They say that ‘membership has it’s benefits and that’s definitely the case with Costco, where your satisfaction is guaranteed with an ironclad return policy. So, what is the Costco food return policy, and what’s covered?
Costco provides a 100% satisfaction guarantee on food, electronics, and more, and even if that food has been opened, they will usually let you return it for a full refund. Keep in mind that interpretation of this policy may vary from store to store and ‘serial returners’ may have a different experience, but for the most part, Costco will simply honor their guarantee and refund your money.
In today’s article, we’ll take a closer look at the Costco food return policy so that you can get a better idea of how it works, what to do with online purchases, and more. If you’re ready, then read on and we’re going to tell you all about it!
First things first – What’s not covered and why
Sometimes the best way to define something is by contrast, so let’s start this ball rolling by telling you the exceptions to Costco’s return policy.
Certain items are definitely not covered, and we’ll give you an overview of the basics, plus the reasoning behind these policy choices. We’ll list them below, including non-food items since the list is small, and then tell you a little about each in the sections to follow:
- Alcohol and tobacco
- Limited lifetime products
- Special orders
- Diamonds
Alcohol and tobacco
While both of these certainly fall into the category of ‘consumables’, state and federal laws actually prohibit the return of these items, as there is a possibility of substitution or deliberate tampering. As such, alcohol and tobacco may definitely not be returned to Costco.
Limited lifetime products
Items that are temporary by nature, such as tires for your car or batteries aren’t covered under the Costco return policy, because they already come with limited warranties of their own that allow replacement in certain scenarios.
In those cases, you MIGHT get a refund, but it will be under the terms of the item’s limited warranty, rather than Costco’s broader return policy.
Special orders
When you have an item specially crafted or made, such as jewelry or perhaps even a birthday cake at the bakery, then these sorts of special orders are typically not going to be refunded unless something is genuinely wrong with them.
Even in such cases, you’re generally entitled to have it fixed or replaced, rather than refunded.
Diamonds
Yup, you read that right – Costco diamonds may or may not be refunded, as things get a little complicated Anything over 1 carat is going to require paperwork, not to mention that it will be inspected to find the micro-engraved identification as well as to verify the clarity and condition.
Returning food to Costco and their 100% Satisfaction Guarantee
Now that we’ve established what is NOT covered, let’s talk about what is. Costco has an extremely liberal return policy and it’s definitely one of the perks of being a member. If you bring in a food item that you purchased at Costco, whether it has been opened or not, then you should be able to get a refund.
In some cases, maybe not – it will depend a lot on the store and how much they see you returning. ‘Serial returners’ can be a problem and so it’s more of a ‘case by case’ thing.
For instance, let’s say that there’s a married couple and the wife is doing the shopping, and when she’s away the husband brings in items in order to ask for a cash refund.
This will likely be fine the first few times, but there’s no guarantee that Costco will continue to honor a return policy in this case, or they might honor it ‘one more time’ and advise the husband to shop with his wife in the future.
For the most part, however, Costco wants their customers to be 100% happy with their purchases and so you can bring in any opened or unopened foot item, even produce, and leave with the money that you paid for it.
What if I purchased food online from Costco?
So, you purchased your items online? Well, then we’ve got good news for you. Returning items that you have purchased online may be done at your local Costco warehouse.
All that you have to do is choose the one closest to you – ANY Costco warehouse is fine – and you can bring the item or items in directly to get a full refund.
If you don’t have time, you can also simply file it online directly through Costco and follow the steps that they provide.
If you would prefer to go the online route, then simply use this handy link to Costco and you’ll be well on your way to that refund.
How do I return items I physically purchased to Costco?
Returning items that you purchased directly at your local Costco is a piece of cake. Simply gather up the items and then head to your local – or any – Costco and go to the return counter and explain that you would like to return some items.
The Costco returns teller will ask you for your membership card and might ask a few questions about why you are returning the items, or they might simply peek in the bag and approve it right away.
As we said in the beginning, membership definitely has its privileges, and Costco values customers like you and they want to make sure that you leave the store happy. It’s kind of a rare thing, these days, but that’s how Costco keeps and grows it’s customer base year after year!
Will I need my receipt to return the items?
Nope, you will usually not need to bring your receipt to Costco to make your returns, as it all comes back to your membership card. Since Costco is a members-only establishment, rather than relying on the receipt, the employee should be able to simply scan the card and get an instant inventory of your purchases and how much you paid for them.
If you are making a return for a guest, it’s the same thing, as they would have had to make the purchase through YOUR membership, so the information that Costco needs to process the refund is going to be tied to that magnetic strip on your card that identifies you as a Costco member.
This makes refunds quick and easy, so if you’re not happy with an impulse buy or you’re trying something new and really don’t like it, then you might just be able to get a refund – if you don’t make a regular, weekly habit of it, of course! Just use your best common sense and don’t abuse the policy, otherwise, we might ALL be in trouble!
Some final words
In today’s article, we’ve talked about the Costco Food Return Policy and it’s easy to see why Costco is so popular. With their 100% satisfaction guarantee, you can return fresh fruits or veggies and any other kind of unopened or opened foods and the odds are, you’ll be fully refunded in a jiffy.
Just keep in mind that some things aren’t covered — alcohol and tobacco, for instance – and in some cases it will depend on the store staff.
That said, it’s more likely than not that as a Costco member, they’re going to honor their guarantee with a hearty ‘the customer is always right’ and you’ll leave very satisfied that you got that membership in the first place.
Say what you will about Costco, but they definitely know how to keep your business!