Guitar Center's Re-stocking fee of 15%

[luke2004]

Hey Guys,

Wassup,

Question for y'all...

I recently bought a BR-1200 multi-track recorder. I have grown unsatisfied with it (read: I can't figger this thang out!).

When I asked the sales guy about returning it, he only told me that I had to do it within' 14 days. He told me nothing about the 15% restocking fee that I read on the back of the receipt.

Any advice on how I can successfully return this item (995.00$) with out having to lose almost $150 bucks?

thanks

Ray

[onlyfingers]

I don't have any experience with GC returns, and I think we will hear from some who do have the experience. But you may have to earn your $150 through good negotiating skills. On your side: the return policy may not have been explained to you when you made your purchase, and it sounds like they missed their opportunity to do so when the staff told you to bring it back, but did not mention the 15% restocking charge. On their side, look near the cash register: they probably have a sign. And it's on your receipt.

It is important not to get hot, especially in the early stages when you will be dealing with people who may not have the authority to side-step store policy. Eventually, you may have to appeal to the corner office, so, as you pursue your refund, get names, dates, and keep notes about what was said. (You have already noted the first two events in the chain: the purchase, and the call to inquire about a refund. You may not remember the person's name who told you about the 14 days, but you should remember the date and time of your call.)

It may also make a difference if you are going to give the $995 right back (right away) to CG by buying something else. Also, the chances are good that they will not be able to sell the returned recorder as new, or at least will have spend some time with it to check it out to make sure that it works OK, and re-assemble the packaging. Since these are real costs for the store, that is why they have the re-stocking fee.

On option, of course, is to keep the recorder. If you have problems making the thing work, maybe you can explain what you want to get done, and they can help you get it going.

[onlyfingers]

(Just let me add that twice at Home Depot I bought "used" stuff as new, because they just re-stocked their returns without checking them out. I was able to use the used aluminum deck supports, and they were not too expensive, and considering time and mileage, it was not worth it to return them. But the allen wrench set was missing a wrench. When I brought it back, I pointed out the missing wrench to the person at the return counter. "How do I know you didn't take that wrench?" she asked. Man, was I pissed. I explained that the reason I pointed it out was so they didn't put it back on the shelf and sell the incomplete set again. She said management told her she could question whatever returns she felt needed questioning. Of course, if I had not drawn her attention to the missing wrench, she may not have noticed it… I did, indeed, get hot, but I think I was successful in getting out of there before it showed too much. Had I been denied the refund, though, there would have been a battle. Anyway, when a store is loose about restocking returned merchandise, it comes back and bites them or their customers later.)

[Crash ©]

How long ya had the thing...?? I think in under 30 days it could be that it's not working correctly.. Know what I mean.. Of course now that they know your face and that you're looking to bring it back, they might be wise to ya...

Honestly, sounds like buyers remorse.. Best bet to cut losses to a mimimum, is sell it to someone here (no I'm not looking) or on ebay and only take a $50 - $75 loss if you're lucky...

--
Rob

[Outlaws]

I never heard of that but I haven't bought anything from GC in a LONG time.

Tell them they didn't tell you about it and whats on the reciept is only there AFTER you paid for it.

I used to buy stuff I couldn't actually afford to pay for in the long run and return it at the end of the 30 days. I guess they got smart.

anyways, fuck guitarcenter.

[philboyd studge]

I wan't charged on 2 guitar returns but it could be different with electronics.

[Sirnothingness]

If you return something to GC or just about any other music store, they cannot sell the item as new and have to sell it as 'B' stock (even in new condition). I hate it, but it is their right to do so and it does sort of make sence because you are returning it simply because you don't want it anymore, not because it malfunctioned.

To get around it I can think of two methods.

1. Offer to take the refund as store credit and they'll probably give you the full 100% (or maybe closer to it).

2. Break something on it (I never said that) or find something wrong with it. Refunds for malfunctioning gear should always be at 100%.

[ocnor]

Originally Posted by Sirnothingness

If you return something to GC or just about any other music store, they cannot sell the item as new and have to sell it as 'B' stock (even in new condition). I hate it, but it is their right to do so and it does sort of make sence because you are returning it simply because you don't want it anymore, not because it malfunctioned.

To get around it I can think of two methods.

1. Offer to take the refund as store credit and they'll probably give you the full 100% (or maybe closer to it).

2. Break something on it (I never said that) or find something wrong with it. Refunds for malfunctioning gear should always be at 100%.

Good point. They can't charge a restocking fee if it is broken because they can't restock it.

