Costco's Verizon Warranty and Return Policies

I was in Costco in Mountain View, CA today, and I stopped by the
wireless kiosk (which sells Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon).

The salesperson was extolling the benefits of buying from Costco versus
from a Verizon store. Besides the phones being about $50 less, due to a
second rebate (for new activations), she stated two more benefits:

1. If at anytime you're unhappy with the handset, you can return it to
Costco for a full refund. Doesn't matter whether it's one year, two
years, whatever. As long as everything that came with the phone is
returned (manuals, chargers, headsets) you can get a full refund and buy
any other handset with the money. And you get a refund of what you paid,
they don't subtract the rebates you may have gotten.

2. They include a warranty on the phones at no charge, that covers
breakage, dropping in water, getting run over by a car, etc.

I just can't believe that number 1, was true, but she insisted on it.
And the day before in the Sunnyvale Costco, I overheard a salesperson
saying the same thing. Seems like there would be a lot of abuse of this
policy.

Unfortunately Costco has a poor selection of handsets, but they do have
the Razor, the Motorola A276, and some LG models.

The Verizon store in the same shopping center with Costco didn't have
the V325 on display. I asked about it, and they said that they had it,
but they didn't put it out. I wonder why they don't want to encourage
sales of this model? It's the only phone that Verizon offers that meets
my criteria.

I was going to get a new phone, but the Verizon store was mobbed, and I
couldn't get a salesperson. I asked at the repair area in the back about
the V325 and mentioned about the store being so crowded. They said that
since Radio Shack dropped Verizon on January 1, the volume in the
Verizon stores had gone up significantly, and that they were trying to
hire additional sales people.

---

› See More: Costco's Verizon Warranty and Return Policies

It is definitely worth checking out Costco when looking for a phone. I
didn't know they offered what they did.

Thanks for the info


"SMS" <scharf.steven@geemail.com> wrote in message
news:43e14d15$0$95942$742ec2ed@news.sonic.net...
>I was in Costco in Mountain View, CA today, and I stopped by the wireless
>kiosk (which sells Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon).
>
> The salesperson was extolling the benefits of buying from Costco versus
> from a Verizon store. Besides the phones being about $50 less, due to a
> second rebate (for new activations), she stated two more benefits:
>
> 1. If at anytime you're unhappy with the handset, you can return it to
> Costco for a full refund. Doesn't matter whether it's one year, two years,
> whatever. As long as everything that came with the phone is returned
> (manuals, chargers, headsets) you can get a full refund and buy any other
> handset with the money. And you get a refund of what you paid, they don't
> subtract the rebates you may have gotten.
>
> 2. They include a warranty on the phones at no charge, that covers
> breakage, dropping in water, getting run over by a car, etc.
>
> I just can't believe that number 1, was true, but she insisted on it. And
> the day before in the Sunnyvale Costco, I overheard a salesperson saying
> the same thing. Seems like there would be a lot of abuse of this policy.
>
> Unfortunately Costco has a poor selection of handsets, but they do have
> the Razor, the Motorola A276, and some LG models.
>
> The Verizon store in the same shopping center with Costco didn't have the
> V325 on display. I asked about it, and they said that they had it, but
> they didn't put it out. I wonder why they don't want to encourage sales of
> this model? It's the only phone that Verizon offers that meets my
> criteria.
>
> I was going to get a new phone, but the Verizon store was mobbed, and I
> couldn't get a salesperson. I asked at the repair area in the back about
> the V325 and mentioned about the store being so crowded. They said that
> since Radio Shack dropped Verizon on January 1, the volume in the Verizon
> stores had gone up significantly, and that they were trying to hire
> additional sales people.

SMS wrote:

> I was in Costco in Mountain View, CA today, and I stopped by the
> wireless kiosk (which sells Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon).
>
> The salesperson was extolling the benefits of buying from Costco versus
> from a Verizon store. Besides the phones being about $50 less, due to a
> second rebate (for new activations), she stated two more benefits:
>
> 1. If at anytime you're unhappy with the handset, you can return it to
> Costco for a full refund. Doesn't matter whether it's one year, two
> years, whatever. As long as everything that came with the phone is
> returned (manuals, chargers, headsets) you can get a full refund and buy
> any other handset with the money. And you get a refund of what you paid,
> they don't subtract the rebates you may have gotten.
>
> 2. They include a warranty on the phones at no charge, that covers
> breakage, dropping in water, getting run over by a car, etc.
>
> I just can't believe that number 1, was true, but she insisted on it.
> And the day before in the Sunnyvale Costco, I overheard a salesperson
> saying the same thing. Seems like there would be a lot of abuse of this
> policy.
>
> Unfortunately Costco has a poor selection of handsets, but they do have
> the Razor, the Motorola A276, and some LG models.
>
> The Verizon store in the same shopping center with Costco didn't have
> the V325 on display. I asked about it, and they said that they had it,
> but they didn't put it out. I wonder why they don't want to encourage
> sales of this model? It's the only phone that Verizon offers that meets
> my criteria.
>
> I was going to get a new phone, but the Verizon store was mobbed, and I
> couldn't get a salesperson. I asked at the repair area in the back about
> the V325 and mentioned about the store being so crowded. They said that
> since Radio Shack dropped Verizon on January 1, the volume in the
> Verizon stores had gone up significantly, and that they were trying to
> hire additional sales people.

