-
I completely agree with what Scrappah said a few posts above. These policies are set in place to decrease overall loss in the business.
You can't give cashiers the ability to take every return no matter the reason. It's completely reasonable to have to have a receipt. People steal items and then try to return them all the time. Or, it could have been bought as a stolen item unknowingly by the customer. There are a lot of reasons to want that receipt. Of course, if you go up the chain of command, you will run into people with the ability to help. These checks and balances are extremely important.
I have known people when I was younger that would completely take advantage of relaxed return/exchange policies. A favorite was Nordstroms. I have heard stories that they are so relaxed on returns that you can just go buy things at goodwill and then exchange them there for new items! I don't know if that's true, if so, it's ridiculous.
No business is required to take returns. That is an extra service that most businesses offer with a few stipulations. Whoever came up with "The Customer Is Always Right" was a moron, and now everything we pay for is more expensive because of people taking advantage of the system.
I worked in retail for several years through high school and college, and as a bartender for many years. I have dealt with thousands upon thousands of people, and the number of entitled and demanding jerks increased as the years progressed. Utterly ridiculous.
And please, HipoGear, don't think I'm attacking you personally here. Your needs were reasonable, and you just have to put a little more work in to get the help you wanted. This kind of expanded more into a rant...and I'm sorry if people are offended, but I'm not sorry I said it!
-
I understand the theft issue. That is why most stores will only allow a store credit for items returned without a receipt. A thief is only looking for money in the end.
-
Final Update. I followed IdahoScrapper's advice and posted my complaint on Facebook. The admins there asked me to email some fellow named Jack, who contacted the regional manager, who asked the store manager to call me. As of today I have their permission to bring the vise back for an exchange. The manager said that they were discussing store policy and came to the conclusion they need to be more lenient on exchanges at Christmas. Happy that it was resolved but it never should have been this difficult to start.
-
Hip-O good to hear this is going to work out, sometimes we go the long way to get home! I have never been a big fan of Harbor Freight, their tools are not going to get you far. Sometimes you need to do with what you have available or what is easiest for that moment.
Recently Harbor Freight opened a new store close to my house (1/2 mile) so I have been using them more for conveniece and mostly buying consumables. I did buy two of their Preditor engine's to replace blown Honda engines on commercial "Billy Goat" parking lot blowers. I have since rebuilt the Honda's and when those HF engines go out the Honda engines are ready to go. So for the price the Harbor Freight engines was the right temporary replacement.
Harbor Freight for the most part sells tools that have a "Perceived Value", a brand name like a Honda engine has a "Proven and Confirmed" value.
-
I think your experience might have been an isolated one and hopefully you won't have the same problem in the future. I and others that I know have never really had a problem with exchanges and returns, which is good considering how many folks buy tools and just return them after they are done with the job.
I have the 12K winch and have feat the buck out of it and it still shows up for work...1/2" drill I use to mix 80 pound bags of cement still running as well...some stuff just lasts longer.
Problems with customer service can crop up with anyone. I'm currently duking it out with Fedex cuz they will only let you buy 5 labels thru ebay for an item sold. I had multiples of the same item and a customer bought them all so I needed 2 more labels and had to purchase the labels using my Fedex account and it was $4.55 more per box. Nothing like paying more at the source than you would thru the middle man.
-
Ahh yes. That 12k winch is a brute. I added the wireless remote and it makes loading anything a breeze. Receiver plate (HF) it's bolted to is junk though. On my 3rd one. I keep saying I'll make my own but I haven't.
-
glad you are getting it worked out, but just an FYI, they email you the receipt even in the retail stores...first thing they ask is if you receive their coupons, phone # and get you on their mailing list. it's stupid not to be on it, you get so many free coupons and 20% off coupons you can't possibly use them all...I have cartons full of their free tape measures, screwdrivers, DVM's, magnetic parts trays, and flashlights. and you can recycle the aluminum flashlights if you don't want them or if the batteries leak, as an added bonus!!
-
I've had hassles exchanging items before, but thankfully they did exchange the item. All and all, I find hf no worse then Wally World or any other corporate owned store.
-
The amount of return fraud is ridiculous. If a sticker = accepted returns, they would be copying those also.
I wouldn't blame the individual stores for tightening return policies.
-
Oh I've got a HF story for you regarding a return:
I once was lucky enough to be loaned an MK tile saw. The guy I borrowed it from moved and I lost access to it.
I went to HF when I had a floor tiling job to do and bought their highest priced "professional series" saw.
Right out of the box:
The left leg wouldn't lock
The nylon fitting was not done in the mold correctly so I had to hand drill it out to get the water to flow to the blade
The slide would "catch" about every 4 inches. I tried Vaseline and spray silicone.. still would "catch"
I bought a diamond edge tile blade there to go with the saw.
1st tile: Tile Snapped
2nd Tile: Arbor in the center of the blade broke out of it.
Went to Lowes to buy a better blade. Installed on the saw:
3rd Tile- Snapped!
4th Tile- Snapped!
I used the 4 (now scrap pieces of tile) to work on the technique of trying to cut this tile to completion without it breaking. As I said- every 4 inches I had to pull back on the saw and then pull forward again to cut the tile.
I went to HF to return the blade and asked them what I should do about the saw- I wasn't happy with it AT ALL. Guy says "Just bring it back and we will refund you."
So the next day I brought it back (of course the same guy wasn't working THAT day.) I told the cashier my story and that I spoke with a guy the day before.
Some guy who I assume is the Front End Manager (with no name tag mind you) says "What do you mean you want to return it" I said "It really isn't a very good saw- I've had all these problems with it- right out of the box" He barks "Well WHY DON'T YOU EXCHANGE IT FOR ANOTHER ONE!!?" I said "Quite honestly, I can't see the quality being any better from the one that came off the line right behind this one." He says "Well I think you should just get a new one instead"
My kindness and patience was gone. There were probably 15 people around the front registers at this point and I lost it I said "Do you want me to say it? I'll say it?" He says "What?!" I said "This thing is a piece of $HIT, and I want my **** money back" I got my $ back and walked out. Since he had no name tag, I had no one to point a finger too at corporate- but they sure as he-ll would have heard from me once I got out of the store if he did.
