Autozone return denied due to TRE

[nthach]

I had a friend who worked at Macys 20 years ago and she would get this occasionally. Used underwear / lingerie.

Despite the policy that the store had to accept these returns, she denied them and got into arguments with the customers, often shaming them in the process.

lululemon had a similar policy in place that many(mostly TikTok influencers) saw as a “lifetime warranty” - many bought obviously worn out leggings to their local store for a new pair. They clamped down on that policy. REI also had similar - but people were returning tents after Burning Man and abused the policy. It’s now a one-year return. There was a reason it was called Return Everything Immediately.

 

[brages]

I probably keep only a a tenth of the stuff I buy at Autozone, by value. Almost all my purchases there are (overpriced?) loan-a-tools, although I do buy things now and then for convenience. Not flagged yet.

 

[BHopkins]

You may be an honest customer, but there are 100 for every one of you who will buy something knowing full well they intend to return it AFTER using it. Or take parts off of it, or swap parts and on and on and on.

It's become a much bigger problem as the overall culture of the USA has shifted significantly.
I used to own retail stores and theft was a big problem even 40 years ago.
Shrinkage in retail today is staggering.

It is a huge problem. I've seen people buy and then return a carpet cleaner to Walmart, after using it for the weekend, to clean their carpets. I've seen generators returned after a major storm passes. And all of the rest of us pay for that, in higher retail prices. You know the retailers aren't taking the loss. Someone has to pay for it.

 

[CKN]

It is a huge problem. I've seen people buy and then return a carpet cleaner to Walmart, after using it for the weekend, to clean their carpets. I've seen generators returned after a major storm passes. And all of the rest of us pay for that, in higher retail prices. You know the retailers aren't taking the loss. Someone has to pay for it.

True story--
Where I used to live in So. Cal I saw more people returning big screens TV the day after Super Bowl at Costco. I was totally amazed at the number of people that would abuse the system like that.

 

[Hall]

Where I used to live in So. Cal I saw more people returning big screens TV the day after Super Bowl at Costco. I was totally amazed at the number of people that would abuse the system like that.

Best Buy, Walmart, and no doubt other retailers have different return policies based on the types of items to try and thwart this.

 

[D60]

TRE is absolutely Draconian and there is no logic there. Do not bother, any debate or common sense would be better spent on The Borg.

You should try to NEVER hand over your license when doing a return. Have the receipt and do not accept store credit in lieu of a refund.

The problem is once you're on TRE's radar you can effectively never get off, so that ONE time you REALLY DID lose your receipt and would like store credit, you can no longer do it.

Sure retailers need to protect themselves but all this does is allow plausible deniability for BOTH sides: Home Depot (my experience) says sorry, it's up to TRE and TRE says sorry, we're just contracted by Home Depot.

Finally, BE CERTAIN they entered your DL correctly. The one time I wasted days I'll never get back trying to fight with TRE (foolish) it appeared to be that the clerk had punched it in wrong. My "report" -- which was a PITA to obtain through dead end phone numbers and emails that never responded -- had tons of purchases in far away lands.

It's possible someone was somehow using my DL #? But I've never had any other impacts like identity theft if so. And believe me, TRE would NOT believe you even if this was occurring.

The whole thing was so frustrating I finally walked away before I wound up in a padded room. Life's too short. Just keep your receipts and never accept store credit.

 

[CarLuver]

Costco in my area sell a lot of portable a/c units when it gets hot here . and a large percentage come back after the summer . Same with pressure washers . Costco has the best rental program around

 

[Carmudgeon]

True story--
Where I used to live in So. Cal I saw more people returning big screens TV the day after Super Bowl at Costco. I was totally amazed at the number of people that would abuse the system like that.

That's what lead to Costco tightening their return policy on electronics and making it a 90-day period, instead of open ended as with other items.

Costco's car batteries changed to fully-prorated warranties in the last couple years. Little doubt people were gaming their old system, and it has even boasted of here, as well as making multiple oil rebate submissions.

Some people sow, but everyone reaps.

 

[RBT]

True story--
Where I used to live in So. Cal I saw more people returning big screens TV the day after Super Bowl at Costco. I was totally amazed at the number of people that would abuse the system like that.

Very true. This type of tracking is now standard across retail. It is shocking how dishonest people are, but we all wind up paying for it.

 

[4wd]

TRE is absolutely Draconian and there is no logic there. Do not bother, any debate or common sense would be better spent on The Borg.

You should try to NEVER hand over your license when doing a return. Have the receipt and do not accept store credit in lieu of a refund.

The problem is once you're on TRE's radar you can effectively never get off, so that ONE time you REALLY DID lose your receipt and would like store credit, you can no longer do it.

