I went to the auto store cited above to purchase a rear turn signal bulb. I did not look for the bulb myself ( too many) but asked the representative to look it up. I gave him all the information he requested while he was checking his online inventory. He found the bulb, I paid for the bulb, and I left. A day or so later I tried to insert the new bulb . It did not fit the socket. The base of the bulb was too large. I returned to the store and told my story. The rep. puzzled over the story and the bulb, went into the light bulb section and came out with a new bulb that he said would fit. When I asked about the cost of the new bulb he gave me the price whereupon I queried him as to whether the cost was with or without the refund for the "hand-selected" bulb I purchased earlier. To which he replied with a straight face, "We don't give refunds for parts that have been removed from the plastic covering.". We, then, "discussed" the flawed reasoning behind that policy. He was steadfast in his understanding of the policy ...not the absurdity of the policy, mind you.. but his understanding of the policy. So when I said "once I open the second set you researched and sold me if the new bulbs don't work I am potentially stuck with two sets of useless bulbs. To which he replied, "well, yeah".
After a long text exchange with the company's customer service department, it came down to essentially "that's our policy". There were so many things wrong here that it just boggles the mind that a reasonable person would not see the "Catch 22" virtually dripping from this confounding policy. In essence, any mistake made by the salesperson in providing a part to a client if that part is opened and does not fit the customer is expected to absorb the cost of the useless item! The website customer service person refused to budge from "the policy".
I am now left with a souvenir of what is not only a Catch-22 but also "Caveat Emptor".
Btw/ The refund policy is not annotated on the receipt nor was it forthcoming from the mouth of the salespersons. I also did not see it on any store signage.
Auto Zone, here I come but I will be sure to ask about your return policy first.
As they say "take advantage of me once shame on you, take advantage of me twice, shame on me".
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