back to Lowes and they gave me like this gift card with the amount I paid for the weed eater which I used to buy another which came with...

... a new reciept!!!

Hmmmmmm????

It's held up but if it breaks before the year is up I'll probably get another new one---fir free, dangit...

I was thinkin' that this could go on, an' on, an' on....

New weed eater every year???

Bobert

Subject: RE: BS: Shop At Costco? Keep Your Receipts!
From: Bill Hahn//\\
Date: 21 Jul 06 - 09:12 PM

ETHICS---once again?

If the message goes through

Bill Hahn

Subject: RE: BS: Shop At Costco? Keep Your Receipts!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 21 Jul 06 - 09:57 PM

Bobert,

I went through three of Sears' weed eaters because each one died before a year was up. I used them hard, but they were supposed to be used hard, and they died before their warranty expired. One was an upgrade because they stopped making that model. I finally got tired of taking back weed eaters, and figuring that I'd gotten three years worth of weeds out of my original $47, I bought an easy start gas weed eater at Home Depot. So far it has lasted a year and looks like it will keep going.

It depends on what the product is and what it is used for. Clinton is putting his electronics to the use intended, but he's upgrading and returning them when nothing is wrong with them. Return policies have, in my understanding, been meant for new, unused items (such as gifts not wanted or needed or items mistakenly purchased) or for items that fail within a period when it is reasonable that the manufacturer support their repair or replacement.

Eddie Bauer used to have that return policy, no matter when (apparently) for things like sleeping bags. My now-ex returned a bag (returned it in about 1980), years after he'd purchased, it simply because he wanted a new one. I thought that was pretty stinky of him to do that. I bet Eddie Bauer stopped that practice because of this kind of abuse.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Shop At Costco? Keep Your Receipts!
From: Ebbie
Date: 21 Jul 06 - 11:18 PM

It's interesting, Clinton, that you have a very low opinion of humankind. Wonder why?

Actually I have known a number of people - both sexes - that operated that way, mostly on the premise that everything was overpriced, to begin with, and the company was already making so much money it served them right.

I have returned several things to Costco. As in Clinton's experience, they refunded the money, no questions asked. One return was a pack of fluorescent bulbs. It claimed they would last up to five years- but of those dozen bulbs at least four of them burned out within three months. I took them all out of the outlets and returned the whole shrinkfitted box.

The other time was two cards of smoke alarms. When the apartment house sold, I decided there was no need for me to replace the alarms before the new guy took possesion.

Costco refunded my money pleasantly. I like the fact they don't make one feel guilty. I would hope that most people don't abuse that liberal - not lax - policy.

Ebbie

Subject: RE: BS: Shop At Costco? Keep Your Receipts!
From: Ron Davies
Date: 21 Jul 06 - 11:49 PM

Rapaire et al. are right. CH's approach borders on fraud. Wrong side of the border.

Wondered why the prices at Costco recently are not as good as they once were--on certain items--computer-related items for instance.   CH multiplied by x-number like-minded "shoppers".

And I shop there often--for all sorts of things. If you're going to buy anything in bulk, it pays. You can still get good deals--legitimately.

CH's approach is not exactly the "It's A Wonderful Life" attitude.

Subject: RE: BS: Shop At Costco? Keep Your Receipts!
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 22 Jul 06 - 04:20 AM

You know the type of ad - if you see it elsewhere cheaper/better we will refund the difference? If you had bought something and on the way home saw it cheaper/better in another shop would you take advantage of that offer? Well, Costco are just doing the same on an extanded basis. If you can beat their deal within 3 years they will refund your money. Clinton has taken them up on it. They are very sure that not many people will take them up on it. When it starts to cost them money they will change it.

Happened here in the UK with Asda (Wallmart). 3 year no-quibble warranty on electricals is now 1 year. I would take them up on it in a flash should the need arise. No fraud. Now law being broken. Just good business practice - for both the image of the company and the benefit of the customer.

Just my 2 penn'urth.

Cheers

DtG

Subject: RE: BS: Shop At Costco? Keep Your Receipts!
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Jul 06 - 07:13 AM

Now I believe in reincarnation... CH : the former Martin G*bson

Subject: RE: BS: Shop At Costco? Keep Your Receipts!
From: Jeri
Date: 22 Jul 06 - 08:28 AM

Listen guys, I don't even LIKE CH, but he just posted to say something good about a company's integrity and you guys are slamming him for it! I swear, if there AREN'T any evil dudes around, some of you will do your best to create one. Not that you care, but this is transparent and it says more to me about YOU than about Clinton.

Rapaire, please explain, in detail, why when he returned a product and they, according to their own policy, gave him his money back or upgraded him, this constitutes HIM defrauding THEM. Y'all are trying too hard to start a fight over some truly idiotic, petty reason.

L.L. Bean has the same policy. They either fix something or replace it, and it doesn't matter if you've owned it for 30 years or more - it's their policy. I've never actually been to a Costco - I don't think there are any around here.

Subject: RE: BS: Shop At Costco? Keep Your Receipts!
From: RichM
Date: 22 Jul 06 - 08:29 AM

It's called dishonesty, Jeri. In effect, CH got his money back twice.

Subject: RE: BS: Shop At Costco? Keep Your Receipts!
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 22 Jul 06 - 08:42 AM

How so, Rich? He paid his money. Then paid again for a new item. His first item was then redundant. Under Costco's no-quibble guarantee he can return the item FOR ANY REASON within 3 years of purchase. Which is exactly what he did.