Sure retailers need to protect themselves but all this does is allow plausible deniability for BOTH sides: Home Depot (my experience) says sorry, it's up to TRE and TRE says sorry, we're just contracted by Home Depot.

Finally, BE CERTAIN they entered your DL correctly. The one time I wasted days I'll never get back trying to fight with TRE (foolish) it appeared to be that the clerk had punched it in wrong. My "report" -- which was a PITA to obtain through dead end phone numbers and emails that never responded -- had tons of purchases in far away lands.

It's possible someone was somehow using my DL #? But I've never had any other impacts like identity theft if so. And believe me, TRE would NOT believe you even if this was occurring.

The whole thing was so frustrating I finally walked away before I wound up in a padded room. Life's too short. Just keep your receipts and never accept store credit.

I’m at self check yesterday - Walmart …
First thing it wants is my DL number - I wave a guy over …
Said I’m not renting a car - get rid of this. He asks me if it’s my first time here ? What ? Said I was shopping at the old store whilst they built this SC 15 years ago - just get rid of this screen please … He did …

 

[4wd]

Very true. This type of tracking is now standard across retail. It is shocking how dishonest people are, but we all wind up paying for it.

For years - we had no in your face cameras in our Walmart - just the overhead cameras - starting a couple years back - it’s ding-ding … flash-flash …
The lumber yards are putting so much in cages - it’s diluting brick & mortar advantages …

 

[4wd]

Costco in my area sell a lot of portable a/c units when it gets hot here . and a large percentage come back after the summer . Same with pressure washers . Costco has the best rental program around

Seems an hour meter would be a cost effective solution …
You know really fast if you bought bad electronics …

 

[RBT]

I’m at self check yesterday - Walmart …
First thing it wants is my DL number - I wave a guy over …
Said I’m not renting a car - get rid of this. He asks me if it’s my first time here ? What ? Said I was shopping at the old store whilst they built this SC 15 years ago - just get rid of this screen please … He did …

Good for you. I understand the need to protect against fraud but asking for a DL to buy some normal Walmart stuff is not OK.

 

[4wd]

Good for you. I understand the need to protect against fraud but asking for a DL to buy some normal Walmart stuff is not OK.

Absolutely - and who wants another step in the process …
My credit cards are all up to date …

 

[repairman54]

DL for a return, no way. Bad enough I have to worry about my CC when the system gets hacked never mind my DL info.

 

[MyWifesBoyfriend]

I’m at self check yesterday - Walmart …
First thing it wants is my DL number - I wave a guy over …
Said I’m not renting a car - get rid of this. He asks me if it’s my first time here ? What ? Said I was shopping at the old store whilst they built this SC 15 years ago - just get rid of this screen please … He did …

That's absurd! What were you buying? I'm curious if the DL requirement is for age restricted items?

 

[4wd]

That's absurd! What were you buying? I'm curious if the DL requirement is for age restricted items?

The screen was there before I scanned anything …
(+didn’t have anything that needed approval either)

 

[D60]

The screen was there before I scanned anything …
(+didn’t have anything that needed approval either)

Every time I buy rattle cans they just have to punch in a DOB that I just give them verbally. I always thank the clerk and say I'm gonna go tag the back of the store.

So far every clerk has chuckled, which puts the average HD or Walmart cashier well ahead of the average BITOG user at recognizing humor.

The best recently was TSC inexplicably wanted DOB for windshield washer fluid. Then I stood around and joked with two clerks about how I could now go swig it in the parking lot...... I guess????

 

[4wd]

Every time I buy rattle cans they just have to punch in a DOB that I just give them verbally. I always thank the clerk and say I'm gonna go tag the back of the store.

So far every clerk has chuckled, which puts the average HD or Walmart cashier well ahead of the average BITOG user at recognizing humor.

The best recently was TSC inexplicably wanted DOB for windshield washer fluid. Then I stood around and joked with two clerks about how I could now go swig it in the parking lot...... I guess????

I will check next time - normally the light goes yellow if it’s a sniffer - unless things have changed …

 

[nthach]

For years - we had no in your face cameras in our Walmart - just the overhead cameras - starting a couple years back - it’s ding-ding … flash-flash …
The lumber yards are putting so much in cages - it’s diluting brick & mortar advantages …

Well, Walmart has a face camera at their entry doors. They have retail surveillance and analytics to an science. Instead of using occupancy counters like any speciality retailer does, there’s NFC tags on everything at Walmart. The only other store that is NFC-obsessed? Lululemon. The hangtags lululemon uses has an NFC tag on the label.

Amazon has their Go tech but it’s been depreciated. The pipe dream was to deploy it at Whole Foods for a zero-touch experience.

Walmart makes their suppliers stick an NFC/EPC tag on their items for shrink and inventory. Lululemon uses it also for the same purposes - it’s not the Sensormatic tag but you can kinda see an RF antenna under the label.