Should generators be returnable?

[Wish Upon A Star]

It's an insurance policy . . .if you purchase a generator and you lose power and use the generator, than no, you can't return it . . .

If you don't lose power, the generator is not opened I see no problem with returning it . . .

We have a chain saw, 2 days prior the the hurricane DH couldn't get it to run properly . . .he went and bought a brand new chain saw just in case we lost a tree and he needed to break it down . . .needless to say, we didn't lose any trees and the unopened chain saw went back to the store . . .

I don't see any problem with returning things that aren't used . . .it's just like any other item you buy and don't need . . .

 

[DMickey28]

We toyed with getting one just in case and returning it if we didn't need it. Sealed and unused obviously.m the main point for that is that right now we really can't afford it. However we debated too long, lost power and finally found one, bought and and don't regret it. It's a mid sized one, about $800, and will run the necessities in our house along with some extras to help keep us entertained. We have lived here for three years, I. October, and have lost power for over three days at a time four times. Now with the kids getting older and pets it's not as easy to up and drive to family a few hours away. We have a well so no power means no potty, no shower and with our furnace no heat. It'll get used more than enough I am sure. Losing the fridge and freezer two times is enough to pay for a small generator!

 

[DebbieB]

It's like people who buy big screen TV's before the Super Bowl, then want to return it. Most electronic stores have a restock fee.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

New in the sealed box, I'd have no problem. Same if it's defective. Otherwise its yours.

 

[mrsstats]

New in the sealed box, I'd have no problem. Same if it's defective. Otherwise its yours.

I agree with this 100%.

Someone I know went out, bought generators and then sold then on Craigs list for $500 more than he paid.

 

[worm761]

New in the sealed box, I'd have no problem. Same if it's defective. Otherwise its yours.

I agree with this.

What I can never understand is the people that pawn them at the end of hurricane season. Do they not realize they will need one the next hurricane season? I am very lucky that my dad bought a generator for our house. It is not huge but it will make sure I don't lose any food and can charge hand held devices like cell phones, Kindles, and DSi's.

 

[MarineVet]

Returning a used generator after a storm is pretty much the same idea as buying a party dress and bringing it back after the party. I don't think it should be allowed either.

AAAAAAAaaaaaaarrrrrrrgggggg!!!!!! This brings back terrible memories! When I was first married to a young Marine, we lived at Quantico base near DC and I got a job at the base Exchange. I got promoted to "sales clerk leader" in the Shoe Department right before Christmas, and part of this job entailed taking back returned items. They had large tables set up for this in the "mall" of the exchange, and when it was my turn to work the shoe table, I saw all manner of things returned at the first of January. One of the most popular thing was party dresses. The women would bring them in and have the tags (which they had cut off) telling us they had tried it on at home but never worn it. We knew this not to be true, but the store's policy was to take the customer's word. This became very hard when we found dry cleaning tags pinned inside them!

I did try to refuse a pair of silver party shoes, as they were completely worn and scuffed on the bottom. At first the lady said she had not worn them, then she said, well, they hurt her feet so she wanted to return them. I still said no, because we could not resell them and the manufacturer would not take them back, so the store would be out the money. She threw her husband's high rank around, and demanded to see the store's assistant manager. Said manager removed a pair of scissors from her drawer, cut one of the straps, then tossed it at me and said, "there, now they are defective. Give her the refund." I started looking for another job the next day.

 

[JoiseyMom]

I went into Sam's after the storm and they had signs everywhere that opened generators were not returnable.

We bought a generator last year after Irene (and we only lost power for 12 hours), but she flooded our basement since our sump pump wouldn't work without power. This had never ever happened to us before. As soon as they had generators stocked again we bought one. We got a nice one at Costco for 700.00. We used it for four days, and then brought it to my in-laws for another four days. Worth every penny.

Just please remember to stock up on gas cans too! LOL...we didn't and I did alot of driving to keep our gen going until DH got more cans!!

If we lose power this week due to the Noreaster we are ready!

 

[Robbi]

If I owned the store and someone wanted to bring back an unused, still in the package generator, I'd say fine.

