Vacuum Cleaners Discussions

It has come to my attention that several of the big box retailers in my area have discovered a new vacuum scam perpetrated by some deceitful customers.  The buyers are purchasing high end vacuums, new in the boxes, and then returning for full refunds.  Why?  They claim when the vacuums are returned that several attachments, usually 2 or 3, are missing from the cartons.  Rather than obtain the missing attachments from the retailers/companies, these buyers opt to get full refunds on the purchases.  One customer has perpetrated this scam 3 times at the same big box store location in the last several months.  Wonder what the persons are doing with the "slickied" attachments?

Carmine D.

HARDSELL wrote:

Hi HARDSELL:

I wouldn't be a bit surprised if closer inspections of the insides of the cartons didn't show that more than the 2 and/or 3 attachments are missing.  Bags, filters.....................the attachments are the excuse for the scammer to cover the refunds/returns.   I'd bet on it.  The vacuum returns appear to be still packed up just like brand new save the missing attachments.  Usually the returns are inspected by customer service clerks, and only on rare occasions.  They really don't know what to look at and look for and take the scammers' words.

Not long ago we posted here about the tie downs added to new vacuum cartons to ensure the cartons are not opened and tampered with before sale.  Scammers now have a work around.  Seemingly legitimate purchases, which allow pilferages of the vacuums' parts unbeknownst to the retailers, and then returned for full refunds. 

Carmine D.

If they owned a Bosch, and If they bought another Bosch with the six free bag,s then returned it, keeping the (ahem) "missing Bags" they wouldn't have to pay $25.00 to purchase a new box of Bosch Bags. LOL

Lucky1 wrote:

How about that?  Or a $20 filter?  Or a $45 filter?  Or a $80 low rise floor tool?  Resell on line for all profit.  Save time and effort.  And if you're inclined to go to the store anyway, you've got nothing to lose.

Carmine D.

I've got a better one for you!
In the UK, we have a retailer company called Argos. You basically fill out the order card by writing down the order number and you buy on the basis "sold as seen" either looking through their website or colour catalogue. Then when you get the vacuum home you can return it within days if there's something wrong with it. A friend of mine used to do this all the time - he'd take off the important bits of a flagship model and stick it /custom build his own vacuum cleaner. Eventually however Argos had to catch up with him as now they take your postcode/address and add it to the system, obviously there are restricted times to how many times a customer can come back with a complaint and the model they originally bought. I adore Argos and would never betray their trust doing that!

vacmanuk wrote:

In this most recent LV retailers' scam, there is no record of the customers because cash is tendered for the purchased and returned for the refund.  Retailers, like the one I mentioned, who was hit by the same customer 3 times, will have to devise a method to track these scammers and put an end to the nickel and dime-ing.  In good times, big box retailers write it off as an operating expense.  Not worth the bother.  In bad times, they crack down.

Carmine D.

Venson wrote:

Hi Venson:

Last year, a couple was apprehended for this and a slot machine scam.  The slot machines accept cash and at any point a player can cash out and get a paper voucher for the cash which is redeemable at a kiosk for cash.  Using counterfeit bills, the couple traded in the funny money for the real thing.  They would have gotten away with the ploy too.  Except, they used their player cards in the slot machines.  The casinos had all their personal information, deployed the local authorities and napped them at their home.  They were not too bright.

Carmine D.

Stores that have or have had liberal return policies figure these scams,or scheems into the  overhead or cost of doing business.The best one i have ever seen was with K-MART and eureka ,customer has a eureka canister or upright  blows the motor out of it, goes to K-MART takes the motor out puts it in his machine returns the machine toK-MART gets a refund and K-MART returns the product back as defective, I seen this done with HOOVER also .

I must say some people are very creative,

CRIME WOULDNT PAY IF THE GOVERNMENT RAN IT, how untrue of a statement has that become.

Regards

MOLE

Hi MOLE:

A poster with a dyson explained on a site awhile back his problem with BEST BUY and his solution.  He bought a DC07 new and after a month it had no suction.  He goes back to BB but no one there could get it to work properly!  He would have to leave the DC07 which BB would send off to dyson for repair.  Estimated time of about 2 weeks to get back.  He said this was unacceptable because he couldn't be without a vacuum.  His dear Wife would be livid.  BB wouldn't budge.  He eyes a new DC14 while he's there, which just came in, and he puts an offer on the table:  May I return the defective DC07, add the difference in price, and buy a new DC14.  BB said H-E-double hockey sticks no.  He counteroffers:  OK, let's do this instead:  I'll buy a new DC14 now for full price and then I'll return my defective DC07 for a full refund.  In that context, BB agreed to take the bad DC07 back immediately and he paid the difference and left with a DC14.  Likely his defective DC07 became a dyson refurb.  I thought the gent gave BB an opportunity to make good before he resorted to more hard nosed tactics.

Carmine D.

In my town of Ft wayne, IN, population 330,000 including surrounding area, there are 5 Wal-Marts, 3 Menard's (Lowe's competitor) 3 Lowe's, 1 Home Depot, 2 Best Buy, 1 Macy;s, 1 Sears, 3 Targets, 3 Meijer's, 3Kohl's, I Bed,Bath & Beyond, and 2 K-Marts. That I can think of right off the top. Someone could buy a vacuum and return it within 30 days, and never have to visit the same location within 30 months! It may be as simple as just tearing up a vacuum and returning it when the filter is plugged. With that many locations to scam who is going to know, or bother to check. With a line a block long of disgruntled customers, it ain't gonna be the poor frazzled gal at the customer service desk! I have seen people do this that I know I have seen in other stores returning vacuums again and again,

Hello Trebor:

Welcome back.

With more retailers using "roving" employees who work at different store locations, the same occurs.  Retailers have to ask customers with returns for refunds of a prescribed threshold amount to complete a form either in hard or soft copy.  No confidential information but certainly name and address/zip code.  The refund information [item, date and amount] can be warehoused on line for tracking and audit purposes.  This serves as a deterrent to those so inclined to scam the retailer.    Of course, customers can make up information and circumvent the reliability of the refund form.  But this can be eliminated by asking for a driver's license or form of ID to verify the name on the form. 

Tough times call for tough actions.

Carmine D.