Return merchandise or not.

[Grandpa Shooter]

     While assembling the valve set for a hot water cycling set up, one of the adapters got sideways on the valve and partially stripped the threads, on the PLASTIC valve body.  While I was cleaning up the threads the other folks were telling me to "just take it back, they will swap it out."  Huh, what the hell?  The package was sealed and strapped, so any fault was mine, not the retailers.  When did it become ok to expect retailers to swap out merchandise most likely damaged by the consumer.

     The missus was the most adamant I should take it back, because the retailer can't prove I messed it up.  I told her I did not need her to tell me what standards and values I should live by.  I screwed another 1/2" fitting onto it to clean up the threads and was able to use it as it was intended.

Grrrrrrrrrrr!

What really pisses me off is how much you pay for stuff these days, and some of the main parts are plastic!!!!

[jackdanson]

What really pisses me off is how much you pay for stuff these days, and some of the main parts are plastic!!!!

This is why I wouldn't feel bad about taking it back.  I wouldn't lie about it, I'd just tell them it stripped way too easy if that's what happened.  Most large retailers will exchange it.

I don't take stuff back often, but I have had a few items that broke the first time I used them.  I don't have a problem returning something that is a piece of crud.

[RocketMan]

This kind of attitude sticks in my craw as well, GS.  You did the right thing regarding returning the merchandise.  If you bugger it up yourself, your fault, you own it.  If it gets buggered up because of poor quality, that's a cat with a different hairball.
As far as plastic parts, I'm with you there, too.  Unfortunately, I believe it is here to stay.  All part of our throwaway, want-it-faster/cheaper/quality-be-damned culture.

[Monkeyleg]

When many, if not all, retailers take back products that have been opened, they can't sell them as new. They have to reduce the price.

I've had people buy EOTech sights, rangefinders and other things and then want to return them. When I got some of them back, it was obvious that the items were used: bunged screws or threads, scratches, or other signs. The customer always insisted he didn't mount the scope, use the rangefinder, etc.

Because the item was obviously used, I have to sell it at a loss on Ebay.

I admire your honesty, Grandpa Shooter.

[jackdanson]

I agree that if you muck something up yourself you shouldn't return it.  But if the threads strip the first time you try setting them it means that the item isn't built up to par, at which point I have no problem returning it.  If the retailer gets so many of an item returned they will switch to a different brand/vendor that builds the item better.

[Tallpine]

Well, for us returning something means another 120 mile round trip 

[lupinus]

Crap item I will return without a second thought. I didn't build it, I didn't design it, any issues that come from their correct use/installation well before their expected service life have to with either a manufacture or design flaw IMO. I therefor have no issue returning the product provided I don't damage it with negligence.

But those who use it and return it for the hell of it or never intended to keep it in the first place burn me. Buying something identical to what broke and returning the broken one in the new box is a common practice for some people I know. Pisses me off each time I see them do it.

[PTK]

Well, for us returning something means another 120 mile round trip 

One of these days, I must see this middle-of-nowhere where you live. Sounds nice. 

[Monkeyleg]

One of these days, I must see this middle-of-nowhere where you live. Sounds nice.

I don't think it even shows up in satellite images.

[cassandra and sara's daddy]

how about the rich women who will "buy " an expensive dress wear it to some swank affair and return it?  iys done way more than you realize and its considered acceptable

[Monkeyleg]

how about the rich women who will "buy " an expensive dress wear it to some swank affair and return it?  iys done way more than you realize and its considered acceptable

When I was doing ad photography, I frequently had to go out and buy clothing to be used as props in a photo. Since the clients never had the budget to buy clothes, I had to buy and return. They weren't worn, anyway, or at least worn more than a few minutes.

Once I bought a complete outfit: suit, shirt, tie, socks, shoes. A few days later I came back to return it all. The manager started asking questions.

I told him, "I thought I had a funeral to go to this weekend, but the guy lived."

The manager didn't say a word after that.

[Tallpine]

I don't think it even shows up in satellite images.

Well it does, but the photography is about five years old 

I can tell because it doesn't show our current horse corrals, which have no grass so they would show up clearly.

It's really only 80 miles round trip to town by pickup/4wd or any vehicle you want to beat to death or ruin the tires.  But the longer way only takes about ten minutes longer. Still eight miles of gravel that way to the "blacktop" which is nothing more than hiway chippings laid down over the previous primitive road   
(can you spell p-o-t-h-o-l-e-s ? :( )

Or you can go to the county seat, only 52 miles round trip, but they don't have much besides gas and groceries.  If you want a fitting for a left handed reverse metric konglonkulator, you had best go to Billings.

[PTK]

I didn't realize you were only a few miles from Billings? 120 mile round trip?

[Hawkmoon]

I agree that if you muck something up yourself you shouldn't return it.  But if the threads strip the first time you try setting them it means that the item isn't built up to par, ...

Or that you cross-threaded it (as GS indicated was the case), which is a user error, not a manufacturing defect.

GS, I commend you for having principles in a world where principles are an endangered species. It's all too rare. Heck, I've known my own brother to buy a big wrench from Sears because he had to adjust a striker on the door of his car, then return it the next day. I am certain our mother and grandmother would NOT have approved.

[Hawkmoon]

how about the rich women who will "buy " an expensive dress wear it to some swank affair and return it?  iys done way more than you realize and its considered acceptable

By whom?

[cassandra and sara's daddy]

the rich women and their social peers

[Tallpine]

I didn't realize you were only a few miles from Billings? 120 mile round trip?

~40 miles 1-way with 25 miles of gravel/dirt, or

~60 miles 1-way with only 8 miles of gravel.


The shorter way is sometimes impassable even with a 4wd.