Costco’s Return Policy Has One Big Catch, A Former Member Reveals

From unique deals to the art of buying products you need in bulk, there are countless reasons why many of us love shopping at Costco. Members are able to try tasty free samples and benefit from sales on numerous items from food to to electronics to toys to jewelry. While Costco shoppers can keep their memberships for years, there is one habit that can lead the chain to quickly revoke one’s membership, as Insider reports.

How Too Many Returns Can Lead To Revoked Membership

Anyone who has returned an item at Costco knows that the process is fairly simple, with or without a receipt. If a customer brings a receipt for the item they are returning, the process is much faster, but it is still possible to return something (in good/ unused condition) without one, as cashiers can find the receipt in question by locating the list of transactions under your account. As The Cold Wire writes, your membership card “not only gets you into the warehouse, but it also connects all of your purchases to your account.”

With that said, Costco employees can also see how many returns one has made throughout the duration of their membership. According to Insider, a former customer named Maryam Nicksolat (who held a membership with the store from 2006 until 2018) discovered that her membership was canceled after she attempted to return a printer. As stated by Nicksolat, problems arose when she tried returning a printer purchased in 2010 (eight years later).

After visiting her local Costco location, Nicksolat told the outlet that a manager noted that she made "too many returns" and that they wouldn't take the printer. After calling Costco's customer service, Nicksolat was informed that her Costco membership was being canceled.

Costco's Official Return Policy

On Costco's website, the wholesale retailer explains that it "guarantees customer satisfaction on every product" it sells, and that employees "will refund your purchase price" with a few exceptions. The first relates to electronics, and Costco notes that returns within 90 days are accepted from the date the member received the merchandise for "televisions, projectors, major appliances, computers, touchscreen tablets, smart watches, cameras, aerial cameras (drones), camcorders, MP3 players and cellular phones (while return details will vary by carrier service contract)."

Another notable exception relates to diamonds, specifically 1.00ct or larger. "Members returning a diamond over 1.00ct must also present all original paperwork (IGI and/or GIA certificates) at which time they will receive a Jewelry Credit Memo," the retailer states. Within 48 hours, Costco says that its "Graduate Gemologist will inspect for authenticity." The company also informs customers that cigarettes and alcohol cannot be returned, and products with a "limited useful life expectancy," such as tires and batteries, may be "sold with a product-specific limited warranty."

To return an item (and not lose your membership), you need to bring the product to the returns counter at your local store if you purchased it at a Costco warehouse, or initiate a return on its website if an item was bought there. Costco notes, "accepted payment methods differ online and in the warehouse," and more information can be found either on its website or at your local Costco location's counter. (Just don't return too many!)