Costco Is Doing Something It Hasn’t Done in 15 Years. Will It Benefit You?

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Costco is currently planning to experiment with offering a new store type. Learn more here. [[{“value”:”

When you visit a Costco store, you pretty much know what to expect. You’ll see some seasonal items, electronics, and a whole bunch of grocery deals.

But Costco is about to break this mold and do something completely different. It’s a move the company hasn’t made in 15 years — and it could change the way you shop for certain products.

Here’s what’s happening.

Costco’s new store will be unlike any others from the last 15 years

Currently, Costco has an exciting plan to build a store that will be very different from its standard warehouse models. The new store is going to focus on two specific product types: Furniture and appliances.

While these products can currently be purchased online at Costco.com, most people simply don’t want to buy them without physically being able to touch or see them in person. It’s not always possible to offer much of a selection of these items in big Costco warehouses full of other stuff. So Costco is moving forward with building a dedicated storefront just for these products.

This isn’t the first time Costco has done this. It tried out the concept near its headquarters in Kirkland, Washington. However, that store closed its doors back in 2009. So, for the last 15 years, you haven’t been able to visit a Costco focused on these household items.

That’s changing, as Costco has indicated that, pending permits, it will open one of these stores in Anchorage, Alaska in a former Toys”R”Us location. There’s no official launch date for when this will happen, but Christine Lasley, a real estate development director for Costco, told the Anchorage Daily News that the plan is to have a place where you can “touch and feel it and kick the tires.”

Lasley also indicated there are plans for a similar showroom focused on furniture and appliances in Puerto Rico, and that these specialized shops are potentially going to become a more common complement to traditional Costco stores in the near future.

Will these new stores benefit you?

The Costco furniture and appliance warehouse is still in the development stage and, when it does roll out, it will be in a limited number of remote locations at the start. Still, if this showroom model is successful, Costco will likely expand into more markets and provide more shoppers with the chance to see appliances and furniture in person before buying.

While appliances and furniture can be purchased from Costco.com right now, many people are rightfully hesitant to spend a ton of money out of their bank account on an item they can’t test the comfort or function of. If members are able to physically see these items, more people will be able to benefit from the lower prices that Costco often offers on them.

In the meantime, though, you can rest assured Costco’s generous return policy protects you if you shop online and you happen to get stuck with a sofa or appliance you aren’t happy with. Just be aware that appliances can only be returned within 90 days, so the unlimited return policy you might be used to doesn’t apply here. So you’ll need to make up your mind sooner rather than later if the items you bought are right for you.

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The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.Christy Bieber has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Costco Wholesale. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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