Sam Ash 15 day return 15% restocking fee!

[itgoesto11uc]

I returned an unopened Zoom Q3 audio/video recorder to Sam Ash today that I had for 1 day and they charged me a 15% restocking fee. They also said it was considered Pro Audio and there was a 15 day limit on returns. This is the first I've heard of this and I've bought a lot of gear there.

 

[re-animator]

i don't know about sam ash in particular, but its almost unheard of for a retailer to charge a restocking fee on unopened items returned within the acceptable period. the idea of the restocking fee is that they take a hit on selling open-box gear.

you did have the receipt right?

 

[puckhead]

go up the ladder to a manager or beyond.
that sounds like some clown trying to blow you off.

if you get pushback, mention you will never spend another dollar there, and will drive as many of your circle of influence to competitors as well.

 

[itgoesto11uc]

i don't know about sam ash in particular, but its almost unheard of for a retailer to charge a restocking fee on unopened items returned within the acceptable period. the idea of the restocking fee is that they take a hit on selling open-box gear.

you did have the receipt right?

Yes, I did.

 

[teleman1]

A lot of retail will go this way, ie 15 days. Its too much of a money loss to take returns. But unopened after 1 day? What about right of recision which is 3 days in many states?, (that goes for cars too). You had to be dealing with an inexperienced employee.

 

[ElDiabloBlanco]

I manage a Sam Ash store. With a product unopened after one day, you should have recieved a full refund, just on a common sense basis. The policy ( which is written on the back of your receipt, shown on signs throughout the store and should have been stapled to the reciept on a yellow piece of paper to further emphasize it) states that there's a 15% restock on recording and pro audio products. This is due to the vast numbers of customers who used to buy a PA for a gig or recording equipment for a project and return it - a free rental. This previous situation was unfair to the sales staff who wasted their time with the customer only to lose the commission when the gear came back and to the store who was stuck with gear that had to be marked down. There is no restock fee on an exchange. I would recommend contacting the store manager - I'm sure if you explain the situation, he will be more than willing to help you out. The only case that I could see this would be justified would be a chronic returner - unfortunately that happens also.

 

[telecopter]

One reason why Sam A$$ never gets a penny from me. They have some nutty policies.

If they didn't sell trumpets and tubas, they probably would have gone out of biz years ago.

 

[movingpictures]

I manage a Sam Ash store. With a product unopened after one day, you should have recieved a full refund, just on a common sense basis. The policy ( which is written on the back of your receipt, shown on signs throughout the store and should have been stapled to the reciept on a yellow piece of paper to further emphasize it) states that there's a 15% restock on recording and pro audio products. This is due to the vast numbers of customers who used to buy a PA for a gig or recording equipment for a project and return it - a free rental. This previous situation was unfair to the sales staff who wasted their time with the customer only to lose the commission when the gear came back and to the store who was stuck with gear that had to be marked down. There is no restock fee on an exchange. I would recommend contacting the store manager - I'm sure if you explain the situation, he will be more than willing to help you out. The only case that I could see this would be justified would be a chronic returner - unfortunately that happens also.

Are their really VAST numbers of people who do this?

 

[JPERRYROCKS]

I hate to say this, but i think there's a lot of people that take advantage of the big chain stores.

It's the little man getting over on big corporate America.

People just don't care at times and if they can get away with something, they will.

 

[chucke99]

Are their really VAST numbers of people who do this?

I've heard people brag about buying big screen TVs at Walmart, using them to watch the Super Bowl, then returning them. So why wouldn't musicians do it? Heck, musicians are so trustworthy they just about frisk you as you walk ouf of a GC these days, and don't let you bring in backpacks, etc.

 

[deluxemeat]

ichie rash can change the rules anytime he or the other "ewings" decide fit. thems the rules.

 

[Guitar Josh]

I've heard people brag about buying big screen TVs at Walmart, using them to watch the Super Bowl, then returning them. So why wouldn't musicians do it? Heck, musicians are so trustworthy they just about frisk you as you walk ouf of a GC these days, and don't let you bring in backpacks, etc.

You can get some great open box buys on big screens the few weeks after the super bowl. They have TONS of returns. A family got a Panasonic 58" Plasma for well under a grand last year if he was willing to agree to no return.

As for the backpack thing, they don't make women check their purses, so it's pretty silly to make a man check his backpack.