[timboZ]

I returned a used Les Paul for a full refund. No restocking fee.
I had it for 2 weeks.

[acidrock]

The reason they charge a restocking fee is that people could buy recorders,record a demo and return it without paying.

Hate Guitar center all you want,but it makes perfectly good sense.

[donkeystyle]

Originally Posted by acidrock

The reason they charge a restocking fee is that people could buy recorders,record a demo and return it without paying.

Hate Guitar center all you want,but it makes perfectly good sense.

and many people have done just that.

[ermghoti]

Originally Posted by timboZ

I returned a used Les Paul for a full refund. No restocking fee.
I had it for 2 weeks.

Their policies are different on different types of gear. On instruments, they essentially have a 30 day free rental.

[hixmix]

I like GC's "restocking fee". After they've made an insane amount of profit "restocking" the same item over and over, they'll blow it out at cost or below, just to get rid of it. That's when I like to show up.

[famous beagle]

Originally Posted by Outlaws

I never heard of that but I haven't bought anything from GC in a LONG time.

Tell them they didn't tell you about it and whats on the reciept is only there AFTER you paid for it.

I used to buy stuff I couldn't actually afford to pay for in the long run and return it at the end of the 30 days. I guess they got smart.

anyways, fuck guitarcenter.

That is a VERY good point. If you didn't know about it until after the sale, then tell them you wouldn't have bought it if you had known about it. Since you weren't told about it, you were under the assumption that you'd be receiving a full refund. That's the only reason you bought it. They can't tell you you're only getting a partial refund after the fact.

[shredfit]

Originally Posted by acidrock

The reason they charge a restocking fee is that people could buy recorders,record a demo and return it without paying.

Hate Guitar center all you want,but it makes perfectly good sense.

Yup! I happened to be at a GC and witnessed a guy returning an Numann U87 mic and was wanting to get his credit card refunded.

The manager talking to him smiled and said, "so your done tracking your vocals, huh"? Then, ask the man to wait just a minute...and went to the back room... The GC manager then came back with a state health code book and sited a little known paragragh... stating certain products cannot be returned due to state health laws...

Then the GC manager smiled and said, "Look on the bright side, you now own a wonderful mic"!

The look on the guys face that was trying to return the mic was classic, "how am I gonna pay for this, Now"?


Shred

[luke2004]

I gotta say, I love the internet...and this forum!

You guys all rock!

I appreciate the input and many sides of advice. It has helped me to look at the situation in a different way. That being said, truth be told, if I had been informed about the 15% restocking fee I never would have bought the item.

It is deceptive on GC's part to rely on a sign, or on somethign written in 4pt font on the back of a receipt. I knew the return policies on mics and everything else, yet my eyes overlooked the part about re-stocking percentage fee. Just because a sign is posted up in front of an entrance, does not mean that you will read it. In order to ensure this they should have a worker ask you before you make your purchase: "Do you understand our store's return policy on multi-track recorders" which of course they won't becuase these guys want a commission. (Mind you, not one of the 3 employees helping on the sale gave me any helpfull information).

I'm curious as to the legal aspects of this situation. Obviously, they are protecting themselves, but it still pisses me off that the employee told me I could return it in 14 days and neglected to tell me about the re-stocking fee.

It seems now that the easiest way out of this is to (if I chose to) re-sell it on ebay and only suffer a smaller loss.

Thanks guys, your help is truly helpfull!

You rock!

Lukester

[TheRockDoc]

This has been an interesting thread- mostly by the "reasoning why" part.

Around 1986 I recorded my first 'studio' demo. I used a place called "Air Sound" in Boston- some Berklee guys might remember Bob Reordan.

Anyhoo... I was wanking one night- apparantly unaware of who was paying his own bill at the studio. I start going off on some diatribe about how the 'big bad record execs' they don't care about the little guys, etc. etc.- you know all the bullshit one can drug, eh hem, I mean drum up to validate their own "rockstarredness". He then explained, very clearly, how the business worked, and who paid for what. In short, if Notre Dame football doesn't generate revenue, their is no swim team or girls field hockey.

I learned alot more about music that night than how short lived radio play can be (actually, 3 different stations picked up the songs in local rotation- no small feat - but my attitude was FR different ).

A couple of years later, when I worked at Daddy's Junky Music, those lessons from Sensi Bob came in very handy. I had a background in sales training along with being an actual player, a skill that many thought would come in handy. The ones who didn't obviously, felt that Daddy's should be in business so that there was a place to hook up with chicks from the previous night's gig.

