Sam's return policy on non-perishable food--NOT happy

[JanaDee]

well I just returned 42.00 of canned soup yesterday with ZERO shame. I figure if they can sell a Gluten Free product and put enough sodium in it to kill you I have zero shame in returning it. DD's doctor diagnosed her with kidney stones, gee I wonder why, upon investigating some of her gluten free products they are loaded with salt. I returned them. I wouldn't donate something to someone else that I personally wouldn't consume....

Read the label before you buy, problem solved.

I seriously can't believe people return FOOD to the store.

 

[KKB]

Why can food banks do food drives--where they accept nonperishable food from strangers with no way of knowing under what conditions it was kept, but stores cannot donate food under the same conditions? (returned food that they don't know what conditions it was kept)

 

[DisneyHardin]

I know all stores here throw away any returned food. I think it is a Health Dept issue, not a store by store policy. I work at a school and I know any food (even pre-packaged) that goes across that lunch line, has to be thrown away if for whatever reason the child doesn't want it.

 

[dsanner106]

Why can food banks do food drives--where they accept nonperishable food from strangers with no way of knowing under what conditions it was kept, but stores cannot donate food under the same conditions? (returned food that they don't know what conditions it was kept)

food banks are dependant upon the kindness of strangers and must accept goods donated or close. Stores are open to liability if someone dies from food they donated they can be sued for millions. Food banks are non-profit and suing would get you nothing.

Drew

 

[Saimaeve]

Why can food banks do food drives--where they accept nonperishable food from strangers with no way of knowing under what conditions it was kept, but stores cannot donate food under the same conditions? (returned food that they don't know what conditions it was kept)

Because stores can be held liable. And it would be a PR nightmare if there was some sort of tampering with it. NPOs not so much

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Read the label before you buy, problem solved.

I seriously can't believe people return FOOD to the store.

 

[worm761]

Read the label before you buy, problem solved.

I seriously can't believe people return FOOD to the store.

I have returned food once. We opened some breakfast sausage and the smell that came out of it made us gag. My dad had just bought it that morning. So yes, I went and got my dad's money back. It was rotten. I felt bad for the poor girl who had to open it at the store.

 

[Lehuaann]

I seriously can't believe people return FOOD to the store.

I most definitely have/will return spoiled packaged food.

 

[mjkacmom]

I have returned food once. We opened some breakfast sausage and the smell that came out of it made us gag. My dad had just bought it that morning. So yes, I went and got my dad's money back. It was rotten. I felt bad for the poor girl who had to open it at the store.

I returned $100 rancid beef tenderloin - actually, I take that back. I went back with the receipt - there was no way I was driving with this thing.

 

[ellone]

Read the label before you buy, problem solved. I seriously can't believe people return FOOD to the store.

Especially if someone has an allergy - I would expect you to read the ingredients carefully. I wouldn't trust the 'gluten free' label - I'm always one to wonder what substitutions are made.

 

[ImDMous]

I have returned food once. We opened some breakfast sausage and the smell that came out of it made us gag. My dad had just bought it that morning. So yes, I went and got my dad's money back. It was rotten. I felt bad for the poor girl who had to open it at the store.

Food that is bad that you just bought and is still within the expiration date I can totally see getting a refund/exchange for. But just bringing something back because you bought too much or didn't like it? That's just odd.

 

[JanaDee]

I have returned food once. We opened some breakfast sausage and the smell that came out of it made us gag. My dad had just bought it that morning. So yes, I went and got my dad's money back. It was rotten. I felt bad for the poor girl who had to open it at the store.

I most definitely have/will return spoiled packaged food.

That isn't what the OP is talking about.

 

[Lehuaann]

That isn't what the OP is talking about.

Correct. However, your statement didn't appear to be either, so that is why myself and others replied.

 

[ICF]

Remember the Tylonal poisoning cases from a decade or so ago?

Not to make you feel old, but I think that was more like 3 decades ago....I think it was the early 80s!

 

[LJSquishy]

I believe this policy is the same for almost all, if not all grocery items at any store. It certainly isn't specific to Sam's Club, although I don't fault you for not wanting to shop there! We don't have Sam's Club in my area, just Costco...which I love. I know Costco does not put items back on the shelves.

I would try to only purchase the quantity you are realistically going to use and not overbuy. If you do happen to purchase too much of an item, just keep it or donate it. I just don't think it's right to return things because you bought too much. If there were an issue with a product, absolutely return it -- but not for a quantity error.

 

[supersnoop]

Not to make you feel old, but I think that was more like 3 decades ago....I think it was the early 80s!

1982; more than three decades ago.

 

[maleficent32]

2 years ago I returned some non-perishable food (extra from grad party). No issues.

Yesterday I returned some (leftover from a dance team kiddie clinic) & was told that food returned is thrown away. OK--WHY? It is non-perishable...why not give it to a food bank? They said they don't know if it got too hot or how it was housed--WHHATTT?? OK, our food bank has food drives several times a year where people drop off non-perishable food from their pantries--WOULDN'T THAT BE THE SAME THING??!!

Oh they informed me I was welcome to keep the food & donate it myself. Wait--WHAT? SOOOO...it is OK to donate this food on MY dime, but not yours? OK, I get it--this is a way to discourage returns. NOT impressed.
(funny, our local grocery takes returns & doesn't throw away non-perishables...)

Will not be renewing our membership...I was impressed with meat prices last year but no longer & honestly I can match most prices when things are on sale.

Have never been a Walmart fan--this just put the nail in the coffin on that relationship.

It is not to discourage returns, it is a liability issue. This is the policy of many retailers so if you want to boycott the ones who practice this you should start making calls to see if where you shop does it.

 

[Halbleib1]

All returned food is required to be thrown out. Even at restaurants including fast food places they are required to throw away any returned/exchanged food including prepackaged foods. We saw this happen numerous times at cs restaurants in Disney World. A couple of times it was only placed on the tray and had not even left the counter but they are still required to throw it out. Most of the time it was just exchanging out prepackaged carrots or grapes etc. They do this because the packaging could be contaminated with peoples germs and they don't want to spread illnesses.

 

[Judique]

Remember the Tylenol poisoning cases from a decade or so ago? This person took home the bottles, injectected poison in the pills and returned them to the drugstore. Placed back on the shelves they were bought and killed people. Stores were sued and since then, once a consumable leaves a store, they don't take them back and resell.

drew

I remember having to check our bottles of Tylenol.

Good thing stores throw out stuff. I really wouldn't want to purchase something someone took home and returned.

 

[descovy]

I work at Target. Same thing. We can (and do!) donate things close to expired, that haven't left the store. But we have to trash any food a customer returns.

I get real peeved when people return food like this. Totally agree in returning if it's bad. But I don't get the entitlement of returning food because you bought too much for a party. Yes, I accept the return (it's my job) but it just reeks of entitlement.

I hosted a party this weekend. 37 jr hi students (boys & girls) in an open house come-and-go kind of event. Did my best to estimate drinks and snacks. And yes we have leftovers. It's okay. We will use them later. I had a (realistic) budget for this party and there's no need to make the grocery store take the loss on my "best guess"

Why are party leftovers the worst thing in the world???