Props to Bed, Bath and Beyond

Check this out:

• In October 2007, we bought an aero bed at Bed, Bath and Beyond.
• We got it for $170 (a decent price) and it had a $20 rebate with it.
• We sent in (and received) the rebate.
• We originally intended to use the mattress "now and then", but my daughter's mattress was old (interestingly, her allergies went away when we removed the old mattress) and she wanted to use the aero bed, so we put it on her bed.
• She used it for months with no problem, but then it sprung a slow leak. We had to air it up every night and by the next morning it was half way flat.
• It got worse and worse until the bed would barely hold any air for more than a few hours.
• We looked for a leak, but couldn't find one. Either it was really slow or was through the device that filled up the bed (you would plug it in and inflate/deflate as needed.)
• My wife went to our file where we keep warranties and receipts on purchases like this. The bed had a one-year warranty.
• She called Bed, Bath and Beyond, told them the story, and they said to bring it in.
• We took the bed, the box it came in (stored in our basement) and the receipt to them the next day.
• It was no hassle at all. They gave us $170 credit back on our credit card. Yep, they didn't even subtract the rebate.

This is the sort of service that makes me glad that we (mostly my wife) shops at Bed, Bath and Beyond. When something goes bad and needs to be returned, their policy is simply GREAT! Kudos to them for going against the flow of most other retailers who are doing all they can to limit even legitimate returns.

Comments

[Ben]

My new wife and I setup a wedding registry with Bed Bath & Beyond after our friends recommended them. I agree, they have a great return policy. Anything people bought off our registry we can return for cash, and the rest for store credit. ...we're just returning the duplicates, but of course I would have rather people given us cash in the first place.

[Casey]

This makes me happy in two ways: First of all, my fiance bought an aero bed last winter and the same story unfolded. A slow leak with no visible holes. Hopefully she still has that receipt. But, I'm kind of doubting it.

Second, like Ben, we are planning to register at BB&B. It isn't too often you hear positive feedback these days - glad there's still some to go around.

[Kevin]

That's pretty amazing actually. I'm looking for a new chef's knife, maybe I should look at BBB and use one of the 100s of 20% off coupons I have sitting at home.

BTW, a cashier at BBB once told me those 20% coupons don't expire (even though they do have a date on them).

[stephen]

I had a similar experience -- when my wife and I got married we had a registry at BBB and one of the items we listed (and received) was a nice (~$90) knife sharpening kit. What with one thing and another, I didn't open it till earlier this year -- so about 2 years after our wedding -- which is when I discovered that it was missing a few key pieces. We didn't have a receipt and our registry was, naturally, no longer online so we had no proof that we'd gotten it from BBB.
Nonetheless, when we brought it by and explained, they were more then willing to allow us to exchange it for a new one.
In general, unless the price difference is huge, we always opt for shopping at BBB :)

[Colin]

BBBY is great! We registered for our wedding at 3 places, but we have the most items at BBBY. Can return for cash/store credit with little hassle, and we've been told the 20% off/$5 off coupons never expire, so we're stocking up!

[Robert in SF]

I may end up ruining a good thing by saying this, but BBB has the most liberal return policy, including Costco!

They take it back, no questions, no hassles, no time-limit. Bring in the receipt and the packaging (if possible) and they will return for credit or refund.

They don't always have the best selection or prices (even with the coupons) but they have my customer loyalty for standing behind their products and customer service.

I just hope people don't abuse it and cause them to change the policy!

[MetaMommy]

Another great thing they do:
If you're at BBB and want to buy something but forgot your coupon (e.g., 20% off of one item) at home, you can buy it and come back later with the coupon and receipt for a credit. I haven't tried this, but a friend of mine did and said they were great about it.

[zt]

Any tips on which air mattress to buy? Have people had good experiences?

[Lisa]

I purchased a set of Stainless Calphalon pots by my mom's recommendation. My husband and I hated them. She convinced us to return them, which I did, without a receipt and 2 years later. They gave me the current selling price of $400 (which, I believe is $100 more than I paid) plus $80 for an extra piece I purchased. They did not deduct the amount we would have saved from using a coupon, which I certainly used. I was able to buy the set I originally wanted (but had cost too much). This set was originally $500, but marked down to $400, came with a $100 mail in rebate, and came with a $50 gift card. When you spent $400 on Calphalon, you received an extra 2 pieces as a bonus (plus top chef cook book and towel). This was the extra piece I returned for $80. So I now had the $500 set of cookware, a $50 gift card, $100 coming in the mail and a store credit of $84 for the extra piece I returned. A week later, I realized that I didn't make my new purchase with a coupon. I brought in my receipt, gave them some coupons, and was able to purchase another $100 worth of Calphalon products for no charge. Amazing!

[Lisa]

I purchased a set of Stainless Calphalon pots by my mom's recommendation. My husband and I hated them. She convinced us to return them, which I did, without a receipt and 2 years later. They gave me the current selling price of $400 (which, I believe is $100 more than I paid) plus $80 for an extra piece I purchased. They did not deduct the amount we would have saved from using a coupon, which I certainly used. I was able to buy the set I originally wanted (but had cost too much). This set was originally $500, but marked down to $400, came with a $100 mail in rebate, and came with a $50 gift card. When you spent $400 on Calphalon, you received an extra 2 pieces as a bonus (plus top chef cook book and towel). This was the extra piece I returned for $80. So I now had the $500 set of cookware, a $50 gift card, $100 coming in the mail and a store credit of $84 for the extra piece I returned. A week later, I realized that I didn't make my new purchase with a coupon. I brought in my receipt, gave them some coupons, and was able to purchase another $100 worth of Calphalon products for no charge. Amazing!