Future Shop sells used gear - Canadian TV, Computing and Home Theatre Forums

takefive · 2005-09-18, 08:06 AM

I wonder whether anyone else has encountered a similar situation.

I recently purchased a DVD recorder from a Future Shop in Ottawa and paid the full advertised price. I first became a little suspicious when the clerk took the box from the bottom of the stack, when he could have more easily taken the one from the top. On opening the box at home I noticed that the manuals where not in the usual plastic bag, the batteries had been installed in the remote, a cardboard feature card that you find on floor models was stuck on top of the unit, the two sided sticky patch used to mount the "IR blaster" had been opened and stuck on the unit, and the recorder had been set up with an Ottawa area code and for the Rogers system. To top it all off the thing didn't work! The DVD drawer wouldn't open. It looks like someone had simply repackaged a floor model without even bothering to see if it worked.

When I took thing back for an exchange the kid at the exchange desk just shrugged and told me to pick up another as if this was pretty common. I wonder if it is common practice for FS to rebox returned or floor models and pass them off as new? If so I will surely think twice about where I plunk down my 3k for that plasma.

Thanks...

capitalfan · 2005-09-18, 01:13 PM

What is happening is sad and sick and not all the stores fault.It going in with alot of items but mostley dvd players and xboxs.Here the scoop people go out and buy a new dvd player and then they put there old dvd player in the box and return it.And get a new one again so two for the price of one.Best buy/fs are not checking the boxes when they come back for what ever reason and that is why you got a used one.

RNAChemist · 2005-09-18, 01:48 PM

I would be really surprized if some one told me that the returned items go back to the warehouse and are returned.

FS should label the box with a tag that says "OB" for open box, but they do sell those items at retail prices.

Bunkhouse · 2005-09-19, 10:57 AM

I bought PC speakers from them last year. The box looked ok but when i opened it, it stunk like smoke and was missing the speaker stands. When i took it back and complained they told me i can't return it with items missing

They wouldn't even let me exchange it. So i no longer shop at Futureshop.

bgclarke · 2005-09-19, 11:18 AM

I know Best Buy sells open box items at a discount.

I bought a VCR from Audiotronic earlier this year that had apparently been opened, and paid full price for it. There was nothing wrong with it, and it works fine.

ilovemusic · 2005-09-19, 01:34 PM

We check the packaging of everything we buy.... if the box has been opened we won't purchase it, we keep looking until we find one where the seal is not broken

BIGGUN · 2005-09-19, 03:35 PM

Had a similar experience with FS on Barton St. in Hamilton....first surround sound a JVC 300watt theatre in a box....was the display model so was discounted. When I got it home and hooked up, all I got was a loud clicking sound from all six speakers I was very upset and took it right back. They took it back but I could tell that the salesman wasn't surprised that it didn't work. Why they would sell something they knew didn't work I don't know. And that's why I no longer shop at Future Shop

aznG · 2005-09-25, 11:34 PM

ouch that sucks, should definately go back and complain. I wouldn't think FS would do something like that since they have open-boxed sales sometimes in-store

McB · 2006-08-23, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BIGGUN

When I got it home and hooked up, all I got was a loud clicking sound from all six speakers I was very upset and took it right back. They took it back but I could tell that the salesman wasn't surprised that it didn't work. Why they would sell something they knew didn't work I don't know. And that's why I no longer shop at Future Shop

You know, Open Box items are part of the way Futureshop HELPS the customer, but allowing them to bring back product that has been purchased and tried out within 30 days. NORMAL practise for these items goes as follows: the customer comes in, if there speakers are "clicking" within the first 30 days, and tells the Customer Service reps this information. They then SEND IT AWAY FOR REPAIR. If the customer fails to do so and just returns it after being asked what the problem is, the product IS checked for all accessories and marked OPEN BOX with a discounted price. They WOULDNT sell something they knew didnt work, however if a customer has been decieptful then perhaps it may result in another customers misfortune.

MarcP · 2006-08-23, 09:32 AM

Rona has done it to me too a few times on big ticket tools. Now I thouroughly inspect the box before I go to the checkout counter.

Two years ago, I was buying a new Yamaha receiver at Future Shop, but their boxes were stacked at the top of their shelves so they had to bring in a rolling staircase to get me one. The box they brought down for me had a big hole on one side and the guy was making great efforts to hide it, but I saw it. When I asked him to open the box right now for me, he looked really annoyed. He opened the box to show a smashed up receiver with a big dent on the side where the hole was. Needless to say, I told him to get me another one.

But thinking back, if I had discovered that damage at home... I wonder what sort of excuse Future Shop would've used to refuse the echange (i.e. Accuse me of having done it).

mrhooie · 2006-08-23, 10:40 AM

welcome to the wonderful world of the easy return policy

live by the sword - die by the sword

em69 · 2006-08-23, 02:04 PM

Last year, I bought a TV at BB.
When I opened the box (it was sealed), I realized it was not at all what I bought.

