SHOPPERS were shocked to hear about a Costco customer who repeatedly returned dead flowers but received a full refund from the company.
Costco’s 100% satisfaction guarantee is a huge selling point for members who pay to shop in-store.
two
They can buy things with peace of mind, knowing they can return them for a full refund if they don’t meet their standards.
But some buyers take advantage of the generous policy.
In a Reddit thread, a user claiming to have worked at Costco explained how employees sometimes tried to stop serial returns.
“I used to work for Costco. We had a lady who returned the roses her husband bought for her after a week because they didn’t last as long as she expected,” they said. he wrote on the r/Costco subreddit.
“After six or seven times this happened, the front-end manager commented to her that she didn’t seem happy with our roses and perhaps she wanted to consider a different florist.
“She ended up calling the company, who then called our store and told us we would continue to take them back without conditions.”
Other Reddit users were shocked by the buyers, calling their actions “pure theft” and saying they would have “ignored the company in this case.”
“The lady was probably a cheapskate. The difference between people who are frugal and just plain cheap is stark,” one person wrote.
“Scumbag is more like it,” another customer added.
One person even had a similar experience at Costco.
“I saw a lady bring in four dead plants and they gave her all the credit. I wouldn’t even think about doing that,” they wrote.
FAIR WARNING
Although this time the company sided with the customer, it doesn’t always work that way.
Another Reddit user and self-proclaimed “frequent returner” was warned by a Costco employee after bringing back several electronics in a short period of time.
“I’m one of those who return often and don’t give a damn,” they he wrote on Reddit.
“My brother-in-law told me all these stories about people returning things years later, and he even returned his Traeger [grill] two years after he bought it.”
His most recent returns were a three-year-old beard trimmer and an electric toothbrush that cost $150.
“Fast forward to today’s return. The lady said, ‘Take this as you will, but out of the 20 things you purchased from my department, 12 were returned,'” they continued.
“She was cool about it, basically warning me that someone might think this was superficial.
“I don’t feel bad because I’m using the product and if it breaks or stops working, I’ll return it and buy another one.”
Despite the warning, they were considering returning just one more expensive item – a Dyson vacuum cleaner.
“I mean, I spent thousands there, but should I worry about them blocking my subscription?”
Membership and store cards offered by major retailers
Here’s a breakdown of store cards offered to customers from various retailers and their benefits
*If you click a link in this box, we may earn affiliate income.
Costco:
- Gold Star Membership: $60 per year, shop at all Costco stores and online with two additional cards for your family.
- Executive Member: $120 per year, 2% annual rewards, discounts and additional benefits on Costco services, shop online and in-store and get two additional cards for home use.
- Sign up for a Costco Membership here
Sam’s Club:
- Club membership: $50 Per Year, Bonus Offers, Same Day Delivery, Instant Savings, Sam’s Club Mastercard, Members Only Fuel Savings, Tire & Battery Center, Free Membership and Complimentary Memberships.
- More membership: $110 per year, all the benefits of Club membership plus Sam’s Cash, free shipping, free curbside pickup, advance purchases, and pharmacy and optical discounts.
- Sign up for Sam’s Club membership here
Target:
- Target Circle: A free rewards program that allows users to earn 1% in Target Circle Earnings rewards when a qualifying purchase is made, access personalized deals and offers, receive a birthday gift, and earn a vote to help direct how Target helps your community .
- Target Circle Card: A credit, debit or reloadable card that offers users 5% off in-store and online, as well as exclusive offers, free two-day shipping and an additional 30-day return window. Formerly Target RedCard.
- Sign up for Target circle here
Walmart:
- Walmart+: $12.95 per month or $98 per year with 30-day free trial. It offers members free delivery, free shipping with no minimum spend, fuel savings, Paramount+ subscription, car, Walmart+ travel, home drop-off, mobile scan and store entry, and early access to offers and product launches.
- Sign up for Walmart+ here
A Reddit user who claimed to work at Costco said he saw people get kicked out of the club for returning “too much.”
“[Like] 60% to 70% of all purchases,” they wrote.
Another person suggested that anyone who returned would face further repercussions before their membership was cancelled.
“You will be prevented from returning it before [being] prevented from shopping,” they wrote.
“It will get to the point where every return will require you to wait for a manager to come talk to you and approve or deny it.
“As long as you’re not an ad, you’ll just have to deal with it. If you become hostile, you will be banned and raided for at least a year.”
Customers were shocked to see buyers trying to return an obviously stained mattress.
Some members have recently criticized the store’s “claustrophobic” layout and said it puts them off shopping.
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
