What is the most returned item on New Year's day?

[NewIdentity]

First, I better say this is in no way based on fact. But, considering Walmart is one of the few stores open New Year's day, who knows?


Anyway, I was at Walmart loading up on Protein Bars and Lunchables getting ready for a week long skiing and Ice Climbing vacation starting tomorrow, when I had a hard time getting my cart around the huge line at the Customer Service Desk. I noticed that almost everyone in line was returning the exact same item. And, on the way out to my car I spotted 2 more people carrying these huge boxes into the store.

What was that all these people were returning on New Year's day? Would you believe Christmas Trees! Unbelievable, the nerve of some people; where would these Walmart clerks even start, "Was there anything wrong with the item?"?

[stevew]

There are several items that should have a zero return policy.

Christmas Trees
Snow Blowers
Power Generators
Air Conditioners

Those are what I can think of off the top of my head.

[Pumpy Tudors]

Damn, I thought the item was going to be Tickle Me Elmo.

[stevew]

Elmo Knows Your Name Cyril!@!@!

[Pumpy Tudors]

holy shit

[cyril]

Elmo Knows Your Name Cyril!@!@!

what's the reference?

[Big Fo]

Well played consumers (if Wal-Mart takes the Christmas trees back that is).

[Sun Tzu]

I was thinking engagement rings.

[SackAttack]

That's really no difference than the massive swell of TV purchases right before the Super Bowl only to see a fairly significant portion of those purchases get returned *after* the Super Bowl.

Just on a lesser scale, that's all.

I dunno if that phenomenon happens in this part of the country the way it used to in California, haven't been out here long enough, but there were tons of people who'd buy a 60" TV screen a week before the Super Bowl, and then return it the week following the Super Bowl.

[ShaqFu]

We're they actually processing the returns? Some stores do have fairly liberal return policies. Stores like Costco have open-ended return policies. At one point, you could buy a computer, take it back six months later, exchange for another, wash, rinse, and repeat. My understanding is that they no longer allow this, since too many people abused it. However, I've heard of returning things to Costco 2-3 years after purchase. If it is in their computer, they will take it back.

[Galaril]

This year? A University of Cincinnati Bearcats football jersey.

[Pumpy Tudors]

what's the reference?
This is the best post ever.

[NewIdentity]

That's really no difference than the massive swell of TV purchases right before the Super Bowl only to see a fairly significant portion of those purchases get returned *after* the Super Bowl.

Yeah, but at least the store can put the T.V. back on the rack and sell it again. What is Walmart going to do with a used Christmas tree in January?

[M GO BLUE!!!]

I bet that the typical Walmart customer could return any piece of exercise equipment and the clerk wouldn't even have to ask if the item had been opened.

[Cringer]

Screw that. I would refuse to help if my wife wanted to do that. She just bought a 37" Vizio and Blu-ray player for the bedroom about a month (or a little more) ago. She saw the TV on sale last week for $90 less and wanted to return it and buy it at the cheaper price. We aren't well off enough that $90 is something to piss away, but I still told her she would have to do it herself is she went through with it. I was not going to tear it down, pack it back up nicely in it's box, return it just to drive to another store afterwards and get the same TV to put into the car, carry inside the house, unbox it, set it back up and see the same damn thing I am right now.

A Christmas tree would be the same thing to me, I am not doing that crap every year.

[Logan]

Couple things...does Walmart not have a lower price guarantee type thing? I know my roommate just got something like that from Best Buy for the TV he bought his parents for XMas. And no restocking fee or something for an opened box TV that would net out the $90 savings?

[stevew]

Screw that. I would refuse to help if my wife wanted to do that. She just bought a 37" Vizio and Blu-ray player for the bedroom about a month (or a little more) ago. She saw the TV on sale last week for $90 less and wanted to return it and buy it at the cheaper price. We aren't well off enough that $90 is something to piss away, but I still told her she would have to do it herself is she went through with it. I was not going to tear it down, pack it back up nicely in it's box, return it just to drive to another store afterwards and get the same TV to put into the car, carry inside the house, unbox it, set it back up and see the same damn thing I am right now.