Costco have had his money for nearly three years. It is now worth less than it was so he has in effect rented the item. He has also now given Costco more of his hard earned cash. How has he got his money back twice? How has he defrauded anyone?

I agree completely with Jeri here. I have on occasions been at loggerheads with Clinton but this time he has shown nothing but common sense. Does anyonr here seriously mean to tell me that if, after purchasing something, they decided they did not want it, for whatever reason, they would not take advantage of this offer? If so, can I come and sell you things? ;-)

Keep it up, Clinton. Asda, that I mentined before, had the same offer for around 5 years. I used it once with a TV. They now have reduced it to one year. Let us know if Costco do the same.

Cheers

DtG

Subject: RE: BS: Shop At Costco? Keep Your Receipts!
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 22 Jul 06 - 08:53 AM

Not the way I'm understanding the first one, Dtg. Epson agreed to replace his original printer. Clinton should have disposed of the broken one as part of the replacement deal.

Aa for the rest, depending on the terms, Clinton could well be perfectly in order in doing what he did. I'm not sure I'd do it but perhpas one could argue "more fool me".

Subject: RE: BS: Shop At Costco? Keep Your Receipts!
From: Jeri
Date: 22 Jul 06 - 09:20 AM

Yeah, Jon - I missed the part about it being the same printer. It wasn't right, but I think it's more down to Epsom not requiring return of the merchandise, probably to the place of purchase, before he got a new one. If there's a communication problem, people ARE going to take advantage of it.

Subject: RE: BS: Shop At Costco? Keep Your Receipts!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 22 Jul 06 - 10:03 AM

Good to know about LL Bean, though. We have a backpack that gave up the ghost before a year was out. I'll check up on that policy and return the pack. (Perhaps I should have returned the five-year-old pack that was completely demolished, but we got our $50 worth out of it.)

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Shop At Costco? Keep Your Receipts!
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 22 Jul 06 - 11:09 AM

Clinton should have disposed of the broken one

He did! At the end of the day Costco's no quibble guarantee says that if you want to return the goods FOR ANY REASON they will refund the price.

I did miss the fact that he did not buy a new printer but it still doesn't matter. Epson were tardy for not collecting the old one or insisting Clinton returned it. Clinton simply used his consumer rights under the guarantee. There is no fraud. There is nothing unethical. If Costco were in any way unhappy they would have said so. Eventualy they could well change the terms but for now they are offering a good deal.

I admire everyone who is honest and ethical but draw the line at throwing money away for no good reason!

Cheers

DtG

Subject: RE: BS: Shop At Costco? Keep Your Receipts!
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 22 Jul 06 - 11:19 AM

Re the Epson, for it to be fraud, Clinton would have had to misrepresent or tell a lie. If they didn't ask. It isn't fraud. But it is unethical.

Subject: RE: BS: Shop At Costco? Keep Your Receipts!
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 22 Jul 06 - 11:21 AM

JTS, IMO, he defrauded Epson by not treating the replacement as a replacement.

Subject: RE: BS: Shop At Costco? Keep Your Receipts!
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 22 Jul 06 - 11:27 AM

Or should I say could have defrauded Epson.

Subject: RE: BS: Shop At Costco? Keep Your Receipts!
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 22 Jul 06 - 11:32 AM

"JTS, IMO, he defrauded Epson by not treating the replacement as a replacement."

Only if he told Epson he would dispose of it.

Subject: RE: BS: Shop At Costco? Keep Your Receipts!
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 22 Jul 06 - 11:37 AM

Perhaps JTS (and anything could have been said, we are speculating) but I would have thought agreeing to being given a replacement would suffice.

Subject: RE: BS: Shop At Costco? Keep Your Receipts!
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 22 Jul 06 - 01:15 PM

Costco DIDN'T ask... I -told- them Epson sent me a new one.... Costco STILL tripped over themselves to give me my money back....

So a few of you can go back to sucking ass... You have NO clue... Maybe you could buy one at Costco....

At least Dave and Jeri get it...

Subject: RE: BS: Shop At Costco? Keep Your Receipts!
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 22 Jul 06 - 01:31 PM

From a Costco MANAGER that I've met on another forum... she tells the story of a passle of customers who come in every spring to buy new patio furniture, and every fall return it for a full refund because they have no place to store it over the winter.... They've been doing this for years she says....

Costco doesn't care....

Why should we?????

Subject: RE: BS: Shop At Costco? Keep Your Receipts!
From: Ebbie
Date: 22 Jul 06 - 01:38 PM

There are many things I don't get and I guess it isn't worth it to me to try. This may be one of them.

I have a couple of friends who say they get a kick out of the computer virus creators. In my opinion those virus spreaders are malicious and hateful.

Who is right? I say I am. They think they are. As they might say in the UK, I can't be arsed to think it out.

Subject: RE: BS: Shop At Costco? Keep Your Receipts!
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 22 Jul 06 - 01:49 PM

Clinton, I don't think that what you or Costco said to one another matters a scrap in what I suggested.

The way I see if it that you (probably) entered a verbal contract with Epson to accept a new printer as a replacement for the old item. Replacement to me means you no longer use (or in this case claim in order to be able to use) the original item.