Don’t Try to Return These 5 Items to Costco

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Costco offers one of the most liberal return policies in the retail industry. Read on to find out five items it’s not going to give a refund on, though. 

Have you ever returned home from a Costco run and wondered what in the world you were thinking? As you stand there looking at a giant stuffed kangaroo and a pile of new workout clothes you know you’ll never wear, you wonder if there’s something strange in the Costco air that pushes you to make ridiculous purchases.

Fortunately, Costco is known for its generous refund policy so you can return that silly kangaroo and put the money back in your bank account. However, even your friendly neighborhood Costco store has its limits. Here is the shockingly short list of purchases Costco will not refund.

1. Alcoholic beverages

It doesn’t matter if you bought too much tequila for a bachelorette party or decided halfway through a bottle of chianti that it just wasn’t doing it for you. Unless your state allows retailers to make refunds on alcohol, Costco won’t be able to help. So, if you plan on returning that six-pack of wine coolers you’re too embarrassed to drink in public, you should probably call your local store to learn whether a return is permissible.

2. Cigarettes

Ditto on cigarettes. If you’ve decided to break the habit, congratulations! However, Costco can only accept the return if your state allows for refunds on tobacco products.

3. Tires

Limited lifetime products like tires are sold with a specific limited warranty. If you hope to return a set of tires after taking a Thelma-and-Louise-type road trip (minus the whole cliff thing), it will only work if the warranty hasn’t expired. Otherwise, you’ll need to pull out your debit or Visa card and buy a whole new set of tires.

4. Batteries

Car batteries are the rascal of auto parts. After all, they know precisely when to die (or play dead). Have you ever noticed how it’s always at the most inconvenient time? Batteries don’t typically die in the middle of the day, a block from home. Nope. It’s late at night when you’re driving in a part of town you don’t know or trying to leave a crowded ball stadium. But like tires — their partners in crime — a dead battery won’t score you a refund at Costco unless it’s still under warranty.

5. Special order kiosk items

Remember that time you purchased a granite countertop from Costco, only to decide weeks later that what you really wanted was quartz? No? Whew! That’s good, because those customized orders aren’t refundable. If you’re buying custom flooring, garage doors, solar panels, gutters, a water treatment system, or any other customized home improvement, make sure it’s what you want before making the purchase.

You’ll have 90 days to return these Costco items

If you’ve ever taken part in the great Costco vs. Sam’s Club debate, here’s a point Costco will win every time: Overall, Costco gives you more time to return big-ticket items for a refund. Here are some of the Costco purchases you have 90 days to return:

Televisions. You have 90 days to return a television that’s not right for you. If your TV is having issues but you miss the cutoff, Costco has a tech support team to help you troubleshoot the problem.Projectors. If you’re putting a cozy theater room together in your home, you need a projector that provides just the right picture. If the model you buy falls short, Costco allows you to return it within 90 days of your purchase.Household appliances. Whether it’s a stove, washer and dryer, dishwasher, microwave, or refrigerator that’s not working out, you have 90 days to make the return.Computers. Let’s say you work from home and need a computer you can count on. After a month of trying to adjust, you finally admit that your new computer is not a good fit. Because Costco gives you 90 days to make that decision, you’re not stuck with a work tool that doesn’t work for you.Cellphones. Whether you can’t imagine life without a cellphone or wish they’d never been invented, you want a model that does everything you need it to do. If Costco is your first stop when it’s time to buy a new iPhone or Android, you know you can return it within 90 days if it’s a bit of a dud.Touchscreen tablets. If your tablet goes everywhere with you, you want it to perfectly meet your needs — whether it’s surfing the web or watching a movie on a long flight. If it fails to make the grade, you have 90 days to return it for a refund.Smartwatches. Some people can’t imagine going anywhere without counting their steps, checking their heart rate, or receiving notifications. And that’s where wearable devices come in. However, should you purchase a smartwatch and it disappoints in some way, you can return it to your nearest Costco store.

Jewelry

According to Costco, there’s no limit on the time you have to return jewelry purchased in one of its warehouse stores. They call it their “Risk-Free 100% Satisfaction Guarantee.” Whether you’re returning earrings or a bracelet, you can request a full refund or exchange it for something else.

There is one interesting exception, though.

Imagine you purchase an engagement ring, pop the question, and your intended says, “Well, I would, but I don’t want to.” That’s the bad news. The good news is that you can return the ring for a refund.

However, if you bought a diamond ring that’s 1.0 carat or larger, you’ll need to bring all the original paperwork with you, including the receipt and IGI or GIA certificates. A Costco gemologist will inspect the diamond for authenticity, and if everything looks good, you’ll be issued a refund.

All in all, Costco makes it as easy as possible to receive a refund whenever possible. Given the retailer’s sheer volume of sales, it’s impressive that only five products do not make the cut.

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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.Dana George has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Costco Wholesale and Visa. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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