Comments on: Costco kills return anytime policy

It's been too good to be true for too long.

[hamrjamr]

Costco was the only way to go....and maybe still i

My wife bought me a 37 inch Viewsonic LCD which I love. Because of this I bought each of my 3 children a 50 inch Plasma...all from Costco. The main reason for the purchase was the liberal return policy which now at 90 days, is still amongst the best. I would do it again rather than face the return policy of others!!!

[rafman1936]

Lucky kids

How about adopting me then I could have a 50" Plasma TV too!

[hamrjamr]

Costco was the only way to go....and maybe still i

My wife bought me a 37 inch Viewsonic LCD which I love. Because of this I bought each of my 3 children a 50 inch Plasma...all from Costco. The main reason for the purchase was the liberal return policy which now at 90 days, is still amongst the best. I would do it again rather than face the return policy of others!!!

[rafman1936]

Lucky kids

How about adopting me then I could have a 50" Plasma TV too!

[nitecrawler2]

Inevitable

I'm disappointed to say the least but not with Costco. They have been my store of choice for any items they carried and not just because of the liberal return policy. I have always been careful to not abuse this policy and it's sad so many did including some of the responders to this article.

[nitecrawler2]

Inevitable

I'm disappointed to say the least but not with Costco. They have been my store of choice for any items they carried and not just because of the liberal return policy. I have always been careful to not abuse this policy and it's sad so many did including some of the responders to this article.

[NickV]

What do you want, congratulations for helping??

What do you want, congratulations for your previous irresponsible "reporting" helping to bring about such a new policy? I know the great masses don't read CNET but I would be willing to bet the salaries of it's readers are among the top of the "must havers" and that the article was right up their moral/ethical alley and they were among the first to "take advantage of a good thing" and helped push it over the edge. I complained when the article came out it was "irresponsable" and woudld contribute to a soon cecession of the previously expressed customer service by a very well run, customer oriented company.
You were able to create news out of reporting non-news. Not only is the pen mightier than the sword, the computer is mightier than individual morals and a company's genuine effort to put the customer first.

[NickV]

What do you want, congratulations for helping??

What do you want, congratulations for your previous irresponsible "reporting" helping to bring about such a new policy? I know the great masses don't read CNET but I would be willing to bet the salaries of it's readers are among the top of the "must havers" and that the article was right up their moral/ethical alley and they were among the first to "take advantage of a good thing" and helped push it over the edge. I complained when the article came out it was "irresponsable" and woudld contribute to a soon cecession of the previously expressed customer service by a very well run, customer oriented company.
You were able to create news out of reporting non-news. Not only is the pen mightier than the sword, the computer is mightier than individual morals and a company's genuine effort to put the customer first.

[Jon Shimamoto]

Abuse???... you lose!!

Well, anyone could see this coming. People abuse return policies so they lose it. After every super bowl weekend, I see people lining up to return their "defective" big screen sets. What do you expect?

Idiots that post that they will never buy from Costco again because of the change or who say they will return their older products right before the previous return period ends are the kind of people I would not like to have shopping in my store if i had one. Good riddance!!! They are the ones who spoil it for everyone else.

[Jon Shimamoto]

Abuse???... you lose!!

Well, anyone could see this coming. People abuse return policies so they lose it. After every super bowl weekend, I see people lining up to return their "defective" big screen sets. What do you expect?

Idiots that post that they will never buy from Costco again because of the change or who say they will return their older products right before the previous return period ends are the kind of people I would not like to have shopping in my store if i had one. Good riddance!!! They are the ones who spoil it for everyone else.

[lodave]

The Same Lowlifes Strike Again

Several years ago computers could be returned for any reason for an entire year, but the amoral lowlifes abused that priviledge and caused Costco to cut back to six months' coverage. Now they've finally ruined what, for honest people, made a commanding reason to buy at Costco, and even compromise their first choice of brand or model to get the protection.
Costco will have to compete on price alone, which might be an interesting sea change, since much of their selection of electronics (and software) has NOT been competitive of late!
One gripe is that they have not been carrying the "top of the line" in many brands in recent years, instead carrying a selection similar to what one would expect of Target-type stores. Before the Price Club buyout, which created a virtual monopoly situation in many regions, everything was top-drawer throughout the store. Now the bean counters reign supreme, so quality and value has suffered.

[lodave]

The Same Lowlifes Strike Again

Several years ago computers could be returned for any reason for an entire year, but the amoral lowlifes abused that priviledge and caused Costco to cut back to six months' coverage. Now they've finally ruined what, for honest people, made a commanding reason to buy at Costco, and even compromise their first choice of brand or model to get the protection.
Costco will have to compete on price alone, which might be an interesting sea change, since much of their selection of electronics (and software) has NOT been competitive of late!
One gripe is that they have not been carrying the "top of the line" in many brands in recent years, instead carrying a selection similar to what one would expect of Target-type stores. Before the Price Club buyout, which created a virtual monopoly situation in many regions, everything was top-drawer throughout the store. Now the bean counters reign supreme, so quality and value has suffered.

[klappjack]

Apathy toward subject

Who cares? We don't have a Costco near us.

