I bought several DVD's at Astroplus Podium yesterday (5 Dec. 2002) hoping to give them as gifts. Unfortunately, after I had already brought them home and opened the cases to check that the discs weren't loose (as I am wont to do) I found out that the person I was going to give the discs to already had those titles. Not having touched the discs themselves, I waited until this morning to ask Astroplus Podium whether they could take them back. I called, and I explained that I had already opened the cases. The courteous young lady named Neri on the other line said that if I brought them back immediately, they would take them back. So off I went to Podium. When I got there, I was surprised to find out that the shop couldn't give me a refund. They said they couldn't accept opened DVD's for return, a rule which appears nowhere on their receipts or packaging. As of today (6 Dec. 2002) there are no signs within the premises of Astroplus Podium that are within easy view of customers indicating such rule. After seeing the prisitine conditon of the discs, the salespeople offered to simply replace my returns with other titles. However, since I had just gotten several discs the previous night, I was hard-pressed to choose anything else. Possibly understanding my predicament, a gentleman among the staff named Ferds called up their acounting department, and after what seemed to be a lengthy consultation, came back to me with the proposal that Astroplus would ask Equitabl-Visa for a charge back on my behalf and accepted the returned discs, making a notation on my receipt. So I left the store with said receipt and a calling card.
Now, I know representatives from Astrovision read and post on this site. I just want to remind them of this commitment made by their company through their helpful staff. I accepted this arrangement on the basis of what seemed to be an honest desire of the Astroplus Podium staff to help me out.
So Astrovision, please expedite the request for a chargeback with Equitable Visa and keep me informed of the progress. Thank you very much.