Costco’s return policy is known for its generosity, but some shoppers have taken advantage of it to return items that they have used or damaged. One Costco shopper witnessed a customer return an entire box of frozen fish after they forgot to store it properly. Another shopper reported seeing someone return a half-eaten apple pie. In a more extreme case, a shopper was able to return a gas pressure washer that they had kept in the garage for six years, despite never opening it.
While Costco’s policy is generally to accept returns without question, there are limits. One employee shared a story about denying a return on rotten salmon that a customer had left in their trunk for months. The salmon was green and black and smelled terrible, and the employee refused to accept the return despite the customer’s angry reaction.
Costco reserves the right to revoke memberships of customers who abuse the return policy. One employee warned that customers who return 60% to 70% of all purchases will be flagged and may be booted from the club. Another Costco member faced judgmental stares after returning an “odd” item from 2017.
Despite these occasional instances of abuse, Costco’s generous return policy remains a valuable perk for its members. However, it is important to use the policy responsibly and avoid returning items that have been used or damaged.