[klappjack]

Apathy toward subject

Who cares? We don't have a Costco near us.

[H.Maier]

It is about time

There were too many Costco buyers who considered Costco electronics return policy as a "free upgrade policy". All Costco shoppers have to bare the cost of this abuse of the Costco generous policy. It was ridiculous. I wonder why Costco waited so long to correct the situation.

[H.Maier]

It is about time

There were too many Costco buyers who considered Costco electronics return policy as a "free upgrade policy". All Costco shoppers have to bare the cost of this abuse of the Costco generous policy. It was ridiculous. I wonder why Costco waited so long to correct the situation.

[H.Maier]

It is about time

There were too many Costco buyers who considered Costco electronics return policy as a "free upgrade policy". All Costco shoppers have to bare the cost of this abuse of the Costco generous policy. It was ridiculous. I wonder why Costco waited so long to correct the situation.

[H.Maier]

It is about time

There were too many Costco buyers who considered Costco electronics return policy as a "free upgrade policy". All Costco shoppers have to bare the cost of this abuse of the Costco generous policy. It was ridiculous. I wonder why Costco waited so long to correct the situation.

[JEFrank]

Congrats CNET for helping to ruin a good thing

When used for legitimate reasons, the Costco return policy was a God-send. No need to deal with uncaring manufacturers when things went bad just after the warranty expired, let Costco do it for you. Then CNET comes along an publishes a morally bankrupt "article" essentially giving step-by-step instructions on how to get "free upgrades" when newer stuff is available at a better price.

Irresponsible at best, totally unethical for sure.

[AnthonyL88]

Don't blame Costco

Don't blame Costco, blame the people who don't have any respect for the
policy. Ever see people opening up things up at Costco? Opening up cases of
drinks etc and then doesn't take the open case, but take the unopen case.
These are the problems with people, where are the respect for others or the
property of other people? Consider you lucky because Costco still have good
return policy. I would have a zero return policy, unless the item is broken or
defective.

[JEFrank]

Congrats CNET for helping to ruin a good thing

When used for legitimate reasons, the Costco return policy was a God-send. No need to deal with uncaring manufacturers when things went bad just after the warranty expired, let Costco do it for you. Then CNET comes along an publishes a morally bankrupt "article" essentially giving step-by-step instructions on how to get "free upgrades" when newer stuff is available at a better price.

Irresponsible at best, totally unethical for sure.

[AnthonyL88]

Don't blame Costco

Don't blame Costco, blame the people who don't have any respect for the
policy. Ever see people opening up things up at Costco? Opening up cases of
drinks etc and then doesn't take the open case, but take the unopen case.
These are the problems with people, where are the respect for others or the
property of other people? Consider you lucky because Costco still have good
return policy. I would have a zero return policy, unless the item is broken or
defective.

[mrmqad]

No good deed goes unpunished

I'm sorry to see this go. Especially for the products of the non-responsive manufactures. I bought a generator at Costco in February 2005 to replace a less powerful model. Brought it home, set it up, started it up and it worked like a champ. I didn?t need to use the item again until several months later on a new job. Got it all ready to go and started the generator for the first time after the initial use and it ran for about ten seconds and died. Looking through the manual I found a phone number to call but I found I was calling some unknown company that the generator was not the primary product. In fact, it was just an add on product.
After several more months of hopping through the multilevel talk to nobody messaging phone system and then internet searching I was still out in the cold with a dead unit. Then came the search for the receipt. Un-gots?. Fortunately, because of the Costco policy, they were able to look up the purchase on my account and refund the cost. Without this I would have been out over $300 or at least the cost of repairs.

Thank you Costco. I'm sorry that self absorbed, inconsiderate people abuse a good thing to the extent of killing it.

No good deed goes unpunished.

[hrdputty]

Your generator would still be covered

Read the fine print. The only exceptions to the lifetime satisfaction guarantee are "... Televisions, computers, cameras, camcorders, iPod/MP3 players and cellular phones must be returned within 90 days."

[mrmqad]

No good deed goes unpunished

I'm sorry to see this go. Especially for the products of the non-responsive manufactures. I bought a generator at Costco in February 2005 to replace a less powerful model. Brought it home, set it up, started it up and it worked like a champ. I didn?t need to use the item again until several months later on a new job. Got it all ready to go and started the generator for the first time after the initial use and it ran for about ten seconds and died. Looking through the manual I found a phone number to call but I found I was calling some unknown company that the generator was not the primary product. In fact, it was just an add on product.
After several more months of hopping through the multilevel talk to nobody messaging phone system and then internet searching I was still out in the cold with a dead unit. Then came the search for the receipt. Un-gots?. Fortunately, because of the Costco policy, they were able to look up the purchase on my account and refund the cost. Without this I would have been out over $300 or at least the cost of repairs.

Thank you Costco. I'm sorry that self absorbed, inconsiderate people abuse a good thing to the extent of killing it.

No good deed goes unpunished.

[hrdputty]

Your generator would still be covered

Read the fine print. The only exceptions to the lifetime satisfaction guarantee are "... Televisions, computers, cameras, camcorders, iPod/MP3 players and cellular phones must be returned within 90 days."