Costco members warned that “generous” return policy has its limits as employees reveal a point that puts membership in danger

COSTCO customers who take advantage of the company’s generous return policies may soon find themselves without a subscription.

The wholesale giant has one of the best return policies among retailers in America, allowing most products to be returned at almost any time after purchase.

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However, some special items may have different conditions, such as Airpods or other electronics, which must be returned in less than 90 days.

But Costco believes this privilege is a two-way street.

If customers abuse its return policies, such as making frequent returns or constantly returning things that have clearly been used and no longer wanted, the chain cancels that membership.

Costco states on its website that it reserves the right to refuse membership to any applicant and may terminate any membership at any time, with or without cause.

But the most common reason Costco cancels someone’s membership is abuse of Costco’s return policy, according to a report by The Motley Fool, a privately held financial and investment advisory firm that provides guidance, research and analysis.

In fact, returns abuse is responsible for more canceled subscriptions than due to theft, fraudulent shoplifting, and even aggressive or impolite behavior in the store.

And many inattentive customers who just want to make a return may find themselves unsubscribed if they continue to return items frequently.

A former Costco member, Maryam Nicksolat, had her membership revoked in 2018 after trying to return a printer she returned eight years earlier.

Nicksolat, who has been a member since 2006, said he originally picked up the printer in 2010 but had problems with it and forgot to return it, Business Insider reported.

Since Costco has no time limit on its return policy for most items]and she didn’t see the printer listed as one of the electronics with a 90-day return limit, she decided to try to return it.

But when she arrived at her local Costco in Fairfax, Virginia, she was told she couldn’t return the printer.

A manager then appeared with a list in hand, informing Nicksolat that her return could not be processed because she had made too many returns before this.

Nicksolat decided to try calling customer service, where he spoke with Costco’s senior vice president of Northeast operations, Jeff Long.

He then told her that Costco would be ending her 12-year membership and that he would send a letter.

Nicksolat then received that letter, which formally informed her that she was no longer a Costco member and had no appeal.

However, she would be reimbursed for the annual cost for the year, the printer, and the ink she purchased.

“It is evident from a review of your membership account that you are not satisfied with the products you purchased from Costco,” Long wrote in the letter.

“We were unable to satisfy him as a member”, he concluded.

Some Costco locations, such as those in New York and Texas, have admitted that they monitor each customer’s returns and control the frequency, in addition to flagging those who frequently return expensive items.

Costco employees also think the chain’s lenient return policy has led to some bad situations across the board.

“A woman came in and returned two dirty toilets that she had purchased online over five years ago,” said a Costco employee three years ago. Business Insider.

Costco Return Policy

What are the details of the famous return policy?

“We guarantee your satisfaction with every product we sell and will refund the purchase price,” said the return policy States.

There are some exceptions to this 100% satisfaction guarantee, which are:

• Electronics – Returns will be accepted within 90 days from the date the member received the product.
• Diamonds – 1.00 ct or larger must be returned with all original documentation within 48 hours and will be inspected for authenticity.
• Cigarettes and alcoholic beverages – These items cannot be returned by law.
• Items with a limited shelf life, such as batteries and tires, cannot be returned.
• Special order kiosk and custom installed programs may only be returned or refunded if under warranty repair/replacement.
• Gold bars, silver bars and coins are non-refundable.
• Store Cards are non-refundable.
• Airline and live performance event items are non-refundable.

Costco memberships can be canceled and refunded at any time if the customer is dissatisfied.