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

[aprilgail2]

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....

That is crazy- why wouldn't you just read the labels in the store????

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Store should have immediately been locked down and the strongest, healthiest kid identified.

 

[maxiesmom]

Exactly. Once something leaves the store they do not know where it has been. For all they know you are returning it because you left it in the car for a week. Years of working in retail I have seen returns that would turn your stomach. Clothes that have been worn, some covered with pet hair others that have been washed or filled with cigerette smells.

My best to date was someone returning clothes that were wet. They claimed they had been in their trunk and snow melt got on them. In reality it was cat pee. One wiff told the real story.

I have to agree with everyone else--donate food yourself if you don't want it. Stores are not there to be your go between. And read the labels when you grocery shop! I learned that one after my dad had a heart attack. Most stuff labeled heart healthy is not!

 

[JennyKS]

I had no idea people returned food if it wasn't already expired when you bought it or sour. Interesting.

 

[perditax]

A lot of #firstworldproblems in this thread.

 

[sunnyday123]

All I can think of is what food-returners do with a 12 pack of hot dog rolls and an 8 pack of buns

 

[Carina]

I am so confused ( and for heavens sake I work at a grocery store and process returns)

Why are y'all worried about how NON- Perishable food was stored when it left the store?
It's NON-PERSIHABLE.

We throw away all perishable returns. But if you returned an on-opened item (say you bought relish the day after your husband bought relish) how is that gross to put it back on the shelf, its UN-OPENED and shelf stable?

I was on page 4 before I realized you guys weren't mixing up perishable and non-perishable!

 

[PatMcDuck]

I had no idea people returned food if it wasn't already expired when you bought it or sour. Interesting.

And I had not idea they tossed returned food. I worked in a supermarket in the dark ages (1976-80). We did not toss it back then!

I never even return spoiled food, I am too lazy. I donate stuff that I buy by mistake, wrong flavor stuff, etc.

 

[maxiesmom]

I am so confused ( and for heavens sake I work at a grocery store and process returns)

Why are y'all worried about how NON- Perishable food was stored when it left the store?
It's NON-PERSIHABLE.

We throw away all perishable returns. But if you returned an on-opened item (say you bought relish the day after your husband bought relish) how is that gross to put it back on the shelf, its UN-OPENED and shelf stable?

I was on page 4 before I realized you guys weren't mixing up perishable and non-perishable!

Because you don't know what sicko may have bought that item, and taken it home just to tamper with it.

 

[bcwife76]

A lot of #firstworldproblems in this thread.

Ain't that the truth! Seriously it would never dawn on me to return food (unless it had spoiled before the expiry date or was growing mold the day I bought it or something). If we don't end up eating it we donate it, end of.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Because you don't know what sicko may have bought that item, and taken it home just to tamper with it.

A friend of mine had issues with his soda being stolen from the company fridge. So, he rubbed his butt on the top of a can, took a picture, and put the can in the fridge. Sure enough, the can disappeared. So, he replaced the can with another AND the picture along with the following note:

"Here's what I did to the last can; hope you enjoyed it. (Bleep) thieves!".

 

[smokeyblue]

I am so confused ( and for heavens sake I work at a grocery store and process returns)

Why are y'all worried about how NON- Perishable food was stored when it left the store?
It's NON-PERSIHABLE.

We throw away all perishable returns. But if you returned an on-opened item (say you bought relish the day after your husband bought relish) how is that gross to put it back on the shelf, its UN-OPENED and shelf stable?

I was on page 4 before I realized you guys weren't mixing up perishable and non-perishable!

Non-perishable is a misnomer. I think shelf-stable might be more appropriate; as in the item will keep in appropriate storage. There is no way to know if someone has kept it in their car on a 90 degree day or a -5 day and let it freeze and thaw.

I would have no problem returning food that was spoiled before it's expiration date. Many, many years ago my mom bought fresh salmon from Wal-Mart. She got home, opened it up and it smelled putrid. Living nearly an hours drive away, she called to let them know. The service operator picks up and my mom tells her that she bought "bad fish". The operator transferred her to the pet department.

 

[mom2my3kids]

To be honest I can see them not returning at all on items like this..

 

[Carina]

Because you don't know what sicko may have bought that item, and taken it home just to tamper with it.

You don't need to leave the store with something to tamper with it.

Guess you better stop eating all together!

 

[Julylady]

One reason prices are so high is because people like the OP make the store pay for her mistake. The store passes along those costs to the rest of us.

 

[maxiesmom]

You don't need to leave the store with something to tamper with it.

Guess you better stop eating all together!

I think it is a lot less likely someone would attempt to tamper with food in store. It is too likely they will be seen. Also, as another poster pointed out, you don't know how the item was handled once it left the store.

 

[tavettava]

I've returned food twice. They were both the Heritage Farms chicken from Kroger. I opened it up and it smelled horrible. I will not buy that brand again.

 

[JanaDee]

One reason prices are so high is because people like the OP make the store pay for her mistake. The store passes along those costs to the rest of us.

 

[wvjules]

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....

Why not read the label first? If I had a special diet and was buying $42 worth of something I certainly would make sure it was something that I could eat.

I shopped at a Walmart grocery and when I got home, I opened a bag of popcorn I had just bought. It tasted awful. It was then I looked at the expiration, and it was expired more than six months earlier. I had bought two of these products, and they both expired on the same date. I returned the bags for a refund, and pointed out to the clerk that the expiration date was long ago. A few weeks later I returned to the store. I was curious so I looked for the popcorn product I had issues with. Sure enough, the unopened, expired bag I had returned was back on the shelf! I was pretty disgusted.

How do you know it was the bag you returned? Maybe it was a whole case with the same exp date? They should have checked and removed them, absolutely, but what makes you think it was yours specifically that was on the shelf?

I've never returned excess food. The only time I can recall returning any food item was ground turkey at Sam's Club. When we opened it we realized it was bad. Blech!

 

[richmond282]

I would think how returned food is handled would be regulated by the FDA or some similar organization.