There are guys at GC who are musicians, there are guys who are at GC who are salesman, and there are combos of both and neither. Each one justifies the stupid shit they can get away with (I believe that's called human nature) by knowing that they'll be enough people to try to get away with stuff.

At Daddy's, Monday was rental return day. 'EveryoneThatWantedAWarwickThumbForTheBigGig" would try to line up and return them. I was brought in to teach the guys that you could be a musician and still do proper 'qualifying the needs' and follow up procedures. You know- coming in early and calling the Neumann customer- Hey, how did your recording go last night?"

Duhhhh.... what recording?

The bottom line is that if you can show the guy how he can make the equivelant back to out weight he restocking fees- and NOT in front of other customers, you'll likely do OK- made up in discount on something else, etc. If he's still a wanker.... then we'll go to step two.

[acidrock]

The practice of charging a restocking fee is not unique to GC,that said they should give the customer an advance warning before finalising the sale.

But c'mon,that Boss unit aint that hard to pick up on,just give it a little time and ask some questions here.You'll be recording in no time.

[mrface2112]

Originally Posted by acidrock

The reason they charge a restocking fee is that people could buy recorders,record a demo and return it without paying.

i did this with a presonus firebox about a year ago (right after they first came out). i bought it on my way to a gig, recorded the gig to my laptop and took the firebox back the next week. i told em "it wasn't what i was really looking for", and that was no lie. my laptop had a 4-pin firewire connection and i needed a 6-pin connection in order to bus-power the firebox.

they didn't charge me a restocking fee. but a large part of that, i suspect, is that i deal with the same guy every single time i'm there, and we've established a good relationship over the last few years.....which, i've found, is the trick to successfully navigating GC.....


cheers,
wade

[chizzy]

I also had no idea about the fee, and I had shopped there for years. I bought a mic preamp and thought I had 30 days. When I returned it 28 days later, they weren't gonna do it. I said, "well, I plan to just buy something else here with the money" and still no dice . Then I got a manager, and said "pull up my sales records here". Seems I had spent close to $9k there in the last 3 years. "yes sir, anything else?"

[6gun]

I always assumed GC was an open-ended 30 days no-questions return policy except on software, strings, etc. I'll take a better look at the receipt next time.

[ggunn]

Originally Posted by luke2004

I appreciate the input and many sides of advice. It has helped me to look at the situation in a different way. That being said, truth be told, if I had been informed about the 15% restocking fee I never would have bought the item.

Just asking - Why did you buy the unit in the first place if you thought you'd likely be returning it? No offense intended, but if you bought it with the idea of doing a project with it and then returning it for a full refund, I don't think it's Guitar Center that's being deceitful.

[arcaxis]

Where MF is GC's counterpart, below is MF's return policy. The 15% restocking fee is conditional depending on the condition the item is returned.

"45-Day 100% Satisfaction Guarantee
If you are not completely satisfied with any product, return it for a full refund of the product purchase price, full credit, or exchange of your choice. We give you 45 days from the shipping date. That's the best guarantee in the music industry.

Musician's Friend only accepts returns made within the first 45 days from shipment. Should you find it necessary to return any merchandise, it must be shipped within this 45-day guarantee period. Please follow the return instructions printed on the back of your invoice. All returned items must include a Return Authorization Number, be in the original packaging complete with the warranty card and owner's manual, and show no signs of wear or abuse; otherwise the return will either be refused or subject to a 15% restocking fee. Credit card returns are issued a credit for purchase price. Refunds are made for product value only, excluding shipping and handling charges."

[wishtheend]

I want to understand why do you feel it should be a business' duty to inform people of policy of returning gear? Come on, this is a business! Why would a company want to tell you about things that will result in them loosing sales.

I work for MF, and to be honest, you guys don't know how much money is lost on products (especially high end gear with little to no markup) when things are returned because someone just can't figure it out.

My advice, at least know what it is you want before you buy it.

[goldtopchas]

I used to sell auto parts, and I can't tell you how many times I would tell people......"This module is an electrical part, and I can't refund it once you open the packaging...Are you sure this is what you need?" We even had a stamp made and I would physically stamp their receipt in front of them just to reinforce the point. They would say yes and promptly come back 15 min. later and want a refund, usually with the packaging trashed and the contacts on the connector all scratched up. They would lie and say "But I didn't plug it in." I would have to point out that I couldn't sell it again. And I couldn't return it for credit. Their response was usually "Well that's the cost of doing buisness" Sorry, I don't think so.