Trouble returning merchandise to WalMart - help?

[Starscream]

Originally Posted by baldanders

Think you are out of luck.Electronic and plastic Gift Cards: Not returnable or refundable for cash, except in states where required by law.
http://www.walmart.com/returns

This is their policy. It's in the fine print. It sucks, but it's there. You cannot return a DVD or game to the electronics dept. b/c you could have copied it and returned it for a full refund. Gift cards are somewhat similar. I see their point. Wal-Mart is not a bank; they are a business that sells goods. I know it sucks for you, but many, many, many people have tried to cash out gift cards at Wal-Mart for cash. What kind of benefit is this for Wal-Mart? I know you purchased it, never left the store with it, but that's their policy. You now have $400 dollars that you can spend on whatever you so desire as long as Wal-Mart sells it. You can also use those cards to make purchases online. Other than cigars and vehicles, what do you need that cannot be purchased at Wal-Mart?

Originally Posted by shvictor

Sounds like a sweet deal to me

Yes, it actually is very reasonable.

Originally Posted by nayslayer

http://consumerist.com/ Great site for this kind of stuff. Im sure you can find a number or an email address to help you get what you want

I did; I double-checked the return policy on their site, and the saleslady could have offered me CREDIT to my card, instead of cash; I understand why cashing out is disallowed - most people only shop there out of convenience for the 'low prices' and because we need something "right away." Our PA Wal Mart is 24/7.

Originally Posted by andysutherland

This is their policy. It's in the fine print. It sucks, but it's there. You cannot return a DVD or game to the electronics dept. b/c you could have copied it and returned it for a full refund. Gift cards are somewhat similar. I see their point. Wal-Mart is not a bank; they are a business that sells goods. I know it sucks for you, but many, many, many people have tried to cash out gift cards at Wal-Mart for cash. What kind of benefit is this for Wal-Mart? I know you purchased it, never left the store with it, but that's their policy. You now have $400 dollars that you can spend on whatever you so desire as long as Wal-Mart sells it. You can also use those cards to make purchases online. Other than cigars and vehicles, what do you need that cannot be purchased at Wal-Mart?

Frankly sir, I see your point, but my issue lay in the fact that I was not offered all of the potential options; I had to settle for what I was given, and it was only after I was fuming over it did I look online and read the fine print - the fact is, I was returning *my own* purchase for cash - that should be allowed. Furthermore, I could have been given a credit to my Mastercard, but I was not offered that choice, I had to discover it myself by reading the returns policy an hour later at home. Wal-Mart employees should know the policies well, supervisors especially so.

As for what I buy at Wal-Mart? Nothing, really. I haven't bought a CD in years, all they sell are a select brand of printers, electronics, etc. I like a better quality and a better variety, so I look online for the lowest price, and can almost always find it. Wal-Mart only price matches local competitor's prices if shown in print ads.

I know it's a business. I don't care. Everyone is out for a good deal, myself included. Thus far, online sales offer no long lines around busy holidays (easy on my feet) sales tax is often non-existent, which I hope remains, and in many cases, shipping is free or greatly reduced. That is why I was fighting for my money. It would've gone back into the economy, just not through Wal-Mart. There are plenty of good stores online, and eBay et al often has good deals if you're smart and a little lucky.

As an example, after sales tax, the $300 or so 32gb Ipod Touch I was going to buy from Wal-Mart? It was out of stock.

I went on Amazon, bought on used for $60 less, and hid the scratches on the back with a $5 protector; I've seen the same or similar protectors sell for 5x that much at Wal-Mart.

So I'm not meaning to bash you or argue in a negative or pessimistic way, I'm just saying, online has become the easiest route for me, and for many others, I'm sure, in shopping - clothing aside. If you're buying anything besides a hat, and it's a new item to you, you should go in-store to try it on just to be sure you really look as dapper as you think you will.

As for copying discs, I've heard of people buying a game or CD, and a plastic wrap machine. They take out the disc, replace it with a blank or a freebie disc (like the old AOL discs), and carefully reattach the white label on top (if any) and rewrap it, returning it for a refund. I've never heard of it done locally, but I've read stories through the news online.

Kegan

[doctorcue]

Dude you make your life way too complicated. Between this and the chic issues... jeez.