'Puter Purchase Thru Costco

[Jon325i]

My laptop gave up the ghost yesterday so now I am in need of a replacement asap. I've been looking at the offerings from Costco and I've heard good things about their return policy should you not be happy with your purchase. Just wanted to see if anyone here has bought a computer from them. Also, if you had any issues with the computer, how did Costco handle resolving the problem?

TIA

Jon

[LINUS]

Well, I heard they revised their return policy. I guess they were turning into a "Big Screen TV for Superbowl" provider, and they got sick of all the returns.

So you might see the current policy before purchase - might still be good, just not like what it was in years previous.

[e34john]

computers is only something like 30 days now.

[AndrewBird]

Don't hey only sell HP? Yuck...

[Matt86es]

my roomie got a laptop from Sam's Club and they have a 6 monthh return policy on computers...sounds like a pretty good deal to me.

[Jon325i]

Did a little more research on this - found out that Costco's refund policy is good for 90 days on items such as TVs, computers, IPods/MP3 players, projectors, etc. Just some food for thought for those who might be wondering.

Jon

[Ryan Stewart]

Don't hey only sell HP? Yuck...

Im not sure which lines they sell but HP actually has a line that is considered a competitor to the thinkpad and the latitude for business customers. One that reviews well.

[george graves]

Don't hey only sell HP? Yuck...

I'll never even touch a HP ... Thinkpads are the Biz - but hard on the sholder and zero battery life - other wise - awesome - going to pick up a refurb unit soon...Check ebay..

Cost aside? Thinkpad. Cost factored in - refurbed thinkpad. For grandma(you???)? A 2 year old mac book pro maybe?

Don't count out dell - a solid system there too.

Almost everything I own except my main video editing rig (3.8 gHz d-core, 4 gigs mem, over 3 tera HD space soon, 19" pro rack mount case, ect...) is refurb equipment. Half the time it's just "b-stock" (stuff they use for demos - or want to keep their web site simple - that is selection wise)...You'll even get the "new computer smell"...

Again check ebay - a flood of laptops there...

[FL318is]

I work PT at Costco. Had to after the 4th BMW was delivered

Anyway, you can get a manufacturer's warranty on most electronics for an additional 2 years. I can see why Costco would change their policy. People were abusing the crap out of it. Everytime tech would change there would be a return line out the door. And sure enough they would turn around and upgrade. Then when more tech was gained , these same people would be back in the return cycle.

Man, I have seen people return their old used, dirty ass mattress. Hell they even return dead plants. Its crazy.

If you want to get a computer at Costco just make sure you understand the new policy. Still a good place to buy.

[Jscotty]

That might have been my dirty mattress that you guys took back.

Anyhow, I have taken many things back to costco.. some items as long as one year ago. I even took a flat tire back to them once. No reciept and no other paperwork. Long story short I ended up walking out with a NEW tire and $12 in cash.

They considered the tire to be a "road hazard" because the inside edge was worn bald. They didn't have the exact same tire in stock so they did a pro-rata assessment of the tire and determined that it was worth 85% of what I paid and applied that to a cheaper tire that they actually had in stock.

As for a plasma TV that I bought from there, I gave it to my sister as a christmas present. My idiot brother-in-law decides that he wants to mount the TV on the wall so he mounts the bracket directly into the drywall without hitting any studs. Believe it or not, it stayed up there for a very long time until the drywall gave way causing the TV to come crashing down.

Costco took it back anyway and gave me another one. My first inclination was to tell them that it was damaged when I got it but the clerk behind the counter said, "Now I want you to be COMPLETELY honest with me- WHAT HAPPENED TO THIS TV?" And so as I was telling the story she was writing some stuff down and filling out forms and stuff.. so I am thinking that she is going to have to call a manager and so-forth but she just asked to see my reciept and the next thing I know, another clerk is bringing me a new TV on a cart.

[FL318is]

LOL! See, they are very liberal about returns. Personally, even with a 90day on electronics I would still buy.

BTW, that mattress was sad. LOL! I don't have them big enough to return something that has big stain rings on it.

Oh BTW, I got a tire pro rate 100%, upgraded to Mich PS2s and got 14 bucks back. Bought the guys in the tire shop pizza and cokes with the 14 bucks. I love it!

[Jscotty]

Back in the 80's when I worked at Toys 'Я' Us we had a 90-day policy in print yet we were much more liberal than that. We had taken back bicycles that looked like they had been through hell. Both tires flat, both rims bent, pedals broken off, etc.. and they were able to exchange it for the exact same bicycle brand new.

We were so liberal that we would even take back video games. Even though this was against our policy we would still do it until the word got out and we had a line going out the door of people bringing back their crappy games.

[Rachel B]

I love Costco! In England my dads auction company has a contract with many of the branches to buy the returns that the customers have brought in, they get loadsa good stuff, including end of lines.

There return policy was kinda crazy. accepting 5 year old tvs because 'the button was broken' then the customer gets a new model as a replacement cos they no longer make the old model!

[TwoJ's]

Dell = Trash. Stay away from there and HP.

If you must run windows, get an IBM. My buddies is pretty nice. Otherwise, get an apple and run a real (not-knockoff) OS.

[Kruzen]

Dell = Trash. Stay away from there and HP.

If you must run windows, get an IBM. My buddies is pretty nice. Otherwise, get an apple and run a real (not-knockoff) OS.

Dell makes a solid laptop for the general user, not everyone needs to run around with a thinkpad.