Costco is so big they can get mfgs and probably phone companies to play
ball.
Their computer warranty is 6 (six) months vs two weeks for most stores (and
never a restocking fee)

You have my interest on phones. will ask tomorrow.

Lou

<Lou@GoForIt.net> wrote in message news:43E15966.9D8D0FC8@yahoo.com...
> SMS wrote:
>
>> I was in Costco in Mountain View, CA today, and I stopped by the
>> wireless kiosk (which sells Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon).
>>
>> The salesperson was extolling the benefits of buying from Costco versus
>> from a Verizon store. Besides the phones being about $50 less, due to a
>> second rebate (for new activations), she stated two more benefits:
>>
>> 1. If at anytime you're unhappy with the handset, you can return it to
>> Costco for a full refund. Doesn't matter whether it's one year, two
>> years, whatever. As long as everything that came with the phone is
>> returned (manuals, chargers, headsets) you can get a full refund and buy
>> any other handset with the money. And you get a refund of what you paid,
>> they don't subtract the rebates you may have gotten.
>>
>> 2. They include a warranty on the phones at no charge, that covers
>> breakage, dropping in water, getting run over by a car, etc.
>>
>> I just can't believe that number 1, was true, but she insisted on it.
>> And the day before in the Sunnyvale Costco, I overheard a salesperson
>> saying the same thing. Seems like there would be a lot of abuse of this
>> policy.
>>
>> Unfortunately Costco has a poor selection of handsets, but they do have
>> the Razor, the Motorola A276, and some LG models.
>>
>> The Verizon store in the same shopping center with Costco didn't have
>> the V325 on display. I asked about it, and they said that they had it,
>> but they didn't put it out. I wonder why they don't want to encourage
>> sales of this model? It's the only phone that Verizon offers that meets
>> my criteria.
>>
>> I was going to get a new phone, but the Verizon store was mobbed, and I
>> couldn't get a salesperson. I asked at the repair area in the back about
>> the V325 and mentioned about the store being so crowded. They said that
>> since Radio Shack dropped Verizon on January 1, the volume in the
>> Verizon stores had gone up significantly, and that they were trying to
>> hire additional sales people.
>
> Costco is so big they can get mfgs and probably phone companies to play
> ball.
> Their computer warranty is 6 (six) months vs two weeks for most stores
> (and
> never a restocking fee)
>
> You have my interest on phones. will ask tomorrow.
>
> Lou
>
>

Costco allows returns. But after the 15 days remember the 175.00 that will
have to be paid to verizon. Costco has no say in that.
It's In the verizon contract.

kevin weaver wrote:

> Costco allows returns. But after the 15 days remember the 175.00 that will
> have to be paid to verizon. Costco has no say in that.
> It's In the verizon contract.

This is correct. The salesperson at Costco even emphasized that even
though you can return the phone for a refund, after 14 days you're
committed to your 2 year agreement.

Costco has a little know policy that says if you are ever dissatisfied with
one of their products, you can return it for a full refund, no questions
asked (computers are the only exception). They are very good about honoring
this policy and I have returned some items that were as much as five years
old. You could hear their teeth grinding but they still counted out my
money with a smile.

