Returning a 'used' broken product after buying another...

[gate_pourri]

I am curious what others would do in this situation...

You bought a product less than 6 months ago. This product should last longer than 6 months. For kicks, lets say it is a photo frame. Less than 6 months later, the frame is broken. It is still usable, but broken and looks cheap. You buy another one (not a replacement, but an addition to the current frame, You want both). Do you return the broken one in the packaging of the new one (they are identical) or not?

This situation came up today. Just curious what others would do in the same situation. My friend and I disagreed on what was 'right'.

 

[JR6ooo4]

I am curious what others would do in this situation...

You bought a product less than 6 months ago. This product should last longer than 6 months. For kicks, lets say it is a photo frame. Less than 6 months later, the frame is broken. It is still usable, but broken and looks cheap. You buy another one (not a replacement, but an addition to the current frame, You want both). Do you return the broken one in the packaging of the new one (they are identical) or not?

This situation came up today. Just curious what others would do in the same situation. My friend and I disagreed on what was 'right'.

The problem, the frame "is" broken. The question, how did it "come" to be broken. Either it was damaged by operator error or through a manufacturing defect.

Only in the latter case can it be returned.

MIkeeee

 

[Stacerita]

No, you don't return the broken one inside the new package.

 

[bicker]

The problem, the frame "is" broken. The question, how did it "come" to be broken. Either it was damaged by operator error or through a manufacturing defect. Only in the latter case can it be returned.

And then, only if it is still within its own warranty period. It is unethical to claim warranty satisfaction for one of them using the warranty coverage of the other.

 

[Cantw8]

yes, I have done it..on more than one occassion

 

[luvmy3]

If I purchased something and it was 6 months old and broken I wouldn't return it to the store, unless I purchased some sort of replacement agreement. If I didn't and the item was still under warranty I would contact the manufacturer.
If it was something small like a picture frame, I would throw it out and not buy the same one again if it only lasted 6 months. I would figure it was cheaply made and the next one would do the same. I would never return a broken, used, worn etc item in new packaging and return it to the store, it is unethical IMHO.

 

[agnes!]

I wouldn't do it, in my opinion it's a form of shoplifting-by-proxy.

agnes!

 

[Todd&Copper]

Eh, put broken one in the new box and return it. How are the fools who work at Wal-Mart ever going to know you switched boxes?

 

[wall*e2008]

At 6 months you need to contact the manufacturer to see if it is still under warranty. If not, then you should not use the new box and receipt to return an used and broken item.

BTW why would you buy a second item identical when the first performed so poorly? What is your plan in 6 months when both are now broken?

 

[Frantasmic]

It's June.

You regift it to your least favorite graduate or your least favorite bride or groom.

Not really. You shouldn't do any of these things, whether you stayed at a Holiday Inn last night or not.

 

[allison443]

BTW why would you buy a second item identical when the first performed so poorly? What is your plan in 6 months when both are now broken?

I don't understand this either. The product is so badly made OP wants another one??

 

[KirstenB]

Eh, put broken one in the new box and return it. How are the fools who work at Wal-Mart ever going to know you switched boxes?

Nice. Then they re-shelve it, and some poor unsuspecting person comes along and buys it.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

Sounds like you want to know if we would steal. I would not...

 

[WDSearcher]

For me, the important piece of info is "how did it break?"

Did you just look at it one day and discover it was broken? Was it defective from the start and you just didn't notice or didn't care until now? Did it fall? Did someone use it improperly? Did the cat knock it over? Did Peter Brady hit it with a basketball?

Since you're wanting to put the broken item in a new box and take it back without any sort of statement of its condition, I'm thinking that it's not a manufacturing defect as much as it is "operator error."

If it's truly defective, then you either go to the Customer Service desk at the store you bought it from, or you send it to the manufacturer asking for a refund. If it broke because it was used improperly or because someone knocked it over, then you're out of luck and you don't get anything back.

Putting a product you know is defective into a new box is lying, plain and simple. And, as someone stated earlier, "shoplifting-by-proxy."

 

[a1tinkfans]

Eh, put broken one in the new box and return it. How are the fools who work at Wal-Mart ever going to know you switched boxes?

Huh I think it is wrong to say "fools" at walmart. No I do not work there but goodness, atleast they are working and contributing to society, which is more than I can say for those that are SUCKING this country dry by not carrying their own weight, so I hope that was just an expression rather than a description of your Walmart employees.

As far as returning an item that you broke and then buying another one with the intent of switching. Its wrong ethically and it is actually fraud. It also causes un-necessary issues for the next consumer that buys what they think is a NEW item and wah la, its not, so THEY get stuck going back to return YOUR broken item....what a waste of energy.

If its what someone does, so be it...to each his own,,,but I don't agree its right or applaud it, its simply dishonest.

If it was defective, many stores will refund you and ship it back to the manufacturer. They don't want to lose you as a customer. Sometimes, honesty does pay.

Well, thats my two cents...you did ask

 

[luvmy3]

Nice. Then they re-shelve it, and some poor unsuspecting person comes along and buys it.

That happened to me. I bougt dh a power washer from Target for Father's Day one year and when he went to use it, water came out of one of tubes and it didn't work

 

[WDSearcher]

That happened to me. I bougt dh a power washer from Target for Father's Day one year and when he went to use it, water came out of one of tubes and it didn't work

Or ... it could have been a legitimately faulty item. There are such things, you know!

But if you suspect that someone else bought it, broke it, and returned it -- and you know how angry that made you -- why in heaven's name would you want to do that to someone else??

 

[luvmy3]

Or ... it could have been a legitimately faulty item. There are such things, you know!

But if you suspect that someone else bought it, broke it, and returned it -- and you know how angry that made you -- why in heaven's name would you want to do that to someone else??

I wouldn't and it wasn't faulty. After taking it out of the box it was pretty obvious it had been used.

 

[Parkers_girl]

I'm gonna be honest here, and say that I have bought a new one and returned the old in the new package. It was a sink mounted water filter that worked for the first two weeks then the light never went on again and the thing never stayed on the faucet. It would literally fall off and throw itself at you, meanwhile water was squirting everywhere. I replaced the filter, tried the little screws it came with, nothing worked! I tried calling the company and was unsuccessful in getting any help. So after spending $40 for the unit, plus $20 for the new filter I decided that I would buy a new one to see if maybe my model was defected. I purchased a new one, on sale, brought it home and it worked fine. I put the old one in the new box brought it back and told them the truth, the item didn't work! I made sure to tell them that the item was defective so that they wouldn't put it back on the shelf for someone else to buy. Do I think I cheated the system? No, I purchased the product from the same store, I paid more money for it originally and the product was broken and it wasn't my fault. Who cares if its a new box?!? And I am happy with my new, working water filter system.

 

[Ilivetogo]

I had a store employee suggest I do this when one part of the light fixture I bought didn't work.

The new one was fine.

When I returned the item, they asked if it was okay so I told them the "x" part didn't work. So therefore, they would not have put it back on the shelf for someone else to buy. (This problem was not something I did -- It was like that when I removed it from the box and installed the light fixture.