Wii not in the box

Most electronics retailers take one of the following steps to minimize
theft -
1) lock all expensive electronics in a display case that can only be
opened by an associate, who will then take the system to the nearest
checkout.
2) put them out on the shelves, but fasten a large security alarm
system to them that will sound in the case of tampering
3) put only empty boxes out for display purposes assuring that the
consumer cannot get their hands on the item itself.

Additionally, the serial number of the system is recorded at the time
of purchase and sent to the game system manufacturer's website to keep
track of the purchase date for warranty purposes and to counteract
fraud.

While the cashier that rung out your purchases should have pointed out
that you possibly had just an empty box (if he/she had lifted it to
scan it), when you picked it up, you should have noticed a
considerable difference in weight. The security seal would have also
been broken if it had been emptied, and that too would have set off
some warning bells with me. If I pick up something that the seal is
broken, I either a) replace it on the shelf, b) bring it to a clerk's
attention that it has been opened, and/or c) check the contents to
make sure that all the items are in there. Bottom line is, regardless
of how excited you were, always check out things before you buy.
You'll be surprised how much heartache it saves.

Addendum - So your pregnant wife had to drive it back. So? Pregnant
does not equal crippled. I worked 11+ hour days while pregnant up
until my 7th month when the doc told me if I didn't quit, I'd
jeopardize the health of myself and the baby.

You got your cake and you can eat it too.

Be satisfied with the apology and the free gift as most places of
business will not offer that much.

I once purchased a Bar-B-Q grill from Home Depot and found a major
part missing during assemly.
It was 30 miles back to Home Depot after I dismantled
what I had already put together. All together it came to 120 miles
total for that grill of mine.
But once I was there I didn't even think to ask for a power saw or
gift certificates for some T-Bones.
I accepted their apology, as the clerk had nothing to do with the
packaging I didn't expect much else except for another grill.

Take what you got and be happy. As for your wife, she got out of the
house for awhile.
If there was concern about her well being you never would have sent
her.

Eat your cake, sit in front of the TV and enjoy your game. But if you
don't really want to complain about anything don't buy a grill that is
not already assembled, I don't think you would be able to handle it.
Your complaint was minor, don't let it bother you.
And after reading some of these replies to your complaint, you must be
going bald by now.
This is a tough house to complain to, I know.

Oh by the way, I didn't write in to here or anywhere else about my
grill. lol

Be glad they offered you a free cake and did not just laugh in your
face. How could you not know the box was empty? At least they gave you
the product and didn't refuse thinking you were trying to screw them.
And to get all upset over a video game unit, for the love of god, grow
the hell up. You have a pregnant wife and a kid on the way that should
be your first priority not a KIDS video game unit.

You are so upset over this ? maybe you need real problems in your
life.

Gimme, gimme, gimme....pregnant ploy.....gimme, gimme, gimme!!!

Ok, they were nice enough to offer you a free cake to smooth things
over. You didn't think that was fair.

Here's a thought - why don't you become a manager at Costco, and then
YOU can decide what a fair form of compensation would be for customers
who have been "wronged".

I think the store recignized its mistake and made a fair offer to keep
you a happy customer. If that didn't work, well maybe it is time to
sever your ties with them.

Your pregnant wife had to drive? Oh, the horror!! I was 9 months
pregant and still doing my shopping a BJ's. Hell, I drove an hour when
I was pregnant to have my kids' Nintendo Game Cube fixed. I also went
to work.

Oh, no, she had to drive?!?! Say it ain't so!

"I was in the Five Towns store and saw the Nintendo Wii on the shelf
so I bought it. I was so excited. I got home and it was empty."

What exactly do you mean by "it was empty"? Specify. Was it just
missing the Wii itself, or was it missing everything (wires,
controllers, manuals, game, etc.)? Because if it was completely empty,
you'd have to have the attention span of a fruit fly to not notice
it.

"No one told me that I had to go to merchandise pick up and there was
no sticker on the box."

I guess they just assumed most people could tell the difference
between a full box and an empty one. Guess you showed them, huh?

