Should generators be returnable?

[mikehn]

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?

 

[Art 1]

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?

If I owned the store they would not be returnable.

 

[sam_gordon]

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?

In my mind, they should be treated like video games... you take off the wrapping, you can only get the same item.

Although on the other hand, if people are allowed to return them, that gives people who need them the opportunity to buy them. If people weren't allowed to return them, those who needed one would be out of luck.

 

[furb & dez]

No. If you need one, buy one. If you don't, rent one.

 

[andysomma1]

In my mind, they should be treated like video games... you take off the wrapping, you can only get the same item.

Although on the other hand, if people are allowed to return them, that gives people who need them the opportunity to buy them. If people weren't allowed to return them, those who needed one would be out of luck.

Purchases like this are generally returned after the crisis is over, and by that time more generators have been ordered by the store and the returns become excess stock. I agree, if it were my store they would not be returnable.

 

[luvmy3]

Before the storm, stores here put up signs saying they were not returnable.

 

[Hrhpd]

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?

I am not getting the correlation between returning a generator and people who desperately needed them.

Are you saying that people not in the path of the storm were buying up generators "just in case" and then returning unused generators?

Or are people returning used generators that they needed during the storm?

I think it is up to the store to decide their return policy. And they have to base their policy on everyday life, not a once in a lifetime type storm.

 

[LuvsDragonflies]

No. You bought it, you keep it.

 

[lizabu]

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.

 

[Sgt Mickey]

If I owned the store they would not be returnable.

This.

 

[JVL1018]

We bought a generator the Friday before Sandy came- from Home Depot.

As we were wrestling it out of the car and into the garage, my husband says to me the guy at Home Depot says we can return them within 30 days as long as it's unopened. I took his keys, slit the packing tape open and said, guess we're keeping it.
Once I got my hands on a generator, I wasn't giving that baby up!

We did need it from Monday night-Friday afternoon, but even if we didn't, I would have kept it.

If that's their policy, that's their policy, I don't see a problem with it. We all knew a storm was coming and all had the same opportunity to get out there and buy one. They were available Wednesday at stores here, as well.

 

[MIGrandma]

Nope, they should not be returnable unless they are defective.

A PP mentioned that's like buying a party dress and wanting to return it after the party...I agree, and like when people buy a big screen TV for that "big football game" and then want to return it. Shouldn't be allowed.

 

[sam_gordon]

We bought a generator the Friday before Sandy came- from Home Depot.

As we were wrestling it out of the car and into the garage, my husband says to me the guy at Home Depot says we can return them within 30 days as long as it's unopened. I took his keys, slit the packing tape open and said, guess we're keeping it.
Once I got my hands on a generator, I wasn't giving that baby up!

We did need it from Monday night-Friday afternoon, but even if we didn't, I would have kept it.

If that's their policy, that's their policy, I don't see a problem with it. We all knew a storm was coming and all had the same opportunity to get out there and buy one. They were available Wednesday at stores here, as well.

After all the "excitement" dies down, make sure you start up the generator once a month or so. I'd even make sure you run the gas out in about 6 months and fill it back up. Otherwise, the next time you need it, it won't start.

ETA: This what keeps me from getting a generator. We've had ice storms knock out power... once we went a week+ living in a friends basement. That's out of the 10 years we've been in the house. To me, it's hard to spend hundreds if not thousands of dollars for something that I'd use once a decade.

 

[JVL1018]

After all the "excitement" dies down, make sure you start up the generator once a month or so. I'd even make sure you run the gas out in about 6 months and fill it back up. Otherwise, the next time you need it, it won't start.

Thanks, will do!

As to returning them used, I agree that stinks-I didn't know anyplace allowed that.
The guy at Home Depot made sure to tell my husband the box had to be sealed still..so even if we never used it, as long as the box was opened, it was considered used, and not returnable.

 

[disney1990]

We have a small generator that we bought before a storm hit Maryland last year. It runs the refrigerator, freezer, fan, fish tank, charges cellphones, plays out non-cable television. It only cost about $600 and we have used it twice. It has paid for itself and provided peace of mind.

I don't think they should be returnable after the storm unless they are unopened in the original packing. Even then, some stores have restocking fees.

 

[Nancyg56]

If that's their policy, that's their policy, I don't see a problem with it. We all knew a storm was coming and all had the same opportunity to get out there and buy one. They were available Wednesday at stores here, as well.

I agree. The store gets to determine their return policy. I think most have a restocking fee and it can add up. I imagine that would keep most people fro buying simply as insurance.

After all the "excitement" dies down, make sure you start up the generator once a month or so. I'd even make sure you run the gas out in about 6 months and fill it back up. Otherwise, the next time you need it, it won't start.

My DH puts some stuff in it, I think it is "seafoam". He has to put it in the tractors when he puts them away for the winter as well.

 

[Disney Doll]

A couple of days before Sandy hit here, my brother bought a generator.

He did not lose power. Consequently he did not need his generator.

Now, he is going to keep it because he wants to have one, but if he decided to return it brand new, unopened and unused, I'm not sure why that would be a problem?? To me that would be like returning any other item that I decided I didn't want/need after I bought it, but before I used it (or wore it in the case of clothing).

Obviously a generator that has been used should not be able to be returned.

 

[John VN]

After all the "excitement" dies down, make sure you start up the generator once a month or so. I'd even make sure you run the gas out in about 6 months and fill it back up. Otherwise, the next time you need it, it won't start.

ETA: This what keeps me from getting a generator. We've had ice storms knock out power... once we went a week+ living in a friends basement. That's out of the 10 years we've been in the house. To me, it's hard to spend hundreds if not thousands of dollars for something that I'd use once a decade.

Starting a generator up and letting it run is not exercising the generator properly. It is very common knowledge in the RVing community that there must be a load on the generator when it is running to assure proper exercising.

http://blog.rv.net/2009/08/keep-your-generator-going-going-going/

Adding a stabilizer to the gasoline when not in use is always a good idea. Running it out every 6 months still allows the newer formulated gasoline to sit and absorb moisture in addition to the problems ethanol can cause on seals in the system.

As far as returning a generator, if still unused and new-no problem, if used-keep it.

 

[HelenePA]

my dh works at lowes part time on the weekends... the day before sandy hit there were over 20 generators sitting at the store PAID for waiting to be picked up while others wanted to buy them they couldn't sell them because they were already sold... I'm guessing those people waited the storm out to see if they would lose power and they decided weather or not to pick them up and if they didn't need them just to cancel their order (all were ordered online)

 

[happygirl]

As long as they aren't used. I don't have a problem with people returning them