A Christmas tree would be the same thing to me, I am not doing that crap every year.

You just go to the store and buy another one, and then return it with the old receipt.

[Cringer]

Couple things...does Walmart not have a lower price guarantee type thing? I know my roommate just got something like that from Best Buy for the TV he bought his parents for XMas. And no restocking fee or something for an opened box TV that would net out the $90 savings?

You just go to the store and buy another one, and then return it with the old receipt.

This wasn't at Walmart, it was Target. My guess is Target has the same lower price thing. Though the purchase was part of a combo, the Blu-ray player came with it. I never saw the receipt but I guess stevew's suggestion would work, they had to have been scanned as individual pieces even though the price was for both together. Oh well, probably too late now and I don't care enough. She saves enough pennies in other places to let this one slide. The woman drives me insane, but probably saves me a bunch of money overall.

[DanGarion]

You just go to the store and buy another one, and then return it with the old receipt.

That only works with items that don't have serial #s on the outside of the box that are recorded... ;)

[JimboJ]

At most chain stores (Walmart, Target, Best Buy, etc) if you see it at a lower price during the return period, you just go back with your receipt and they will refund the difference. No need to bring the actual item back to the store.

[lighthousekeeper]

First, I better say this is in no way based on fact. But, considering Walmart is one of the few stores open New Year's day, who knows?


Anyway, I was at Walmart loading up on Protein Bars and Lunchables getting ready for a week long skiing and Ice Climbing vacation starting tomorrow, when I had a hard time getting my cart around the huge line at the Customer Service Desk. I noticed that almost everyone in line was returning the exact same item. And, on the way out to my car I spotted 2 more people carrying these huge boxes into the store.

What was that all these people were returning on New Year's day? Would you believe Christmas Trees! Unbelievable, the nerve of some people; where would these Walmart clerks even start, "Was there anything wrong with the item?"?

I know this is apples & oranges, but this post reminds me of why I'm not in favor of healthcare, car insurance, or any other forms of pooled assets. Too many people are eager to exploit.

[SportsDino]

During my brief stint at Walmart I took great pride in foiling about two dozen cases of people trying to return items with critical pieces stolen out of them. Nothing is more rewarding then a hearty 'enjoy your Playstation' after they bring in a mangled, ripped up box missing the main power cord and the controller.

Unbelievably, someone else accepted a return without pieces and the box looking like crap for a Wii (gotta love hard to find controllers). ALWAYS check any opened merchandise you get at a store, not everyone does their job.

The extent people go to as cheapasses for LUXURIES pisses me off.

[DanGarion]

The extent people go to as cheapasses for LUXURIES pisses me off.

I could say that everyday about my job as well...

[Kodos]

There are several items that should have a zero return policy.

Christmas Trees
Snow Blowers
Power Generators
Air Conditioners

Those are what I can think of off the top of my head.

TP?

[JonInMiddleGA]

TP?

Thongs.

[Airhog]

pregnancy tests

[Kodos]

XXXmas porn.

[Blackadar]

XXXmas porn.

That's the gift that keeps on giving!

[Dr. Sak]

Condoms

[SteveMax58]

Turkey Basters.

[stevew]

During my brief stint at Walmart I took great pride in foiling about two dozen cases of people trying to return items with critical pieces stolen out of them. Nothing is more rewarding then a hearty 'enjoy your Playstation' after they bring in a mangled, ripped up box missing the main power cord and the controller.

Unbelievably, someone else accepted a return without pieces and the box looking like crap for a Wii (gotta love hard to find controllers). ALWAYS check any opened merchandise you get at a store, not everyone does their job.

The extent people go to as cheapasses for LUXURIES pisses me off.

Someone once tried to return a PS2 when I worked at Target. They taped the box back up, and put school books inside. Needless to say, that was foiled rather quickly.