"When I called the store I was told they sold out and I could get a
refund. I said that was not acceptable."

Seems pretty generous to me. You bought an empty box for $250, and
they offered to give you your money back for not being completely
satisfied with your empty box purchase. That right there is a textbook
example of free market enterprise, my friend.

"They eventually tracked down the system. I gave them my member number
and my name as well as my wifes. My wife went into the store with her
license, the receipt, and my costco card and was given a hard time.
They said how do we know it was you."

See, now I have no idea if you ended up getting your system or not.
Did you? You can't just leave us hanging like that. I'll have you
know, its very rude.

"I called the store today and spoke to an Assistant General Manager.
He did not want to do anything for me. Eventually he agreed to give me
a free cake from the bakery the next time I come in. I accepted this
as that was all he was willing to do."

A happy ending! You had a problem with Costco, they offered you
compensation, and you freely accepted it. Hugs all around! So this is
the end of your letter then, right?

"I would like Costco to give me some real form of compensation, not a
cake."

Somehow, I'm not surprised. Hey, if you're not going to eat your free
cake, can I have it? I love free cake.

"An example of this would be a free Wii game or controller. Your store
messed up and needs to take proper responsibility."

Because, as everyone knows, the proper equivalent reparations for not
stopping someone from paying $250 for an empty box is a $50 video game
or a $40 controller, not a $15 cake. Come on, Costco! Think!

"I am so upset by this that I may not continue my membership next
year."

I'm sure that'll just break Costco's heart.

what does your wife being pregnant have to do with it? pregnant =/=
disabled.

This is one of the reasons that this website is in my Favorites. I
love these people who complain even after the company fixes the
problem AND gives you free food to boot. What else should they do for
you? Seriously, it was a mistake that was corrected and then some and
then you still complain. I guess there really is no satisfying some
people..

Unless the company gives them free things which, my guess, is what
some of these complainers wanted all along!

I think the fact that you were mentally myopic and didn't realize that
you were purchasing AN EMPTY BOX means you deserve nothing whatsoever,
other than the Wii you paid for.

And leave the pregnant wife out of it, you whiner.

Yes, the store messed up but so did you. How could you not notice how
light the box was? Was this your first time shopping at Costco? They
always put empty boxes out and you have to claim the item.

You got your system and a free cake and do not deserve anything more.
It seems to me, they went out of their way to make this right for you.
They could have just shrugged their shoulders and gave you your money
back but they tracked the system down for you.

OSrry to have to break the news to you, Matthew, but people who work
at costco are human too. Don't get me wrong, I feel for ya, I really
do. IT's an incredibly frustrating and annoying thing to have happen,
but come on, you might not renew your membership because a stock boy
made a mistake? Let's havea little perspective. THey refunded your
money and you accepted a cake as compensation. You should not have
accepted it, if it wasn't good enough. It was just a mistake. Nobody
did it to antagonize you. Btw, pregnant does not mean disabled. If
your wife is able to drive around to fulfil her own needs then the
fact that she's pregnant doesnt belong in the letter. Driving to
Costco is not more dangerous to the baby than driving to her friends
house to have tea.

I can actually see something like this happening.


Our Costo was VERY picky about the membership card when we were
members. If your wife's photo was not on the membership card, how
would they know it was you if she wasn't speaking to the same person
you gave the information to over the phone?

Anyway, it was an honest mistake. They corrected the error and the
offer of a free cake, in my opinion, was a nice gesture on their part
and unusually thoughtful. How did this leave you less than whole? You
got what you paid for. Gas, aggrivation, wear and tear and drama were
your fault for not realizing the box was empty in the first place. I
loved the line "An example of this would be a free Wii game or
controller". You did show extreme restraint by not going for the
whole shebang... a plasma TV and Surround Sound System.

That really sucks and I think that the blame lays with you and the
company. You should have realized the box was too light and the
cashier should have reminded you to pick it up... sucks and I hope
you get this taken care of but I don't feel that you deserve a
controller or game. Perhaps a $10 gift certificate to Costco?

