$35 Restocking Fee

[dmdodele]

I bought my first Smartphone today at the AT&T store in Santa Maria, CA. I was so excited. But, unfortunately 30 minutes afterward I changed my mind, as the plan was more expensive than I was lead to believe. I was told I would not have to change my plan. Then they charged me $35 to give them their phone back. It was the most upsetting experience I've had to deal with in a very long time. I literally had their phone in their box outside their store for 30 minutes and they charged me $35 to get my money back. They said legally they were not allowed to resell the phone until it went back to the factory to be checked. This is such a load of crap. This right here is exactly why I stay away from the big companies like Verizon, AT&T, and Sprint, because they always find a way to screw you and make money off any little thing they can. And they get away with by claiming they lose so much money from people making bad decisions. These companies are NOT going broke, and they just took $35 of my money because they can, period. I not only will never do business with this company again, I have every intention of blasting this news all over the internet to whoever will listen. It just isn't right what was done to me today.

[dmdodele]

Hmmm... turns out some of my friends have had similar experiences.

SCC: I know, I had the iPhone and it wasn't working right. They did not have one to exchange with. They said I could drive an hour to exchange it at the apple store or wait 2 weeks for a new one to come in. But if it went over the two weeks, it would be over the 30 days and then I could not exchange it. I said ok, what if I change it for the iPhone 4S and pay 99.00. He said, you sure can do that but then u have to pay the restocking fee of 35.00 cause u r getting a different phone.

[Edited to comply with Guidelines]

[Max69 ACE - Wizard]

This is standard practice. If the seal on the box is broken, or the shrinkwrap is removed, they'll charge a restocking fee. It can't be sold as new, and has to be recertified and sold as a refurb.

How would you feel if you walked into a store and wanted to buy a phone and the salesman told you the only one they had was just returned by a customer because he changed his mind 30 minutes after buying it? Would you accept it as new?

[Cricket123]

maybe you should think about it before you buy it? youre the one who returned it 30 minutes later. You deserve to pay the 35 dollars.

[hp17]

Its a standard fee. not worth crying about

[DogDaddy]

Most industries charge a restocking fee for returned merchandise, not just wireless phone companies. Today there are so many ways a cunsomer can do research before buying a product. For wireless phones, you can view them on the carrier's website and also on the manufacturer's website. There are sites such as phone scoop and phone arena. And you can go to the store, and even stores like Best Buy, to actually touch and handle the phones.

I personally would not buy a phone that someone else has previously taken out of the box and removed the wrapper from. So the company - in this case AT&T - deserves something to offset the cost of having stocked the item and of selling it to you.

[hydrogen3]

"deserves something to offset the cost of having stocked the item and of selling it to you."

Dogdaddy! Seriously?!?

[christopherjones]

Dogdaddy, yes

[ELEVO]

Maybe we can charge them "Big Stores" a Defective fee? And a waste of time fee? When they sell us an item and we have to return it a few hours later because, it was defective? We have to drive back to the store pay gas or and tolls, Parking etc. Would that be fare ? Im pretty sure its fair game. I would dispute that in a credit card next time I return an item, I would add my own fees. Im sure there is no law afainst people charging those fees since we the little guys cant afford to take losses like the big guys, I'm sure there is a judge out there that would agree and allow such fees by the people. Its only fair.

[Max69 ACE - Wizard]

---

ELEVO wrote:
Maybe we can charge them "Big Stores" a Defective fee? And a waste of time fee? When they sell us an item and we have to return it a few hours later because, it was defective? We have to drive back to the store pay gas or and tolls, Parking etc. Would that be fare ? Im pretty sure its fair game. I would dispute that in a credit card next time I return an item, I would add my own fees. Im sure there is no law afainst people charging those fees since we the little guys cant afford to take losses like the big guys, I'm sure there is a judge out there that would agree and allow such fees by the people. Its only fair.

---

The phone wasn't returned because it was defective, it was returned because the OP changed his mind. If it had been defective, it would have been replaced no questions asked. Changing your mind, or wanting a different phone will generate the restocking fee, which the buyer should be made aware of when purchasing the phone.

[ELEVO]

yes your right he changed his mind, but was he made away after he made the purchase or before? Most of the time they print it on the Receipt after you paid and not before. Now that's not kool.

[wingrider01 ACE - Geek]

---

ELEVO wrote:

yes your right he changed his mind, but was he made away after he made the purchase or before? Most of the time they print it on the Receipt after you paid and not before. Now that's not kool.

---

the restocking fee is documente on the paper work you sign BEFORE you pay for the product and it is documented on the reciept that you get when you pay for the product - if they where unaware of it they did not read what they signed.

[abvanar]

I'm sorry, but the idea that this is a standard practice is baloney.  I've purchased and returned electronic products for years, to include smartphones I haven't liked, and have NEVER paid a restocking fee.  EVER.

[wingrider01 ACE - Geek]

---

abvanar wrote:

I'm sorry, but the idea that this is a standard practice is baloney.  I've purchased and returned electronic products for years, to include smartphones I haven't liked, and have NEVER paid a restocking fee.  EVER.

---

when standard procedure is mentioned it is for carriers - specificly the two that are at the same level of service - sprint and verizion, they both have 35.00 restocking fees and all have a 14 day buyers remorse time frame