Well, now I’m not shopping at CircuitCity.com or Best Buy. Seriously. The new CircuitCity.com launched under new management last week we found the following statement within the return policy section.
Some manufacturers have implemented returns restrictions that prevent CircuitCity.com from being able to accept returns or offer exchanges, replacements or credits on their products for any reason. Products from manufacturers such as Compaq, IBM, Hewlett Packard, Toshiba, Epson, and others are not returnable to CircuitCity.com FOR ANY REASON. All support as well as exchanges or replacements for DEFECTIVE merchandise, including within the first 30 days of ownership, must be handled directly with the product manufacturer. CircuitCity.com cannot accept any returns nor offer replacement, exchanges or credit for ANY product missing the UPC code. Only the product manufacturer can replace any DEFECTIVE item missing the UPC sticker.
Terrible, right? Well, the site has since been updated with less intimidating but still anti-consumer wording. We also found that the list of brands under this policy is a lot longer than previously stated.
Some manufacturers have implemented returns restrictions that prevent CircuitCity.com from being able to accept returns or offer exchanges, replacements or credits on their products for any reason. Please check the item listing on our website to determine if special return policies are applicable to your products. Support as well as exchanges or replacements for products with manufacturer or supplier restrictions, including within the first 30 days of ownership, must be handled directly with the product manufacturer or supplier. You can find the manufacturer or suppliers contact information in your product manual, in the item listing, on the manufacturer’s website or at our help center .
I did some looking around and it seems that CircuitCity.com will accept returns on all major purchases like computers, HDTVs, monitors, and most digital cameras. Per the new wording, each product page indicates what the return policy is for the shown item.
Sure enough, if the 30 Day Guarantee logo is shown in the information bar, the product can be returned for a full refund within 30 days.
If that logo is missing though, this section is displayed at the bottom of the page indicating that an exchange can be made, but no refunds will be granted.
NewEgg also has a limited return policy. However, it doesn’t seem to be as prevalent and only a few brands (marked by a *) full under the policy.
These are some of the brands that I found that have restrictions on returns. It seems to be random and not every product from these brands fall under this tough policy. I’m sure there are more and if you find any, drop a note in the comments below and I’ll add it too the list.
- BTI
- imation
- TurtleBeach
- Tritton
- xitel
- Nintendo *
- Microsoft Xbox items *
- Sony Playstation items *
- Kodak *
- Western Digital
- Seagate
- Netgear
- D-Link
- HP
- Cisco
- Linksys
- Genius
- InFocus *
- Epson
After seeing this ridiculous return policy, why would anyone shop at the new CircuitCity.com? I know I’m not going to buy anything from the site. Their prices aren’t that special. I would rather spend a few dollars more at NewEgg or Amazon and have a legitimate return policy.
In the end they are just a business trying to thrive and live the american dream.
Sounds like a group of policy makers are in need of a swift beating.
You guys turning company logos upside down really sticks it to the man!
I enjoy the upside down logos.
It adds an air of suductiveness to what would normally be just a boring old corporate logo.
It’s like the logo is saying, “I’m here. Take me.”
I’m on my way, logo… on my way!
Really? You’re complaining about the return policy of a company that went under?
The company was purchased by Systemax who also owns Tiger Direct and CompUSA.
Probably means that the distributor they get these products from have these restrictions… likely Ingram.
I remember they had a lot of restrictions when the company I used to work for sourced product from them.
Sound like the same terms as Tiger Direct. Google searches for that firm turn up a lot of strong opinions.
that is ridiculous.
Systemax bought the name, not the company… it doesn’t have anything to do with the “firedogs” and good ol Circuit City. it’s just a warehouse and like any other online retailer, you can’t expect customer services.
http://www.mikescomputershop.com full warranty repairs for free, any special order with no extra cost, ships anywhere in north america, paypal available, reliable stuff good prices, weekly specials, price matching, and they have a “mikes bucks” system where you get mike’s money the more you buy, and you can use mikes bucks to buy more stuff…cool, huh?
Most likely the stuff being sold with the restrictive return policy has very high restock fees from the manufacture. The other possibility is that’s overstock or discontinued product that was sold at a discount with the understanding that it could not be returned for credit.
Their policy is the wave of the future. I have had to have my Yamaha receiver serviced twice this year, the second time I had to ship it from where I live in Wisconsin to a repair depot in New York. Most of the major electronic companies are cost cutting in numerous ways, such as outsourcing their product reps. ( I have been for a number of major ones). I will reserve my judgement until more consumers give input on this.
Coming from a retail worker customers are stupid. They come in a buy products use them for a vaction and return them. They buy a tv for a superbowl party and return them they come into a store and waste are time then buy it online. They buy a computer dont know how to work it they return it. computer are not high margin we cannot send it back to the manufacter. Customer refuse to buy them becuase they are open. then we discount below cost. Then they try to use a coupon and get get a lower price and not buy anthing elese with so we lost 130 dollars on a computer because some idiot retuned it. Why do think people are geting more strict on returns?