Way too late for a return

[wolfie]

I stopped by one of the discount wireless carriers to see if they had a plan that fit my needs (they didn't), and the customer already there was arguing with the salesperson because she wouldn't accept a return of a "defective" car charger.

The gist of what I heard was that when he couldn't get it to work in his car, he took it to a different branch than the one where he bought it in order to return it. They plugged it into a wall-to-lighter adapter, and it worked in the store. Still didn't work in his car (Toyota Camry). A couple months later, he went back to the store he bought it at, and the clerk wouldn't accept the return.

Full-bird Colonel (way beyond Major) fail here.. First, if something doesn't work, take it back RIGHT AWAY. Second, if it worked in the (other branch of the) store, it works - the problem is on the car end. I tried to give a few troubleshooting tips to see if his car's lighter socket was "live", but he wouldn't listen (basically, see if something else works in the socket). Also, the make of car is significant - on many Asian cars, the lighter socket only has power in the "on" and "accessory" positions, making (among other things) those solar charge-maintainers useless. Once he left, I told the salesperson about this site.

[BeenThereDoneThat]

Yeah, hubby has a Prius...I thought it was because it was a hybrid that the lighter sockets didn't work if the power to the car was off, but the Asian-make theory works too. I drive a Saturn so naturally it's only too happy to let me drain my car battery by charging things while the car is off

I so totally agree about making sure things work right away. Stores can't take them back forever. I admit I often buy something and then don't use it for a while...and more than once I've finally opened it to discover there was a problem. But I blame myself for waiting, I don't try to pin it on the store. At High End Home Store, I get the feeling that some customers are afraid to open packages containing items they're not going to use right away (something for an ongoing home remodel, for example) because it will either void the return policy or cause us to charge them more to take it back. On the contrary, we really wish they'd inspect the items upon delivery...it would save all of us so much trouble than when they call months later and we have to deny their return. Corporate is cracking down on this stuff, too, so longtime customers are quite upset that returns aren't as easy as they used to be... But from a business standpoint, it makes a lot of sense.

[Andara Bledin]

My Nissan's 12v auto outlets go dark when the car's not on, as well.

I make a point of checking certain types of things right away. The photo guys at work just ordered replacement and spare bulbs for their lighting equipment, and I told the guy that runs the department to test 'em and if they worked not to call me.

^-.-^

[dragon_wings]

Yeah, hubby has a Prius...I thought it was because it was a hybrid that the lighter sockets didn't work if the power to the car was off, but the Asian-make theory works too. I drive a Saturn so naturally it's only too happy to let me drain my car battery by charging things while the car is off

My mom drives a Ford Explorer hybrid and has had issues with the gps not charging. When they came to Baltimore it go so bad they had to figure out some sort of work-around. Unfamiliar city + dead gps = lost. At least when I was with them I could use my iPhone's gps and map app.

[BeenThereDoneThat]

My mom drives a Ford Explorer hybrid and has had issues with the gps not charging. When they came to Baltimore it go so bad they had to figure out some sort of work-around. Unfamiliar city + dead gps = lost. At least when I was with them I could use my iPhone's gps and map app.

D'oh! Yeah, that could be a big problem, all right.

[dragon_wings]

D'oh! Yeah, that could be a big problem, all right.

We lived here when I was little but we lived out in the county. I now live in the city proper. But yeah. Big problem. They figured something out. I think they got a a/c (?) charger instead of a car charger (the explorer has a a/c outlet which was awesome for me cause I've never had a car charger for my iPhone).