Circuit City - Help!

[Makdyn]

We will never shop at Circuit City again. We bought a printer last year that was defective. They wanted to charge a restocking fee for a defective product!!! I asked if they were going to resell it? IT WAS DEFECTIVE. They would not give us our money back. I could return it for another of the same product and that is what I did. Then without opening the next printer I returned that one. Then they gave me a full refund because it was not opened. But that is the last time we set foot in a Circuit City.

This I can see getting mad about cause the item was defected. They should have override the fee.

 

[TiggerStac]

Well, in a word - yes. Misrepresentation of a policy. You don't get your receipt before purchasing the item. You ask the employee about a policy and told incorrect information is wrong. If the employee did not know the policy they could have very easily pointed us to the customer service desk to look at the policy. It seems that an employee working at a store like this would know the policy especially since it is now commonplace.

We didn't but "stupidly" relied on their employee. Yes, that was stupid and will never happen again.

Funny thing being - we were planning on buying a new TV (the kind you hang on the wall) and now they lost a potential sale that would have happened very soon.

I was just thinking about this. If the employee told you one thing...and then you are told you should have read the back of the receipt...well, you don't get the receipt until after you paid. What if it was a no returns period or something to that effect, you were told otherwise and then read the receipt back...??? You wouldn't be able to return at that point. There should have been someplace else, other than the back of the receipt, that you get after transaction is completed. They should (not sure if they do, we don't shop at CC) have signs on the walls, at cash registers, etc etc.

 

[angwill]

OP I know where you are coming from and agree with you fully. If it is worth the money lost, you just convinced me not to buy from Circuit City ever again. I also refuse to buy from Best Buy since we had a nightmare with an LG DVD/VCR recorder that cost us $350 and never worked right and still doesn't. I brought it back to Best Buy over and over and they could not fix it and just kept saying it worked for them. After the third time I sent it to be fixed the service manager told me that he refused to send it out again and would make a note on the computer about it. My mistake was not exchanging it since the first time we took it back was before the 14 days were up. I gave up and paid $20 to ship it back to LG to have them fix it. They wouldn't even look at it without my paying $69 to just find the problem. LG did not disclose this to me when I called them before sending it back. I was told no problem they would fix it since it was still under warranty. Problem there was that by my bringing it to Best Buy to get it fixed I voided LG's warranty even though the first time I brought it to be fixed at Best Buy they falsly told me they were sending it back to LG to fix it. So we just had to suck it up and call it a $350 plus shipping lesson not to buy any LG product or buy from Best Buy again. I am getting my $350 worth just telling my story to everyone who will listen as a warning. My family and friends agree that they won't bother with those companies as long as they don't have too either. I just check the paper for Best Buy and if their item is cheaper I take it to another electronics store American that price matches plus 10%. This stores Customer Service is impecable and I have never had a problem with them. Best Buy lost out on my purchase of the refrigerator that we needed to buy shortly after our experience too. These big companies will someday realize they end up the losers since word of mouth goes a long way for the reputation of a company.

I would suggest you google the consumer websites. I think consumerism.com is one and get the word out there so that others can be warned.

This is my experience and feelings on this matter. I understand that others may feel differently and they have that choice.

Good luck you are not alone.

Angela

 

[LetsgoDisney!]

I do think the store should stand behind what their employees say. It was their mistake- the OP's DH asked. So the info is on the back of the receipt- Does that mean that if I bought something, read the back and wanted to return it because I didn't agree, I'd have to eat the restocking fee? I think you should complain- it might not get you anywhere but if enough peopple complain and they lose enough business it might make them re-look at their policies.
Donna

 

[SplshMtn99]

Maybe I'm familiar with restocking fees because DH buys lots of computer / electronic / camera / software stuff. I don't think you can find a store today (online or not) that won't have a restocking fee for returning an OPENED computer/electronic/camera/software item.

I do agree it stinks, but I do understand why they have to charge it unfortunately.

 

[Mommy Poppins]

Return it for the exact item if that is allowed. (say it loses power or something) Don't open the second item and then return it as well. Unopened--no restocking fee. Kind of dishonest,yes--but so are they.

 

[Marie17]

Return it for the exact item if that is allowed. (say it loses power or something) Don't open the second item and then return it as well. Unopened--no restocking fee. Kind of dishonest,yes--but so are they.

I don't think I could do this. Then I would feel as though I am taking advantage of them - which in my eyes I would be doing just that.

I know I should do just that but I can't.

 

[Missy1961]

Return it for the exact item if that is allowed. (say it loses power or something) Don't open the second item and then return it as well. Unopened--no restocking fee. Kind of dishonest,yes--but so are they.

They are not dishonest. The Circuit City that I shop in has signs posting the restocking policy all around the store, especially near big ticket items.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Well, in a word - yes. Misrepresentation of a policy. You don't get your receipt before purchasing the item. You ask the employee about a policy and told incorrect information is wrong.

Okay, couple that with the store manager telling you only that the restocking fee/return information is on the back of the receipt while not telling you that this information is posted visibly in the store (if it even is, which yes, it's supposed to be but that's NOT what the manager told you) and I think you have a reasonable case for returning the PDA without being penalized.
Escalate your issue to Circuit City's Executive Communications department and see how that works.

Return it for the exact item if that is allowed. (say it loses power or something) Don't open the second item and then return it as well. Unopened--no restocking fee. Kind of dishonest,yes--but so are they.

I don't think I could do this.

Yes, you can. Tell them it doesn't do what you need it to do - after all, it doesn't. Then return the replacement, unopened, with the same explanation.

 

[lowie]

one of the big news stations should do an undercover expose on this. they really are sneaky.. i mean, to see the return policy you have to first PURCHASE the item
by the time you see it, you've already committed yourself to a restocking fee. what B.S.!!
and yes, i'd call the BBB. everyone that get jipped needs to call or else nothing will change.

 

[Va-bear]

My DH and I had problem after problem after problem w/ CC and finally had it when they sold us an A/C unit for my elderly mother and HANDWROTE a receipt saying we could bring it back if it didnt work in her window (I was leery from other bad experiences , so the manager offered to do that...) and they STILL refused to take it back.

I called and called CC people - even talked to a VP, who didnt care AT ALL... But when I faxed them a copy of a note from our local tv stations consumer affairs dept. saying they might do a segment on our case , they suddenly gave us the refund......it was a nightmare.....goodluck.