Would you return a defective $2.99 item?

[MoKelly]

Well I guess that is the difference between you and me, I try to do things correctly, and if or when I find out I totally f’ed up, I want to acknowledge it and learn from it.

Maybe not all the time?

MoKelly

 

[mrmikey]

I've stopped at a particular Mcd's every morning for the past 5+years, coffee and a blueberry muffin. (It's been bought out a few months back by a different group.) Got the usual one morning, drinking my coffee at work and went to eat the muffin and it was like a brick. Figure ok, s**t happens, next morning got the same, went to eat it, again, hard as a rock. Next morning got to the drivethru,
'Coffee and a bb muffin please, don't charge me for the muffin as yesterdays was inedible"
Got to the window and he tried to charge me for the muffin:,
"You no want muffin?"
"Yes but you're not going to charge me for it as the last two were like bricks...I have it here (which I did actually)"
"you have receipt?" Who the he77 keeps a receipt for a coffee and muffin?
"nope but I do have the muffin".........silence
"You have to pay"
"i will....for the coffee"
"Give me muffin" which I did and he grabbed it out of my hand, looked at it and threw it in the garbage. He mumbled something to the young girl and she gave him a warm muffin out of the oven which he proceeded to pass to me. I took it, my coffee and put it in my cupholder, turned back to the window and proceeded to tear him a new one.
" Your customer service sucks as does your attitude and it will be the last time I darken your door," (drive thru really LOL)
Yup it was only 99 cents but as a couple have stated, it was the principle............Mike

 

[Diggin It]

I'll be returning a floating pool thermometer to HD, something like $5

Why? It doesn't work. How can a thermometer not work? Beats me, but in open air of 70 degrees, it only read 40 ... the same 40 it had read for three days floating in 60 degree water.

 

[Jstpssng]

Maybe not all the time?

MoKelly

What get's me about his rant is that rather than giving it to a UPS driver while accepting a delivery on Thursday, I chose to drive to the UPS packaging store 55 miles away to make sure that it got treated properly. They accepted it without a problem and it's on the way back to the point of origin.

At least it gives him something to rant about. I haven't been the recipient of his criticism for quite some time and was feeling left out.

 

[Frankenkubota]

Now I've got a fight with Lowe’s and Hardi. I'm building 2 buildings, a house and a separate garage. Maybe 3000 sf total. This time Im using the good stuff.

I bought prepainted Hardi Plank for the siding. About 2 days into the job the siding guy says....senior, we have a problem. You know how many times I heard that?

Long story short, a % of the planks had a manufacturing defect. It looks like a hardi mole left his mark!

Here's the problem......I don't have enough material to finish the job and I guess lead time is way out there? I called Lowe's 3 times Friday and spoke to 3 friendly, but not so helpful customer service folks at the pro desk. They had no clue how to reorder 70 more planks. They have my original order right in front of them on their all powerful computer and can't figure it out.

They asked me to call back Monday when the more senior guy is there! First of all....customer service seems to be how long they can stare at their stupid computer and go click click click. I've got hours and hours standing there watching them type at the speed of light....with very few results. And they don't dare make eye contact!

I DID NOT EVEN MENTION the defected material. Can you imagine one of them trying to integrate a return and a new order? I used to do it all the time, with a PENCIL! IMHO one of the biggest problems with returns is the POS (point of sale) cash registers they use. Way way way to complicated for new hires to learn...and that's all they got, new hires.

I wish I could put every bit wienie software dude in the lowe's customer service line and watch them stare at their shoes.

 

[lilranch2001]

What get's me about his rant is that rather than giving it to a UPS driver while accepting a delivery on Thursday, I chose to drive to the UPS packaging store 55 miles away to make sure that it got treated properly. They accepted it without a problem and it's on the way back to the point of origin.

At least it gives him something to rant about. I haven't been the recipient of his criticism for quite some time and was feeling left out.

Haha. As long as you like to continue to exhibit your ignorance of rules and regulations for all of TBN, have at it!

 

[dougtrr2]

My wife and I stopped at a McDonalds off the interstate and ordered two quarter pounders with just ketchup. As we pulled back on the interstate we found out we had everything except ketchup. I had occasion to stop at the same McDonalds several weeks later. I went inside, order, paid and then asked to speak to a manager. I explained what happened last time and told her since we did eat the burgers, if she could just throw in an apple pie we would be good. When I got my order the fries were supersized, and I got three apple pies. To me that is customer service.

Doug in SW IA

 

[Jstpssng]

My wife and I stopped at a McDonalds off the interstate and ordered two quarter pounders with just ketchup. As we pulled back on the interstate we found out we had everything except ketchup. I had occasion to stop at the same McDonalds several weeks later. I went inside, order, paid and then asked to speak to a manager. I explained what happened last time and told her since we did eat the burgers, if she could just throw in an apple pie we would be good. When I got my order the fries were supersized, and I got three apple pies. To me that is customer service.

Doug in SW IA

About 20 years ago at a Burger King I ordered and paid for a "Double Whopper" at the drive thru. After biting into it I discovered that it was missing a pattie. I went back to the restaurant, went inside to the counter, and showed the girl my receipt and sandwich with one bite missing.
There was no "Sorry", or anything, she just threw it out and ordered another. While I was waiting I couldn't resist; I turned to the people behind me and said "It was tough not to ask her "Where's the BEEF?" I got a few chuckles from that, although you have to be of a certain age to know what I was referring to.

