Electronics Boutique Return Policy
 

I was wondering about the leniency of their return policy if anyone knew. About a week and a half ago I bought a Gameshark 8x memory card for the Dreamcast, but the thing is defective. It saves fine, but whenever it loads, the data is corrupted. Anyways, I bought the thing in Orlando(about 2 hours away), and I don't want to drive that far for only $20. There is another one about 40 minutes away. Will they take it back? And will I be able to get a refund, not an exchange? I tried getting in touch with Gameshark CS, but they have neglected me, ultimately rubbing me the wrong way. So I don't want to deal with them for the time being. I just want my money back, I have some other purchases on the horizon. What do you all think?

They'll definitely exchange it for you, but I'm not sure about a refund. They'd probably give you store credit if you don't want another one, but I doubt they'll give you cash back, or credit your account.

Thanks for the input, although I hope you are wrong. No offense. You'd figure that if an item is defective, you could get a refund in order to reinvest elsewhere. We're not talking games or cd's here where if one is bad, it doesn't reflect on all of the same product. But with memory cards, especially a 3rd party Dreamcast card(WHAT WAS I THINKING???) a bad card can speak volumes of the product. So I hope I get a refund, cause I hate the idea of store credit.

I sent the link of this thread to my friend who works at EB

Cool..much thanks.

I thought they had a 14 day return for refund, but after that it would be store credit? At least the last time I returned something it was like that.

official word from an associate store manager at EB

I know at Best Buy it depends on the item. Games and software, once opened, can be exchanged within 30 days, but no refund. Equipment is refundable, I think. That gameshark thing would be equipment. They do charge a "re-stocking" fee on certian items.

I can understand the the 'no refund' on games because people would take advantage. But in general, I hate a place that does the store credit deal across the board. It feels like a trap. I just tell the manager or whoever that I'll use the store credit than never shop there again. (Like he/she cares). It's all I can do. I figure if enough people do that it'll make a difference.

Well - I took back the memory card last night. Since it was opened, they offered to give me another memory card. I explained that the card is crap, I don't want one, I just want my money back. But because it was opened, I was refused. After speaking with the manager, one thing was painfully clear. I don't like EB. The item was bought and turned out being defective. I returned it within their required 14 days WITH a receipt, and all they can give me is store credit. On top of that, they had to write down my drivers license info as part of return policy. What kind of crap is that? From now on, I am sticking to major retailers, which interchangeable merchandise, that way I don't get stuck again. And yes Christo - I told the manager that I will use the credit, and never shop their again.

What is EB's return policy if you return unopened games you got as gifts? I have a couple games I got for xmas I never got around to returning after xmas.

Dude I used to work at EB, and if you bitch enough up the chain of command you can have your way.

JC

I sent an email to corporate...I'll let you guys know what they say.

Are you absolutely sure that was from a manager? Managers don't usually misspell words or write "I" as "i" or "You" as "u", not to mention the "dam" thing.

yes I'm sure
so he had some typos, he sent it to my via icq, he probably didn't expect me to post the damn part
where does it have u for you?

should have said assistant, not associate
mixed up the terms from one of the places I worked

EB's return policy is 10 days, with Receipt. Within 10 days they will refund or exchange. after 10 days if they're in a good mood they'll swap it for the same thing.

I worked for EB for 5 years, and near the end the return policy was more strictly enforced because we would find many people doing the BBR (buy, burn, and return), so we'd cut them off on returns.

Hardware like gamesharks they will generally swap for another if its past the return deadline though, because they always go bad heh.


This is orlando btw heh. I"m friends with quite a few of the managers/assistants in town because at some time or another I worked at all the stores here. Which store you returning to? Never know, I might be able to put in a word for ya ;)

Update on EB experience



After sending an email to the corporate headquarters, I received a reply from a Supervisor of EB apologizing for the hassle. He asked for my address, which I gave, and he sent me $20 in EB vouchers. Although I still have yet to spend my original EB credit, this helps soften the blow of not getting my cash back. Now the question is, what to get?

Yep, take it far enough and you even get a gift certificate for your troubles. So EB has changed their policy, huh? It used to be you could return anything in saleable condition within 10 days(so if you could still shrinkwrap it and sell it as new, it was all good). Why would anyone ever shop there except for something hard to find anywhere else? When I worked for Waldensoftware(managed by EB), people would buy/price match things because of the return policy.

I just checked their online policy, and it's still the same as before where it just has to be in saleable condition. It's always been left up to the discretion of the managers, so if they really want to be hardasses and have the regional manager or corporate bitch at them and cave in, that's their stress.

Not only did they change the return policy, but their "price match" system works like a rebate. You have to fill out a form and send it in to get the difference.

What !?!? Forget that.

A first party memory card. :)

Haha....no kidding. 3rd party is mad suck.