This was originally a one star review - I've upped it to 3 for CVS, BUT to 5 Stars for this location due to Toni, the Store Mgr., who promptly contacted me after I'd both called corporate and posted this review (bottom). Yup - only for $10... but it's ethics, which doesn't have a $ amt. I had a great conversation with Toni, who understood and confirmed the details of my position. Toni offered to take the product back, which I did and provided a full refund. I had offered to take store credit, as I would certainly have used it at CVS - though I received full refund. It's great that Toni had the authority to deal with this issue on a personal level; often, in today's world, corporations deny a store manager reasonably ability to resolve such (low dollar) issues ... IMO, generally to the corporation's detriment -
given both have to occur:
a) an agitated customer if respectul, should be heard to feel respected,\
AND,
b) the outcome if at all possible should be equitable - which requires respectful discussion to see if a such an agreement can be reached. The simple fact is that this situation was foreseeable - and could have, and SHOULD have been be avoided by CVS business systems approach that codes a product if non-returnable, and no doubt many people have had the same frustrating experience. (i.e. given non-returnable is a very low percentage exception condition - and exists well prior to/regardless of Covid - e.g. alcohol isn't returnable.) Also, I should mention: I walked-out of the store thinking: if I wanted a job at CVS - it would be working for Toni, or someone like her - and I hope the regional/district mgr. and corporate looks at that... as people with Toni's people skill level make such a huge difference in morale, and in this case, customer experience.
Original review -
This is corporate feedback - not specific to this store. Based on a failure of business ethics I do not recommend people shop at CVS. To be clear -
Covid-19 has existed for 2 years now - well more than ample time to set-up their systems with regard to return policy. On January 31, 2022 I purchased a Covid test kit. The receipt indicates the product is returnable up to April 1, 2022. On the 18th February, less than 3 weeks after purchase, I attempted to return this product and was denied due to a policy of this product not being returnable. That policy, per. the clerk was implemented on February 1, the day after I purchased the product. At the time I purchased the product there was no indication on the receipt, nor on the display, nor posted anywhere obvious in the store, nor stated by the clerk... that the product wasn't returnable. The receipt misleads a customer to believe this product is returnable up until April 1 - regardless of their statement, "subject to CVS return policy" on the receipt - as their, "out". Moreover, this is especially the case when the identical product is still being sold in the store!
This appears, "bait and switch" with regard to ensuring their cashflow w/o reasonable posting on their products/product displays - storefront. Having this only on their website, buried in their return policy - when it certainly could made clear prior to purchase... AND the receipt misleads customer ... is simply wrong and indecent. Costco, for example, flat-out tells people what products are not returnable - IN ADVANCE off purchase. They have ethics - class read more