 

[tibadoe]

Yes I would return a $2.99 item if it was broken or not working.

 

[Deere Dude]

I am getting cheaper the last couple years. In times past if I needed 10# of deck screws I would likely buy a 25# box for possible future use. I would just store them in the bins at home. Might be good for 10 years before they are used up.

Same with over buying plumbing or electrical parts. Same with plywood or lumber. It generally gets used up in time.

Now if I overbought a few bolts or 2x4s or electrical fittings of some sort I will likely take them back if they allow it. I have bought an odd sized bolt for 5o cents and have taken it back because it would get lost in the garage anyway. If I was overcharged a dime I would bring it up. It seems I am never under charged for anything.

I am not concerned if it was my fault for overbuying because of plan changes or just screwing up, extra stuff will go back. Faulty stuff will go back even if it was any amount.

 

[grsthegreat]

I am getting cheaper the last couple years. In times past if I needed 10# of deck screws I would likely buy a 25# box for possible future use. I would just store them in the bins at home. Might be good for 10 years before they are used up.

Same with over buying plumbing or electrical parts. Same with plywood or lumber. It generally gets used up in time.

Now if I overbought a few bolts or 2x4s or electrical fittings of some sort I will likely take them back if they allow it. I have bought an odd sized bolt for 5o cents and have taken it back because it would get lost in the garage anyway. If I was overcharged a dime I would bring it up. It seems I am never under charged for anything.

I am not concerned if it was my fault for overbuying because of plan changes or just screwing up, extra stuff will go back. Faulty stuff will go back even if it was any amount.

same here. Used to be a 1.5 hr round trip to get parts if needed. So I tended to store up lots of possibly needed spare parts over the years. Then I could never find it when needed.
now i halve a hardware store 8 minutes from me, so I stopped storing parts. Home Depot and Lowes gets a lot of parts back from me now days. Now that I’m retired I’m also getting to get rid of a heck of alot of spare electrical parts and gaining back shelf space.

 

[Jstpssng]

Even if the store's only 10 minutes away it's always been worth it to keep a few extra elbows, tee's, and repair joints on hand "just in case." Now though everything is going to Pex, rendering all of those spare parts out of date. I was watching the plumber install a new outside faucet at my mother's house last week and commented what a potpourri the pipes had become over the years... copper going into PVC, then feeding into pex. He said that they hate copper and pex is far better than PVC.

 

[PILOON]

Yes I would return a $2.99 item if it was broken or not working.

It is a matter of principal!
If you don't, management will not ever react.

 

[Oaktree]

I needed packing tape to hold a 30lb box together for return shipping, and bought a roll of duct tape at the local surplus/salvage store. (Mardens. to any Maine residents) It was "Military approved, 200 mph tape, Made in USA". I got out to the truck and discovered there was virtually no adhesive. After ripping off several feet trying to get to the mother lode I went back inside to the service desk and asked for a refund.

We were at Marden's over the weekend, and I thought of your post when I passed the tape section.

I'd be leery of buying "perishable" stuff there like tape, caulking, spray paint, batteries, etc. figuring that they were probably past their "sell by" date.

For anyone not familiar with the chain, it's a store that deals with surplus and/or distressed merchandise. Good deals can be had, but you've got to be careful. The store we go to has a very good selection of fabric...my wife makes a beeline for that dept. every time we visit. Matter of fact, I picked up some I'm going to use to try to redo the headliner in my truck with...cost maybe 25% of what it would at a fabric store.

 

[Oaktree]

Even if the store's only 10 minutes away it's always been worth it to keep a few extra elbows, tee's, and repair joints on hand "just in case." Now though everything is going to Pex, rendering all of those spare parts out of date. I was watching the plumber install a new outside faucet at my mother's house last week and commented what a potpourri the pipes had become over the years... copper going into PVC, then feeding into pex. He said that they hate copper and pex is far better than PVC.

Yeah, I used pex when I re-plumbed my house a few years ago. Piece of cake. The ID is a bit smaller than the same size in copper, so I did it all using 3/4".
There was some pre-assembly required since the crimpers don't get into small places well, and I was too cheap to go with sharkbites.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Maybe, maybe not. I certainly have done so in the past. NOT if it would cost me more than the refund, plus the time.

Also, realize, when you try and buy stuff cheap, or save money, sometimes it backfires. I put water early in my hot tub a month ago when we had some shorts, no shirt weather. I wanted the ambiant heat to heat the cold ground water used to fill the tub, to save from heating it with electricity. It's been so cold, that I have spent ten times, or more, on anything I ever saved, by trying to keep the thing from freezing, on a dozen occassions!

Also, back to the tape, consider the cost, emotional and timewise to OTHER people.

 

[Deere Dude]

Yeah, I used pex when I re-plumbed my house a few years ago. Piece of cake. The ID is a bit smaller than the same size in copper, so I did it all using 3/4".
There was some pre-assembly required since the crimpers don't get into small places well, and I was too cheap to go with sharkbites.

I replaced my CPVC last fall with PEX because I had 4 leaks and one break in as many years. Used clamps which work great. I got sick of buying CPVC extra fittings for when I had another leak. Some fittings were from 1978 with my first house build. I must have a shoe box full of CPVC fittings I will sell cheap, plus many PEX fittings in storage for just in case. One sharkbite disconnectable fitting used. Two expensive. More time than money.