Ordered Garmin GPS from Circuit City online. Received it before Christmas already opened. Checked the contents to make sure it was still new. Looked fine. Wrapped and gave it as a gift. The person I gave it to wanted to return it. So I went to return it for them after Christmas.
Went to the nearest Circuit City store and waited in line. Gave them my AMEX card to look up the purchase, since it was not sent with a receipt. The lady behind the desk opened the box, looked it over, then said a person had to inspect it, so I should wait on the side. I asked if I could go look around, instead of wait and she said sure. So I went to go look at computer hardware deals, not thinking that anything could go wrong, considering it was Brand New.
I walked back a few minutes later, the line had died down and I asked her if it was ready and she said she would have to charge me a restocking fee. And I asked for what? She said the software had been opened. I asked her to show me because I knew everything in there was sealed. She brought out the cd with the warning "if opened there will be a restocking fee" in there among the many other accessories in there that were still sealed and it was torn open. I told her that's not how it was brought in, and she knows that it wasn't, then I asked to see the manager.
The manager came out and I told him what happened. How it was sealed when I brought it in and the person who checked it must have opened it. He looked at the open cd and said that it's opened. As if I was unaware of that. I said it was not brought in that way. He then turned to the associate and asked her if this is how it looked when it was brought in to which she waited a moment fiddled with the crumpled cd slip/case then said yes that's exactly how it came in. To which I called her a liar.
They wanted to charge $85.00 for me to return a new product. I told them I wanted their corporate number, because this was unbelievable.
I don't know why they did that. If they didn't want to return my product they could have asked me to mail it back, instead of become greedy and try charging me. I don't know what benefit they get from scamming a customer.
Now how do I explain an opened cd that was not opened when I brought it there. I reported them to the Better Business Bureau and am contacting their corporate office for resolution, but judging from online reports I most likely won't get one.
I don't know what they stand to gain from this, but I will NEVER shop there again.
(if you do decide to shop there, don't let your return leave your sights, and if they take it to the back to check it out, ask them to stay where you can watch them)
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