Just to confirm, you don't pay with Apple or Android Pay, right? Because that generates a different card number, so even though it shows up on your main card and looks like it is all the same, they have a different number in their system.

Was the only thing I could think of. I haven't seen this otherwise.

-John...

I have had HD say an item did not come from. I bring in my HD statement and say “ then what’s this charge?”

They admit their computer is in error.

Lowes uses a very old system that can be searched using account number, phone number, customer name, invoice number and other methods.

When that happens to me it's usually because I THOUGHT I bought it at Lowes, but actually got it from Menards and just forgot.

I just returned 8 months of stuff to HD all bought w commercial card. most of it online. when they have you swipe your card the look back isn't too far but if the sku is in their system they usually find it. found out that they can only see online purchases by your phone #. the associate working with me didn't know that. that said I look up my older purchases and note the order #. I also had to search my Gmail on phone for HD receipts. Lowes is worse. their system doesn't see very much.

I just returned 8 months of stuff to HD all bought w commercial card. most of it online. when they have you swipe your card the look back isn't too far but if the sku is in their system they usually find it. found out that they can only see online purchases by your phone #. the associate working with me didn't know that. that said I look up my older purchases and note the order #. I also had to search my Gmail on phone for HD receipts. Lowes is worse. their system doesn't see very much.

I just returned 8 months of stuff to HD all bought w commercial card. most of it online. when they have you swipe your card the look back isn't too far but if the sku is in their system they usually find it. found out that they can only see online purchases by your phone #. the associate working with me didn't know that. that said I look up my older purchases and note the order #. I also had to search my Gmail on phone for HD receipts. Lowes is worse. their system doesn't see very much.

At my local HD without a receipt you get a gift card. And, they require ID to be input at register when using gift card as ot can only be used by person it was issued to.

Not so fun fact...Wed the local HD had a shoplifter pull a sawed off shotgun on an employee and flee on a bicycle. Turned put to be a BB gun and the guy of course was caught.

At both my local HD & Lowes if I don't have my receipt, they just read either my big box card or my regular credit card to find the item that I'm returning. If they can't find it on either of my cards, I need to show a photo ID & they issue a gift card. The only drawback to this is they don't refund the sales tax. However, if I stop back later with the original receipt & the one, they gave me with the gift they'll give me another gift card for the sales tax portion. I've found that being known by the store manager, the head cashier & the pro area cashiers at the HD & Lowes which I use the most has many advantages.

I've recently started getting some flooring & tile at Floors & Decore. If you set up a pro account, all they need is your phone number to handle returns back to your credit cards.

Returned some items at local Lowes.I had bought them with a gift card as that was the perk the AMEX card had. Return lady says she can't take the buckets of mud back because they are past 30 days. I tell her that I bought these with a gift card. She still says no, because she sees same items out past 30 days.

I kindly explain that I was working on two projects, both using the same items. I used the other mud. What's the deal?

She says she needs to get a manager, I agree with her and tell her to get the store manager. She relents and gives me a refund.

I put a lot of money thru that store. All of the old timers know me. Takes forever to get in and out of there because people stop me to chat. This lady knew of me as well. I guess she is out to save the corporation from 30 day plus refunds.

The next time I had stuff to return I walked up to her, she sighed, I stated don't worry I just bought these items. She attempts to avoid me now, which is funny.

Its the icky side of humanity that causes these things. Thieves steal high value items, get a return on a gift card, then sell the gift card for cash. We even got a CD at convention describing part of this, minus the stealing part. Every now and again, I hear that cd, as its stuck in the CD player on my old truck. Occasionally one of the grandkids hits play. Kinda grinds on my nerves, as I want no part of shady dealings, and I'm at least smart enough to have known that if someone was selling store merchandise credit, they likely did a return on pilfered goods. No bueno!

Thus, stores come up with policies like no returns on consumables after 30 days. No more than $100 of returns from photo ID in a year. Store merchandise certificates now need photo ID, and can only be used by the person to which issued.

Even store discounts irk me. Veteran discounts and such. Hey I'm a vet, but not disabled ( y'all might disagree, lol!) nor did I serve in any combat capacity. Yet people have tried to convince me I should have registered for Home Depot' veterans' discount. Well, they eventually had to change their policy, too many 'sorta vets' like me. Four years stateside, and the most serious combat I saw was being a medic at the hospital where the patients with a new horrendous disease were sent. Scary times, but, very short-lived, and I got no infection. So, why should people like me be getting special perks? Vets who spent a career, saw combat, or were wounded or acquired illness, yeah, I appreciate those people being thanked for their service with a discount. Our local Landlord Association had a president that was hot to get landlord discounts from every store in town. Especially the much -beloved old hardware store down on MLK. (Milwaukeeans know this store! Best in the city!) I had to sit on my hands to keep from jumping up and shouting at that dude to stop messing around trying to get discounts from the best store going!

recently the big box stores have woke up to customer good will versus lost revenue.

their liberal return and refund policies have been re evaluated by their bean counters and marketing peopleand they are cracking down.

shoplifting losses then returned for cash card credit and customer overpurchases to inventory out their job trucks or in over anticipation of job specs, only to then later be returned for refund are no longer being given the wink and a nod......and you can't blame them for that.

we've all done it. electrical ''stuff''.....plumbing fittings, bolts, screws, anything and everything.

the real cowboys are returning water heaters and car batteries, days before their full refund warranty expires.

customer claims failure,....store takes it back and replaces with new,...returns to vendor as defective for credit and the beat goes on.