I went to return it immediately (within 30 min of purchase). The manager came out and started insinuating (?spell) that I switched the new TV with my old. After one hour of arguing back and forth, the manager realized that it was one of their old floor models.

I eventually got the TV I paid for.

2005-09-18, 08:06 AM	#1
takefive Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Toronto Posts: 57	Future Shop sells used gear I wonder whether anyone else has encountered a similar situation. I recently purchased a DVD recorder from a Future Shop in Ottawa and paid the full advertised price. I first became a little suspicious when the clerk took the box from the bottom of the stack, when he could have more easily taken the one from the top. On opening the box at home I noticed that the manuals where not in the usual plastic bag, the batteries had been installed in the remote, a cardboard feature card that you find on floor models was stuck on top of the unit, the two sided sticky patch used to mount the "IR blaster" had been opened and stuck on the unit, and the recorder had been set up with an Ottawa area code and for the Rogers system. To top it all off the thing didn't work! The DVD drawer wouldn't open. It looks like someone had simply repackaged a floor model without even bothering to see if it worked. When I took thing back for an exchange the kid at the exchange desk just shrugged and told me to pick up another as if this was pretty common. I wonder if it is common practice for FS to rebox returned or floor models and pass them off as new? If so I will surely think twice about where I plunk down my 3k for that plasma. Thanks...

2005-09-18, 01:13 PM	#2
capitalfan Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 128	What is happening is sad and sick and not all the stores fault.It going in with alot of items but mostley dvd players and xboxs.Here the scoop people go out and buy a new dvd player and then they put there old dvd player in the box and return it.And get a new one again so two for the price of one.Best buy/fs are not checking the boxes when they come back for what ever reason and that is why you got a used one. Last edited by ken0042; 2005-09-18 at 01:21 PM. Reason: Removed unnecessarily long quote.

2005-09-19, 03:35 PM	#7
BIGGUN Join Date: May 2003 Location: HAMILTON Posts: 98	Had a similar experience with FS on Barton St. in Hamilton....first surround sound a JVC 300watt theatre in a box....was the display model so was discounted. When I got it home and hooked up, all I got was a loud clicking sound from all six speakers I was very upset and took it right back. They took it back but I could tell that the salesman wasn't surprised that it didn't work. Why they would sell something they knew didn't work I don't know. And that's why I no longer shop at Future Shop __________________ IT'S A BIGGUN

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2005-09-18, 01:48 PM	#3
RNAChemist Veteran Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Baltimore MD Posts: 2,106	I would be really surprized if some one told me that the returned items go back to the warehouse and are returned. FS should label the box with a tag that says "OB" for open box, but they do sell those items at retail prices.

2005-09-19, 10:57 AM	#4
Bunkhouse Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Winnipeg Posts: 489	I bought PC speakers from them last year. The box looked ok but when i opened it, it stunk like smoke and was missing the speaker stands. When i took it back and complained they told me i can't return it with items missing They wouldn't even let me exchange it. So i no longer shop at Futureshop.

2005-09-19, 11:18 AM	#5
bgclarke Veteran Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Nepean, Ontario Posts: 1,606	I know Best Buy sells open box items at a discount. I bought a VCR from Audiotronic earlier this year that had apparently been opened, and paid full price for it. There was nothing wrong with it, and it works fine.

2005-09-19, 01:34 PM	#6
ilovemusic Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Peterborough Ontario Posts: 1,764	We check the packaging of everything we buy.... if the box has been opened we won't purchase it, we keep looking until we find one where the seal is not broken

2005-09-25, 11:34 PM	#8
aznG Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Toronto, ON Posts: 11	ouch that sucks, should definately go back and complain. I wouldn't think FS would do something like that since they have open-boxed sales sometimes in-store

2006-08-23, 09:32 AM	#10
MarcP Veteran Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Airdrie, AB Posts: 3,822	Rona has done it to me too a few times on big ticket tools. Now I thouroughly inspect the box before I go to the checkout counter. Two years ago, I was buying a new Yamaha receiver at Future Shop, but their boxes were stacked at the top of their shelves so they had to bring in a rolling staircase to get me one. The box they brought down for me had a big hole on one side and the guy was making great efforts to hide it, but I saw it. When I asked him to open the box right now for me, he looked really annoyed. He opened the box to show a smashed up receiver with a big dent on the side where the hole was. Needless to say, I told him to get me another one. But thinking back, if I had discovered that damage at home... I wonder what sort of excuse Future Shop would've used to refuse the echange (i.e. Accuse me of having done it).

2006-08-23, 10:40 AM	#11
mrhooie Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Yellowknife, NT Posts: 706	welcome to the wonderful world of the easy return policy live by the sword - die by the sword

2006-08-23, 02:04 PM	#12
em69 Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Ottawa Posts: 159	Last year, I bought a TV at BB. When I opened the box (it was sealed), I realized it was not at all what I bought. I went to return it immediately (within 30 min of purchase). The manager came out and started insinuating (?spell) that I switched the new TV with my old. After one hour of arguing back and forth, the manager realized that it was one of their old floor models. I eventually got the TV I paid for.