Dirty little secrets that big box stores don't want you to know about!!!!!

[Geno44]

We bought a Whirlpool washer five years ago and a service contract since appliances today seem to be so "non-durable". The washer had a major fail which was actually repair number three, and Whirlpool bought it back for $650. (After five plus years of service) We purchased Speed Queen as a replacement and are satisfied so far. My wife purchased a service contract on a 1990 Buick Reatta for about $1600 and got back about $3000 in repairs. On the other hand, our Sony TV service contract never had to pay anything over it's life because the TV is still functioning perfectly after about 14 years. Those are all the service contracts we ever bought.

 

[Leonard]

Best buy tried REAL hard to sell me one on a flat screen a while back. I got so pissed that I told the guy if he was so sure I was going to need the extended warranty, maybe I should pick another model-or even better just not buy and wait a while until they ironed out all the kinks.
As far as damages boxes, I will NOT take anything in other than a pristine unopened box. I have also learned the hard way that products sold in big box stores are NOT the same products sold in small specialty stores. What you think is an identical produce is not (check the sku codes) but instead is built to a lower price point for the big stores which is why most shops will not work on anything originally purchased from a big box store like lawn mowers, electronics, etc. Learned that one the hard way as well. I'd rather pay 5% more from a smaller retailer to get a much better product.

Over 35 years ago a national appliance manufacturer shared that with me they down grade the item for the big box stores, for example a washing machine may have a cheaper pump in it the model numbers are very similar but not the same.

Some years ago I was thinking of buying a Samsung TV researched it on their web site but could not find the exact model number at any of the retailers.

In a lot of cases you get what you pay for.

Disappointed in Home Depot and will tell my employees, as we buy a lot of odds and ends thru them to be very careful of how its packaged, and if time allows buy from our regular suppliers

 

[johngalt]

Thing is, is there is absolutely no excuse not to honor any protection plan on an item. I could easily vouch for my customers, and did several times so they didnt get screwed. Someone there didnt like that practice but--it wasnt against company "law" and it also saved the store-several customers. Some of them spend thousands of dollar each week and month.

I get you there. I consider HD refusing to honor a protection plan that a customer paid to be fraud. Of course, they are gambling that no one is willing to spend the money to sue them for it.

On the other hand, the number of thieving customers who take advantage of generous return policies is astounding. A former co-worker was a highly paid engineer. He thought nothing of buying a Craftsman power tool from Sears, using it for a weekend project, then returning it.

 

[Gregor]

I get you there. I consider HD refusing to honor a protection plan that a customer paid to be fraud. Of course, they are gambling that no one is willing to spend the money to sue them for it.

No need to hire an attorney, just file a complaint with your State Attorney General office. Amazing how cooperative big companies become when contacted by them.

 

[the ringo kid]

I rarely buy extend warranties. Maybe, four in my lifetime. But the last one I bought was about two years ago at Home Depot on a lawn mower. Even used my Veteran's discount (which payed for the EW). Mower's been running fine.

Im glad to hear that because it means you actually had one that was brand new-and not tampered with in any form and likely not in storage for many months. Another dirty little secret on outdoor powered stuff is-they also store that stuff outdoors so it does get weathered--even in boxes. I don't understand WHY??? when they still have plenty of storeroom storage space inside a climate-controlled setting.

 

[the ringo kid]

The sales girl informed me that HD had just changed the discount policy on wood and lumber and they would no longer give military discount on those products. (I assumed it was a corporate policy and not a store policy.) She said other store items still received the discount.

She's incorrect. It is on her store then because, at my former store, no policy was in the woodworks Pardon the pun) or we'd have been notified in advance of any changes. Its likely up to whatever district she works in. There were 10 stores in mine. I also was the leading seller of EPPs in the district and have the recognition to go with it (didn't get a raise or nothing but) it was more akin to a pat on the back which I kept in mind that it was a few inches from a kick in the butt. I didn't let it go to my head.

 

[the ringo kid]

I don't usually buy those warranties but did on a computer from best buy. boy did it pay off saved me hundreds on repairing or replacing it

That's about the only thing id buy one on-nothing else-not even a car.

 

[the ringo kid]

Good luck on a new job Ringo and thanks for the info. I already knew some of these things but nice to hear from someone on the inside.

