This is such a small thing but led to a real disappointment. We live in rural NC and the nearest CW to us is in Chattanooga. We have been happy customers there for years, even bought our last RV from them. In preparation for our trip to Alaska, we bought the 7" electric frying pan from CW in Dothan AL (we do a lot of business there from NOV-May). We did not use it until well into 90 day trip. It was difficult to get the handle onto the pan and the second time we used it, the handle broke. In our entire trip we only actually camped near two large cities, Reno and Anchorage. Neither has a CW. Today we took the pan back to CW in Chattanooga and learned that they have a 90 day return policy....no exceptions! Our relationship with CW has been so good that I was really taken aback. Around the same time that we bought the frying pan ($19.95) we had almost $2,000 work of work, supplies, etc. at CW. Since most folks who buy stuff from CW are traveling, it can be difficult to get items returned. I understand their policy but I am sorry that I hauled that piece of junk with me for almost 15,000 miles. I should have just tossed it in the nearest trash can. Was it worth it to CW to alienate a good customer over an item that cost less than $20? lizzie

Apparently not since you are blasting them on the net

lizzie wrote:In our entire trip we only actually camped near two large cities, Reno and Anchorage. Neither has a CW. That seems hard to believe!I think their 90 day policy is fair and is very much in line with other major retailers: Target, Home Depot, Kohl's, and Belk's to name just a few. It unreasonable to expect a retailer to accept returns for an extended length of time.

After so much time had passed from purchase to failure, I wouldn't have had the rocks to try and return the $20 POS to begin with. If following store policy over a $20 sale is the worst thing that happens to you at CW today? I'd say life's pretty good. Chuck the darn thing and move on.Happy camping!!! See y'all down the road!!!:)

Why buy a electric frying pan at a CW??? Should have bought at Wally world or sears.. There should be a lot of them around the country.

It must be that CW because I returned some Lp gauges that did not do what I wanted them to do. It was 5 or 6 months later with no receipt. They looked it up on the computer. They gave me credit back to my credit card. I was a happy camper.

Very disappointed at CW Chattanooga today | Good Sam Community

rr2254545
Explorer
Aug 08, 2013
Apparently not since you are blasting them on the net
I_am_still_wayn
Explorer
Aug 08, 2013
lizzie wrote:
In our entire trip we only actually camped near two large cities, Reno and Anchorage. Neither has a CW.

That seems hard to believe!

I think their 90 day policy is fair and is very much in line with other major retailers: Target, Home Depot, Kohl's, and Belk's to name just a few. It unreasonable to expect a retailer to accept returns for an extended length of time.
crickeydog
Explorer
Aug 08, 2013
After so much time had passed from purchase to failure, I wouldn't have had the rocks to try and return the $20 POS to begin with. If following store policy over a $20 sale is the worst thing that happens to you at CW today? I'd say life's pretty good. Chuck the darn thing and move on.

Happy camping!!! See y'all down the road!!!:)
mark5w
Explorer
Aug 08, 2013
Why buy a electric frying pan at a CW??? Should have bought at Wally world or sears.. There should be a lot of them around the country.
tanman32225
Explorer
Aug 08, 2013
It must be that CW because I returned some Lp gauges that did not do what I wanted them to do. It was 5 or 6 months later with no receipt. They looked it up on the computer. They gave me credit back to my credit card. I was a happy camper.
tanman32225
Explorer
Aug 08, 2013
It must be that CW because I returned some Lp gauges that did not do what I wanted them to do. It was 5 or 6 months later with no receipt. They looked it up on the computer. They gave me credit back to my credit card. I was a happy camper.
Sandia_Man
Explorer II
Aug 08, 2013
Whether they alienated you will be your call, but all retailers have return policies that they follow to the letter in most cases. I've done the same thing and attempted to return items beyond store policy limits (by a few days) and was never successful. I felt the same way at first but these were major retailers that would be hard to avoid in the future as they offered great sales from time to time. It was my fault and learned that if I couldn't comply with the return policy like any other customer, I would just chuck the item and avoid purchasing products made by the same brand. It sure would have been a nice gesture on CW's part and at least offered you $20 of store credit.
ScottG
Nomad
Aug 08, 2013
I understand what your saying but 90 days is a long time and I think, very reasonable. A company has to draw the line someplace.
dennisgt60
Explorer
Aug 08, 2013
I work in retail. Would it help you to know that every day customers come into the store to return items beyond our 90-day return policy and that they nearly always offer reasons, valid to them, why they couldn't return to the store sooner. When a refund is denied, many will say that they shop the store or have been shoping with us for a long time but...no more, they say. What are we to do? If it was your business, would you refund folks, daily, coming into your business beyond 90 days, 120 days, six months? If refund policies are not enforced, they're abused. Just wanted to give some small inside view from the retailer's perspective.
kalynzoo
Explorer
Aug 08, 2013
Was there a factory warranty? It really isn't CW's fault the handle broke, but it they offer a 90 day warranty that's fine. I think my first call would have been to the factory (labeler of the box) asking for a replacement. This may still be an option.
JMHO