Nuthead wrote:I recently bought a Sharp 60" HDTV from my local Costco, being sold as new, and found the previous owner's mutual fund statement inside the TV's owners manual packet. Then I called Sharp to register the TV and they said it had already been registered and it had a problem case number on file. Opened my eyes.
Interesting. But in this economy not surprising. If Best Buy does this regularly which they do, then I guess anybody can and will.
What doesnt make sense is 'why they do it'....If your Best Buy, Costco or any other store, returned items are the responsibilty of whoever makes the product...
If you buy that SHARP TV from COSTCO and return it, COSTCO DOESNT EAT A LOSS, SHARP DOES.
So, all I can think of is the makers of these products give incentives, discounts or whatever to resellers who have a 'low return rate'....cant think of any other valid reasons for sellers to resell returned items as new.......But again, like I said, I watch Best Buy do this all the time so if they do it then I guess anybody will do the same......
Shame too, as it not only hurts the customer who bought a used item only to find out its not new but I doubt that customer will be too happy with the store/seller and doubly so, im sure they'll tell all their friends'Bought a NEW tv from xxxx...got it home..opened it up..only to find it it was used/somebody elses reject'...
Bad news spreads quickly.....If I were in your shoes, not only would the TV go back to Costco and their corporate folks contacted, you can rest assured i'd tell everybody about my experience in the hopes they can avoid getting the shaft...If we the 'customer' dont fight back, so to speak, we will keep getting screwed...yet it is we the customer who allows sellers to keep their doors open by buying from them......If we the 'buyer' take action, then we the 'buyer' have the upper hand....Best Buy knows this yet doesnt seem to care..Here in my area everybody knows they do this and tons and tons of people in my area will never walk in to another Best Buy ever again since they know what deceptive practices they use to shaft the customer.....