You are quite welcome and, I might be working at a Pharmacy or a Book Store or even Academy? Ive been saturating the market. I spent all-day Friday putting in apps-and will do at least 5 on Monday.

 

[the ringo kid]

I, too, appreciate the information, Ringo. Exposing evil in all its manifestations is an honorable thing to do, especially when it is deliberately hidden from those who are being harmed by it. May you find a new position working with people who seek to do the right thing.

Regards,
Andy

One thing I'm hoping, is enough former employees who have any guts-will come together and expose them for their spying practices-as well as refusal to give the second of two 15 minute breaks on a 9 hour shift-like Texas law says they have to do. One way or the other-they are breaking the law. That company needs to be taught a serious lesson.

 

[the ringo kid]

I work in retail management (not HD). My rule of thumb on returns is if I wouldn't buy it no one else should. It only goes back on the shelf it it's perfect.

Trouble is, is at hd--they get it through returns, toss it into a bin-whichever dept it belongs to-and simply has a person from that dept pick it up and take it back to their dept and place it back on the shelf. They do NOT-check it out if damaged or not? unless obviously visually so. That goes on all day long-I know because I was tasked at times, with taking flat cart-loads of things to the returns area-so it could be sifted through for each department. They then would call on the overhead for a person to pick up the items.

 

[the ringo kid]

I get you there. I consider HD refusing to honor a protection plan that a customer paid to be fraud. Of course, they are gambling that no one is willing to spend the money to sue them for it.

On the other hand, the number of thieving customers who take advantage of generous return policies is astounding. A former co-worker was a highly paid engineer. He thought nothing of buying a Craftsman power tool from Sears, using it for a weekend project, then returning it.

One thing on thieving customers. They steal big and small. Ive seen them steal something as cheap as .10 cents--a couple of nuts in that case. I mean REALLY!!! if that desperate? id just let them have them. They regularly steal chain saws etc. They come in a couple weeks later trying to return them of course (using someone else) not having the receipt-and in hopes they get a store credit) and when someone is not trained properly and or is brand new-that's how those thieves get away with making money off the store. Otherwise-they just sell the stuff in ads-or to a fence.

 

[the ringo kid]

I get you there. I consider HD refusing to honor a protection plan that a customer paid to be fraud. Of course, they are gambling that no one is willing to spend the money to sue them for it.

No need to hire an attorney, just file a complaint with your State Attorney General office. Amazing how cooperative big companies become when contacted by them.

Ive been too busy but, that's another item on my to do list.

 

[NYlakesider]

Some of the stores around here have these belt-buzzer devices on a lot of their boxes. (Best Buy, HDs, Lows, possible others )The device is like a octopus and it surrounds a box with 3 on the short side and one one the long side. You try to remove it or agitate it too much and it sounds off. They need a key to quiet it down or remove it. It also sounds off if you try to take it outside without stopping at the register! They have different sizes and I have seen them on real small boxes up to boxes that had a 81'' TV in it!

 

[the ringo kid]

Some of the stores around here have these belt-buzzer devices on a lot of their boxes. (Best Buy, HDs, Lows, possible others )The device is like a octopus and it surrounds a box with 3 on the short side and one one the long side. You try to remove it or agitate it too much and it sounds off. They need a key to quiet it down or remove it. It also sounds off if you try to take it outside without stopping at the register! They have different sizes and I have seen them on real small boxes up to boxes that had a 81'' TV in it!

They are called Spiders. Sometimes those spiders do not want to leave their webs so the box has to be destroyed. That's because some wise guy puts the thing on way too tight and it jams and you cant defang it. Ive had to cut a box to pieces more than a few times to get one off. Then to get back at the wise guy who did that, I wind up the "duck call" as tight as possible before it breaks-so its jammed on him.

The key to remove it is at most registers. Its about 4 inches long by about an inch wide-and has two tiny "fangs" on it.

 

[LVSteve]

That's about the only thing id buy one on-nothing else-not even a car.

Well, I am in month five of fun getting my car repaired. Without the extended warranty I'd be out MAJOR money.

 

[the ringo kid]

^^^As Steve McQueen said in Hell Is For Heroes, before attempting to attack that German pillbox at night: "Good." ^^^^^^^^^^^

Glad one has worked out for somebody. All I know is-the company I formerly worked with-does NOT-like to honor what they are supposed to honor.