 

[rszdtrvl]

We bought a generator about 3 years ago. It is still unopened in its original box.

We went through a major storm with power outage for over 4 days and I refuse to go through that again. I told DH that we HAD to get a generator.

Our neighbors, on the other hand, got a generator during the above storm and returned it after the storm. Their excuse was that it was too hard to start up.

Their house was amazing during the storm. Warm, hot food, tv & dvd player. All because of the generator that they ended up returning.

 

[mikehn]

This is the scenario I see playing out:

Just before a storm, people go out and get generators, just in case, and fully intending to return the generator for a refund if it is not needed. Stores throughout the area are all sold out of generators and it will be days, if not a week or longer before another shipment arrives.

During this time, the storm comes through, some people are unaffected, but some are hit real hard and in desperate need. Those hit hard cant find any generators, because stores are all sold out.

After the storm passes, some who purchased generators did not need them afterall, and bring them back for a refund. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but I just think this is wrong.

 

[DeluxePrincess]

I told DH to buy me a generator for Christmas. I will NEVER return it! We only lost power for a day and a half, but that was enough for me.

 

[tvguy]

I suspect it will always be hard to return a generator, a wedding dress or a casket.

 

[LBIJim]

If the box is unopened, sure, I'd say it's fine to return it. Restocking fee at the discretion of the store. If used, absolutely not.

There was a sign at the local supermarket saying basically "Sorry, we are unable to accept for return any meats or other perishable items spoiled due to power outages." Apparently some people must have tried, either this time or last year after Irene.

A few months ago there was a thread about people returning opened and partially eaten steaks and other party foods to Costco. I wonder if they're accepting spoilage for returns.

Jim

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

Just before a storm, people run out and gobble up generators, only to return them for a refund when the storm passes. Meanwhile people who desparately need one cant find them anywhere. I saw a few returned over the weekend. Thoughts?

As long as it isn't used, I don't see any problems with returning it. In fact, returning it if you don't need it is the right thing to do. Someone else might have a need for one.

 

[sam_gordon]

This is the scenario I see playing out:

Just before a storm, people go out and get generators, just in case, and fully intending to return the generator for a refund if it is not needed. Stores throughout the area are all sold out of generators and it will be days, if not a week or longer before another shipment arrives.

During this time, the storm comes through, some people are unaffected, but some are hit real hard and in desperate need. Those hit hard cant find any generators, because stores are all sold out.

After the storm passes, some who purchased generators did not need them afterall, and bring them back for a refund. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but I just think this is wrong.

So what should happen? If people buy the generators and keep them (even if they don't use them), those that need them still will be out. If people don't buy the generators until they need them, they risk not being able to get one, not because they're sold out, but maybe they can't get to the store, maybe the store doesn't have power, maybe they don't have a way to transport the generator.

I would prefer people be able to return (unopened) generators. That at least gives other people who need one a chance to get one.

 

[sam_gordon]

We bought a generator about 3 years ago. It is still unopened in its original box.

And what happens when you need it, you take it out of the box, and it won't start?

 

[ellone]

And what happens when you need it, you take it out of the box, and it won't start?

Exactly, my mother had a co-worker who bought a generator under a year ago (after our previous storm). When he lost power this time, he went to start it up and it wouldn't start. Luckily it was still under warranty. But a little longer and he'd be screwed.

 

[design_mom]

As long as the generator was unused, I think it should be able to be returned assuming that is the store's policy on other merchandise.

I do not think it's the same thing as buying a party dress and returning it after it's been worn, nor buying a TV for the "big game" and returning it after the game. It's more like buying a party dress or a TV and returning it if the party/game gets cancelled so there's no reason to wear it/watch it.

Once you've used it/worn it/taken it out of the box, it should only be returned if it's defective. If it's never been used though, I think it should be returnable according to the store's normal return policy.

 

[Arielle22]

The same thing happens with snow blowers. After a major storm there is a rush on snow blowers. Then no more snow that winter and people want to return them.

DH and I have discussed getting a generator. We lost power for 5 days a year ago and I figure with ruined food and hotel rooms, we spent more than what a generator cost.