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" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>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

<[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
> 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" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>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

[email protected]lid 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:[email protected]:

> 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.

[email protected]lid wrote in news:[email protected]:

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

Actually that's not true, either. The FTC manual says, whether the
merchant likes it or not:

"Generally, there is no specified duration for implied warranties under
state laws. However, the state statutes of limitations for breach of
either an express or an implied warranty are generally four years from
date of purchase. This means that buyers have four years in which to
discover and seek a remedy for problems that were present in the product
at the time it was sold. It does not mean that the product must last for
four years. It means only that the product must be of normal durability,
considering its nature and price."

Now, every limited warranty has a disclaimer that says there is no
implied warranties of any kind. But, of course, this also simply isn't
true. Magnusson-Moss also states, in plain English curiously, that ANY
warranty has implied warranties a CONSUMER can invoke:

The FTC manual tells them:
"If you do not offer a written warranty, the law in most states allows
you to disclaim implied warranties. However, selling without implied
warranties may well indicate to potential customers that the product is
risky—low quality, damaged, or discontinued—and therefore, should be
available at a lower price."

If they offer a written warranty on anything, the implied warranties
defined in the manual and law ARE in force, for the duration of a limited
warranty and for life on a full warranty noone ever writes any more
because of this law.

Lawyers love to argue this point with them. Mine did...(c;

"RVer Don" <[email protected]> wrote in
news[email protected]:

> You took something back after five years because you were dissatisfied
> with it. Why did you wait five years?
>
> Don
>
>

Perhaps he didn't discover the defect in the product sooner. Say its a
car that is a new type and it took 5 years to discover that all the cars
with this transmission or engine has a very short life because the
manufacturer's bean counters tried to get away with leaving out half the
clutch plates in the transmission to increase profits. Over the 5 year
period, a history of failures for this reason can be proven to an
arbitrator or jury. Other transmissions last 8-12 years without trouble.
Obviously, something is wrong with all these transmissions that are
failing early. So, there is a reason he may want to take it back 5 years
later because it's crapware.

However, in this case, he hasn't a leg to stand on. The limited warranty
on the phone was lots less than 5 years, so any implied warranty ran out
when the limited warranty did. It's why they specifically have a limited
warranty. Costco WAS being nice to keep him as a customer, as it was out
of warranty.

There are valid reasons to return products still under warranty after
longer periods of time than you think....It doesn't make him to be some
kind of ogre...unless, of course, you work for the manufacturer or
merchant..(c;

Quick wrote:

> Many Co-ops have that kind of policy. REI is an example.

I was at REI once, and I simply mentioned to the checker while checking
out, that the REI brand Gore-Tex shell that I was wearing had leaked
ever since I had bought it. I wasn't trying to return anything. But she
told me that I could probably get a credit for it since REI stands
behind their merchandise. So I did this. I don't think it was abuse, the
product never functioned properly, and the store made the offer to do
something about it. Clothing has tremendous mark-ups, so what cost me
$80 at the time probably cost them around $25.

REI and Costco can control abuse because they have records of everything
anyone purchased. I suspect that non-REI members may not be treated as
well as members when trying to return stuff.

Larry wrote:
> "Michael" <mpmorgan(no spam)@adelphia.net> wrote in
> news:[email protected]:
>
>> 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:
> 15USC50 2304(a)(4) says, specifically:
>> "(4) if the product (or a component part thereof)
> contains a defect or malfunction after a reasonable

No. Larry. Costco (and REI and others) DO have this
policy. It doesn't have to be broken. You can take it
back because you thought you liked it when you bought
it and now you don't. The product itself can be perfect.

Now do your Emily Lutella immitation and get back in
your box.

> 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.

No, I don't think WalMart does that. Try returning that
coffee maker you bought last year. Tell them it works
just fine but you don't like the way it looks on your
kitchen counter any more.

-Quick

SMS wrote:
> Quick wrote:
>
>> Many Co-ops have that kind of policy. REI is an example.
>
> I was at REI once, and I simply mentioned to the checker
> while checking out, that the REI brand Gore-Tex shell
> that I was wearing had leaked ever since I had bought it.
> I wasn't trying to return anything. But she told me that
> I could probably get a credit for it since REI stands
> behind their merchandise. So I did this. I don't think it
> was abuse, the product never functioned properly, and the
> store made the offer to do something about it.

Absolutely. If you are a member I believe you can return
anything at any time. You could have said you just don't
like the color and it bugs you every time you wear it. As
I mentioned co-ops often do this. Abusers just reduce the
amount of your dividend refund at the end of the year.

> Clothing has tremendous mark-ups, so what cost me
> $80 at the time probably cost them around $25.

Sorry, I have to comment on this (nothing to do with the
above experience). What does that have to do with
anything? Why would you throw that in there? It might
have cost them a nickel. Would that justify stealing it?
or abusing a policy? If you decide that they are making
too much money does that make something right that
would have been wrong otherwise? "Because they can
afford it"? Shame on you. You're sounding like Larry.

-Quick