I purchased a computer program there and didn't know the product
wasn't in it until they ran and got it. If he didn't know how much it
weighs, how is he to know? It's the cashiers fault.

Don't companies usually keep high priced merchandise in the back and
keep "dummy" boxes out? coulnd't you feel that it was empty? I don't
know how heavy it is but...

It looks like you were scammed. Did a shoplifter take the wii out of
the box? I suggest you go on Ebay to find a wii or order one from
Amazon.com or some other internet store.

What kind of cake are you going to choose? Also did you not realise
the box was empty.

As a Costco shopper, I am not buying this one. Here's why:

We got our X-box at the Costco near us (Regular X-Box, not the 360)
and the way Costco has their game systems is NOT just "a box on the
shelf". They are ALL in HARD plastic with some sort of extra. The
360s that I see now have a game and controller. I think. The only
game system they have that you have to get from the Cashiers is the
hand held ones, the Nintento DS or Sony PSP. And ALL the handheld
ones clearly state you need to get it system at the counter. And even
those are in hard plastic and with extras.

So I think this is a fake. Or a jerk. I'm not sure.

OMG how do you not realize you picked up an empty box? There is no
help for some people.

I'm laughing too hard at the offer of a free cake as a form of
compensation.

Where else, ladies and gentlemen, can you hear: "I'm mad. They messed
up and all I got was a free cake for my trouble."


ROFL!!!!

OK, so did you get the Wii or not?

If yes - end of story - let it go!

If no, then either get one or, or again, LET IT GO.

Was the box shrink-wrapped? I would be very wary of buying a Wii that
was literally on a shelf where anyone could get at it, without opening
it in front of the cashier to ensure that everything was inside.

I wouldn't even buy software in a box that way: they put the boxes
out on the shelf because they're attractive, and they put the actual
CDs somewhere else, because they're attractive too. Even without a
Wii, I can say with some confidence that there's a bigger difference
in weight between a box with and a box without a Wii than there is
between a box with and a box without a CD.

For that matter, I open boxes of over-the-counter meds before I leave
the store. I've been burned before.

I don't think you deserve "real" compensation either. An apology,
yes. The Wii to be promptly handed over once you had proven who you
were, or the money refunded, yes. But I wouldn't think you needed a
cake, let alone a controller. Especially since you drag in your
wife's pregnancy, apparently to make it seem as if you've been even
more wronged than people who have other people who aren't pregnant run
errands for them. If it's difficult for your wife to go to Costco
while she's pregnant, I'm sure that they are occasionally open during
times that you are not at work.

I'm having a hard time understanding that since/if you are a member
there and buy things regularly, even electronics, you would know the
procedure for picking up the item. So you get to the register, pay for
it, and then walk out, with this light weight box, in a bag maybe, or
in a cart?
It sounds like some details are missing is all.

I find it interesting that you didn't realize box you grabbed off the
shelf was empty. I don't have a Nintendo Wii nor do I know anything
about them, but I have to believe they weigh more than hot air.

Speaking of hot air - - Costco doesn't owe you anything, including a
cake or a Wii game or a controller - - nothing.

I'd say the error here is 50% your fault for not realizing the box was
empty and 50% the Costco cashier's for doing the same - - so you're
even.

And believe me, Costco has lots of members and losing you and your
demands won't mean squat to them.

Okay, ease up on those dramatics.
Nobody kicked your dog.
Nobody called your mother bad names.
Nobody took a baseball bat to your grandma.

You don't deserve any compensation.
At all.
I mean, COME ON!
You should either get the system you paid for or your money back.
That's it.It was a simple mistake.
You know, the kind that people make on a daily basis WITHOUT expecting
'compensation'?

(Nice gratuitous mention of the pregnant wife, by the way! Geez.)

Matthew-I understand your frustration, but you should not have
accepted anything. You should have demanded to see the general
manager, and demanded they produce the Wii immediately.
However, I am wondering how you managed to carry the box home and not
realize it was empty?