"SMS" <scharf.steven@geemail.com> wrote in message
news:43e14d15$0$95942$742ec2ed@news.sonic.net...
>I was in Costco in Mountain View, CA today, and I stopped by the wireless
>kiosk (which sells Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon).
>
> The salesperson was extolling the benefits of buying from Costco versus
> from a Verizon store. Besides the phones being about $50 less, due to a
> second rebate (for new activations), she stated two more benefits:
>
> 1. If at anytime you're unhappy with the handset, you can return it to
> Costco for a full refund. Doesn't matter whether it's one year, two years,
> whatever. As long as everything that came with the phone is returned
> (manuals, chargers, headsets) you can get a full refund and buy any other
> handset with the money. And you get a refund of what you paid, they don't
> subtract the rebates you may have gotten.
>
> 2. They include a warranty on the phones at no charge, that covers
> breakage, dropping in water, getting run over by a car, etc.
>
> I just can't believe that number 1, was true, but she insisted on it. And
> the day before in the Sunnyvale Costco, I overheard a salesperson saying
> the same thing. Seems like there would be a lot of abuse of this policy.
>
> Unfortunately Costco has a poor selection of handsets, but they do have
> the Razor, the Motorola A276, and some LG models.
>
> The Verizon store in the same shopping center with Costco didn't have the
> V325 on display. I asked about it, and they said that they had it, but
> they didn't put it out. I wonder why they don't want to encourage sales of
> this model? It's the only phone that Verizon offers that meets my
> criteria.
>
> I was going to get a new phone, but the Verizon store was mobbed, and I
> couldn't get a salesperson. I asked at the repair area in the back about
> the V325 and mentioned about the store being so crowded. They said that
> since Radio Shack dropped Verizon on January 1, the volume in the Verizon
> stores had gone up significantly, and that they were trying to hire
> additional sales people.

Michael wrote:

> Costco has a little know policy that says if you are ever dissatisfied with
> one of their products, you can return it for a full refund, no questions
> asked (computers are the only exception). They are very good about honoring
> this policy and I have returned some items that were as much as five years
> old. You could hear their teeth grinding but they still counted out my
> money with a smile.
>

Discussed recently. Posting was that they do NOT provide the service so you are
on the hook with vzw. Can return phone and get another?

BTW Computers have a six month refund - better than anywhere else.

Lou

Lou@UnReal.invalid wrote:
> Michael wrote:
>
>> Costco has a little know policy that says if you are
>> ever dissatisfied with one of their products, you can
>> return it for a full refund, no questions asked
>> (computers are the only exception). They are very good
>> about honoring this policy and I have returned some
>> items that were as much as five years old. You could
>> hear their teeth grinding but they still counted out my
>> money with a smile.
>>
>
> Discussed recently. Posting was that they do NOT provide
> the service so you are on the hook with vzw. Can return
> phone and get another?
>
> BTW Computers have a six month refund - better than
> anywhere else.

Many Co-ops have that kind of policy. REI is an example.
They absorb the cost of abusers by raising everyone's
price. Here you would want to make sure that you want
at least one of the phones they carry. It would be ideal if
you're trying to decide between 2 or more of the phones
they carry. If you return one of their phones and don't want
any of the others they carry you would have to buy
elsewhere at the non-discounted/subsidized price or
pay an ETF to terminate your service with VZW (or
whomever).

-Quick

> Costco has a little know policy that says if you are ever dissatisfied
> with
> one of their products, you can return it for a full refund, no questions
> asked (computers are the only exception). They are very good about
> honoring this policy and I have returned some items that were as much as
> five years old. You could hear their teeth grinding but they still
> counted out my money with a smile.
>
You took something back after five years because you were dissatisfied with
it. Why did you wait five years?

Don

"Michael" <mpmorgan(no spam)@adelphia.net> wrote in
news:VoidnWJd2pzIinXenZ2dnUVZ_tidnZ2d@adelphia.com:

> Costco has a little know policy that says if you are ever dissatisfied
> with one of their products, you can return it for a full refund, no
> questions asked (computers are the only exception). They are very
> good about honoring this policy and I have returned some items that
> were as much as five years old. You could hear their teeth grinding
> but they still counted out my money with a smile.
>
>

Costco doesn't have this policy. It's FEDERAL LAW:
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/...s/warranty.htm

http://www.law.cornell.edu/topics/sales.html

15USC50 2304(a)(4) says, specifically:

"(4) if the product (or a component part thereof) contains a defect or
malfunction after a reasonable number of attempts by the warrantor to
remedy defects or malfunctions in such product, such warrantor MUST
permit the CONSUMER to elect either a refund for, or replacement
without charge of, such product or part (as the case may be). The
Commission may by rule specify for purposes of this paragraph, what
constitutes a reasonable number of attempts to remedy particular kinds
of defects or malfunctions under different circumstances. If the
warrantor replaces a component part of a consumer product, such
replacement shall include installing the part in the product without
charge."

3 attempts or 30 days....from the courts.

It only applies to PRODUCTS, not services like cellular service, so only
the phone itself is covered.

WalMart does the same thing, as do most all retailers that have been
tested in court. None of them are your "friend". They're doing it to
stop the lawsuits.