To follow up on my report on Walmart, I visited a store and looked at mowers and pressure washers.
The selection was better than Costco, but not huge. In the aisles, there were no signs about any special “Repair Only” or other terms for refunds, exchanges, repairs or warranties.
I went to the Customer Service desk and spoke to Wendy. I asked the standard question:
"If I take it home and it doesn't work, how much time do I have to get a refund?"
She told me I could get a refund or exchange for 30 days.
Is it my choice, or the store’s choice? She said it was my choice.
Wendy also pointed to a sign on the wall:
“Outdoor power equipment … refund or exchange within 30 days of purchase”.
I asked if there was a different rule for gasoline equipment. She said the gasoline should be drained out before bringing it back to the store, for safety reasons. Fair enough.
She was young, but appeared confident and knowledgeable.
Over all, It was a lot like Costco, but without a membership, and less like a warehouse.
There were no surprises. No contradictions. Just the same message: at least 30 days for a refund.
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I've seen some more posts about manufacturers' warranties. As usual, the only people asking this seem to be representatives of Canadian Tire Corporation. Maybe your teams of lawyers can help you out?
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Also, there's some fascinating discussions about what happens after the refund period of 30 days ends. Of course, this has no bearing on the poor CT customers who fell victim to the illegal "Repair Only" policy, and are being told that the defective item is non-returnable.
Still, it's an interesting topic.
But, I'm going to stay focused on the question at hand:
"If I take it home and it doesn't work, how much time do I have to get a refund?"
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Next up: Home Depot.