Fell for the Old Used Oil in the New Jug....

[PF52]

Don't get me started on how many people try to return used gas cans. After all, they only needed it for their emergency and they think they can get a refund after they're done.

That's the old reliable "return the brand new TV on the day after the Super Bowl" schtick.

Reminds me of the guy I knew who used to buy really expensive camera lenses and DSLRs from B&H Photo in NYC and he'd use them on vacation..... And send them back the day after he got home. B&H has a 30-day money-back guarantee so technically he never broke any rules. Now he's a small-business owner - I wonder how he'd feel if one of his customers did it to him.

 

[NYEngineer]

They got me once. Guy at Autozone returned it and gave me a new one but it was a good thing I had oil at home to change into my truck or I would have had a problem.
I always check the cap now when I buy oil.

 

[dogememe]

They got me once. Guy at Autozone returned it and gave me a new one but it was a good thing I had oil at home to change into my truck or I would have had a problem.
I always check the cap now when I buy oil.

Make sure you check your filters too!

 

[Delta1]

I did it to myself earlier this year (I think) since I use the empty oil jugs to recycle the old oil.
But now I'm thinking perhaps I also got scammed since I always keep the old oil and new oil separate. Thought I was losing it when I realized I was pouring black oil back into the motor!

 

[gfh77665]

What a world we live in.

 

[40Deluxe]

Yes, they do. Many people return the oil for recycling to the store (like, say, Walmart, etc.) and return it to the returns and refunds center instead of to the automotive bay. So the returns clerk thinks it's just like anything else returned, because the bottle looks "new', and has it sent to the automotive section, and it gets put back on the shelf by some minimally educated drone. It happens more often than you would think.

That is exactly how it happens. Auto Zone is the same way when I worked there you would find used alternators and starters on the shelves because some of the help didn't care.

 

[NYEngineer]

Make sure you check your filters too!

My filters come from a reliable source so no trouble there ever.

 

[John105]

Reminds me of when pennzoil had a code under the cap for the rebate. It was like a shell oil card where you earn $x.xx off per gal up to $3 (from memory). All my jugs from Walmart had invalid codes (already used).

 

[John105]

+2

I bought some brake fluid at Walmart..... I got home and found the seal was opened and perhaps 1/4 of it was missing. Someone probably topped up their reservoir in the parking lot and returned what was left!

Imagine for some fraction of $5.xx they did that. Brake fluid matters and should be poured from sealed containers

 

[John105]

That's the old reliable "return the brand new TV on the day after the Super Bowl" schtick.

Reminds me of the guy I knew who used to buy really expensive camera lenses and DSLRs from B&H Photo in NYC and he'd use them on vacation..... And send them back the day after he got home. B&H has a 30-day money-back guarantee so technically he never broke any rules. Now he's a small-business owner - I wonder how he'd feel if one of his customers did it to him.

We must have worked with the same guy. Was his name Ray? He told me to do what you describe and B&H as well

 

[64bawagon]

Oil has a foil seal or the cap is attached to a sealing ring that un-snaps

At Walmart used oil goes to automotive and return of new goes to customer service.

Unless automotive is closed.

I think you misunderstood my point about the oil. I was referring to oil that was returned for a refund as supposedly being new. My local WM does not have a service center and does not accept used oil. I am familiar with the packaging.

 

[Donald]

I think you misunderstood my point about the oil. I was referring to oil that was returned for a refund as supposedly being new. My local WM does not have a service center and does not accept used oil. I am familiar with the packaging.

Well look on the bright side only motor oil. Not underwear or a jock strap that was worn and returned, sold as new.

 

[mattd]

This would be simply fixed if they had a policy of all oil is final sale no returns

 

[D60]

That is exactly how it happens. Auto Zone is the same way when I worked there you would find used alternators and starters on the shelves because some of the help didn't care.

Some of the help just literally can't tell. I returned a Nissan distributor that failed in short order. It still essentially looked new and the trainee girl was going to restock it.

The guy training her asked "Would you buy this?" and not knowing any better she said "Yes"

They just need warm bodies and a modicum of automotive knowledge is not required.

 

[TomYoung]

How does O'Reillys determine you are not pulling a scam saying you were sold used oil when it was you that poured your new oil in your car, filled the just with used oil and went back to O'Reillys to complain.

Not suggesting you did. But O'Reillys might think so.

We live in a society. O'Reilly's is the best store of its kind, and if this happened to me, if they suggested I was lying, I would not go there again. But going back to O'Reilly's and explaining what happened was the right thing to do. I would like to be charitable, and understand some folks might be desperate, but returning used oil fraudulently is pretty **** low.

 

[TomYoung]

This would be simply fixed if they had a policy of all oil is final sale no returns

I guess that is sort of true, but is really an inconvenience to the decent people who bought something in error. You don't make things better by making them worse.

 

[TomYoung]

There's a Peter, Paul and Mary song ("Greenwood") in which the lyric goes..."if we do these things in the greenwood, what will happen in the dry?" I worked retail for 20 yrs+ (Home Depot/Lowes. etc.), it's getting worse and worse. (But retail is partial to blame w/the "the customer is always right." BS. If something gets returned used, no refund unless of coarse it's defective. The stories I could tell.

Not really with you here. Liberal return policies are a great marketing tool... I would cite Amazon and Home Depot as great examples. People engaged in fraud are low bastards, especially in this situation of returning used oil. That is simply a pain in the ass for the consumer and for the retailer. You only punish the consumer with tough return policies.

 

[TomYoung]

In DE at the state/county transfer station and before the area you need to pay is an area for recycling paper, and plastic/metal cans/glass and a container to dump used motor oir into. And another to take used oil filters.

How is this relevant?

 

[KevinMalone]

This is why we can't have nice things. People suck

 

[Donald]

How is this relevant?

People might consider bringing oil to recycling centers than back to the store.

It's possible a store clerk made the mistake with oil to be recycled. They pay minimum wage.