Costco Says Its Return Policy Is 'One Of The Best' & Employees Revealed What Shoppers Return
Costco has boasted that it has "one of the best return policies" and you might be wondering what exactly you can bring back.
So, if you have a Costco membership, here's what you need to know about returns — including what Costco Canada employees told Narcity about the products shoppers return and how workers really feel about it.
With Costco's return policy in Canada, there is "a 100% satisfaction guarantee" on all products and only "a few exceptions."
You can return a product you're not completely satisfied with to any Costco warehouse in Canada, which the wholesale retailer said is "one of the best return policies in the industry."
You don't need a receipt to return a product and get a refund but it is preferred.
While there isn't a deadline for when you can return most products, electronics — like TVs, computers, tablets, smartwatches and cellphones — have to be returned within 90 days from the date of purchase for a refund.
If you made a purchase in-warehouse, the retailer isn't able to process a refund by phone or email so you have to go into a store.
You might think that even though the return policy has "few exceptions," you can't actually return just about anything to Costco.
But a viral TikTok — with millions of views since it was posted on January 23, 2024 — proves that the wholesale retailer is pretty relaxed when it comes to returns.
Jackie Nguyen, @xojacckss on TikTok, revealed how she returned a couch to a Costco warehouse in the U.S. after two and a half years without a receipt.
She noted that it's "very intimidating" taking a big purchase back to the warehouse to return it, especially with people staring.
The TikToker didn't have a receipt but knew the date that she had bought the couch and the employee was able to look it up in the system.
All the Costco employee did was ask if there was anything wrong with the couch or if she just didn't want or like it anymore.
"They gave us our refund, a full refund," Nguyen said.
@xojacckss Visit TikTok to discover videos!
Narcity spoke to Costco employees Beth* and Hannah* to find out what customers might not know about returns, including what employees think when members bring back items.
According to Hannah, Costco knows that shoppers need to make returns sometimes but stores do keep track of what's being brought back.
It becomes an issue if you're excessively returning items or when you're bringing back a huge amount, the employee said.
Beth and Hannah also revealed which Costco shoppers make work more difficult for employees, one of which is the serial returner.
According to both employees, the retailer's return policy is sometimes taken advantage of by customers who think there aren't any consequences.
"We get it, but we track you."
Ex-Costco employees told Narcity about the strangest experiences they had on the job which included bizarre returns shoppers have made at warehouses in Canada.
Someone returned an entire bedroom set with a mattress because they were moving.
Quite a few customers have returned rotisserie chicken but only the bones or small portions of the chicken.
Another shopper brought back half of a Costco cake and told an employee that nobody liked it. Someone even returned a frozen pizza that didn't have a full slice left because they "didn't like it."
*Names have been changed to maintain confidentiality. Narcity has verified their identity.
Entrance of the new Costco in Etobicoke.
