6 ms·

My first thought was - who returns toilet paper!?! But I suppose if you're a hoarder or reseller then you'd probably return whatever you don't need/sell. So go

My first thought was - who returns toilet paper!?! But I suppose if you're a hoarder or reseller then you'd probably return whatever you don't need/sell. So good move.

ken 7y ago
That's nothing. I once returned produce to a grocery store!
x86_64Ubuntu 7y ago
They return it before it's used...
- irishcoffee 7y ago
  *They return it if they didn't buy it
- downerending 7y ago
  Theoretically they'll take it either way...
ChuckMcM 7y ago
This. I talked with the manager from one of the CostCo's near us (happens to be a neighbor) and their reasoning was people were overbuying items in the expectation that if they didn't need them all after all they would just return them. This policy pushes back on that mindset.
- yjftsjthsd-h 7y ago
  That works iff the policy is known ahead of time
  - mplewis 7y ago
    Great! Now we know it for next time.
  - wahnfrieden 7y ago
    It’s not an arbitrary rule that needs advance warning; it’s unethical hoarding, and there will be more instances of hoarding in these communities in the future.
    - MarioMan 7y ago
      Yes, but Costco is known for their excellent return policy. They're an ideal target for this sort of scheme.
      - BubRoss 7y ago
        You say that, but a long time ago I tried to return some toilet paper when I had only used one side and they wouldn't even give me store credit.
    - omgwtfbyobbq 7y ago
      As far as I understand it, changes in a contract require notice, arbitrary or not. I don't believe it's legal for a company to change their contract, in this case stating that something is no longer returnable, after the fact. It still applies after the notice is provided of course.
      - deleted 7y ago
        [deleted]
      - ardy42 7y ago
        > As far as I understand it, changes in a contract require notice, arbitrary or not. I don't believe it's legal for a company to change their contract, in this case stating that something is no longer returnable, after the fact. It still applies after the notice is provided of course. IIRC, lots of consumer contracts contain language saying the terms are subject to change at any time with little or no notice.
        omgwtfbyobbq 7y ago
        I've seen similar language, but I don't think they can change the terms with no notice. I think it's usually little to no advance notice, but they still need to provide notice when they change the terms. Providing notice seems to be something fundamental in our legal system.
  - ardy42 7y ago
    > That works iff the policy is known ahead of time Next time this happens, the memory will help deter the hoarders and profiteers.
- hajile 7y ago
  Warehousing is probably a bigger issue. There aren't a ton of TP packs to the pallet. Even a small percentage of people returning TP can result in there not being enough room to store it and the cost to ship it elsewhere is just too high.
kqr2 7y ago
I've seen people return crazy things at Costco: - Bag of potatoes almost completely empty. The guy had a few potatoes that were sprouting roots. Costco refunded the cost of the entire bag. - Cart full of sushi platters. Obviously somebody bought it for a party and didn't finish it. Again Costco refunded.
- monadic2 7y ago
  > - Cart full of sushi platters. Obviously somebody bought it for a party and didn't finish it. Again Costco refunded. That's a happy customer, damn.
- not_exactly__ 7y ago
  People who thinks it’s ok to do this need to hear the word no.
- abnry 7y ago
  These are probably rare enough its easy to consider just a cost of doing business. The toilet paper thing seems like it would be happening a lot these days.
- ratsmack 7y ago
  This behavior just drives up the price for everyone. There should really be a limit on what can be returned.
  - jcrawfordor 7y ago
    It seems clear that Costco customers are willing to pay higher prices for this feature, though. Costco is not that inexpensive compared to e.g. Sam's Club, a large part of their reputation is based on their excellent return policy and customer service in general.
- 8ytecoder 7y ago
  We all pay the price for these customers misusing the return policy. Companies got to have a decent enforcement of these policies.

My first thought was - who returns toilet paper!?! But I suppose if you're a hoarder or reseller then you'd probably return whatever you don't need/sell. So good move.

ken 7y ago

That's nothing. I once returned produce to a grocery store!

x86_64Ubuntu 7y ago

They return it before it's used...

irishcoffee 7y ago
*They return it if they didn't buy it
downerending 7y ago
Theoretically they'll take it either way...

ChuckMcM 7y ago

This. I talked with the manager from one of the CostCo's near us (happens to be a neighbor) and their reasoning was people were overbuying items in the expectation that if they didn't need them all after all they would just return them. This policy pushes back on that mindset.

yjftsjthsd-h 7y ago
That works iff the policy is known ahead of time
- mplewis 7y ago
  Great! Now we know it for next time.
- wahnfrieden 7y ago
  It’s not an arbitrary rule that needs advance warning; it’s unethical hoarding, and there will be more instances of hoarding in these communities in the future.
  - MarioMan 7y ago
    Yes, but Costco is known for their excellent return policy. They're an ideal target for this sort of scheme.
    - BubRoss 7y ago
      You say that, but a long time ago I tried to return some toilet paper when I had only used one side and they wouldn't even give me store credit.
  - omgwtfbyobbq 7y ago
    As far as I understand it, changes in a contract require notice, arbitrary or not. I don't believe it's legal for a company to change their contract, in this case stating that something is no longer returnable, after the fact. It still applies after the notice is provided of course.
    - deleted 7y ago
      [deleted]
    - ardy42 7y ago
      > As far as I understand it, changes in a contract require notice, arbitrary or not. I don't believe it's legal for a company to change their contract, in this case stating that something is no longer returnable, after the fact. It still applies after the notice is provided of course. IIRC, lots of consumer contracts contain language saying the terms are subject to change at any time with little or no notice.
      - omgwtfbyobbq 7y ago
        I've seen similar language, but I don't think they can change the terms with no notice. I think it's usually little to no advance notice, but they still need to provide notice when they change the terms. Providing notice seems to be something fundamental in our legal system.
- ardy42 7y ago
  > That works iff the policy is known ahead of time Next time this happens, the memory will help deter the hoarders and profiteers.
hajile 7y ago
Warehousing is probably a bigger issue. There aren't a ton of TP packs to the pallet. Even a small percentage of people returning TP can result in there not being enough room to store it and the cost to ship it elsewhere is just too high.

kqr2 7y ago

I've seen people return crazy things at Costco: - Bag of potatoes almost completely empty. The guy had a few potatoes that were sprouting roots. Costco refunded the cost of the entire bag. - Cart full of sushi platters. Obviously somebody bought it for a party and didn't finish it. Again Costco refunded.

monadic2 7y ago
> - Cart full of sushi platters. Obviously somebody bought it for a party and didn't finish it. Again Costco refunded. That's a happy customer, damn.
not_exactly__ 7y ago
People who thinks it’s ok to do this need to hear the word no.
abnry 7y ago
These are probably rare enough its easy to consider just a cost of doing business. The toilet paper thing seems like it would be happening a lot these days.
ratsmack 7y ago
This behavior just drives up the price for everyone. There should really be a limit on what can be returned.
- jcrawfordor 7y ago
  It seems clear that Costco customers are willing to pay higher prices for this feature, though. Costco is not that inexpensive compared to e.g. Sam's Club, a large part of their reputation is based on their excellent return policy and customer service in general.
8ytecoder 7y ago
We all pay the price for these customers misusing the return policy. Companies got to have a decent enforcement of these policies.