Costco and their generous return policy
 

I see lots of things getting returned to Costco. Usually, large tvs and folding tables right after Superbowl, and tents, tables and chairs after graduation season. However, last night, someone was returning an inflatable boat. Other people in line were just looking at it and it was pretty trashed. It looked like it had a few hard years on her. I was walking out the door, so I do not know the outcome. IMHO, returning a boat you have used hard, for a long time is ridiculous.

It looked like this.

https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon....AC_SL1500_.jpg

Maybe it was defective? I agree though, people will definitely abuse a generous return policy.

Costco is not eating the returns, the vendor's who get to sell their stuff at Costco need to take it back as part of their contract. Still, vendors will kill themselves to get to sell at Costco, because it is such a large retailer.

Generally, they will have a look at your history before taking returns, if you are a high roller and/or your rate of returns is low, they are very generous in what they take back. Like most anywhere in our society, it is the honor system and some people abuse such.

Personally, I like to shop at Costco for this reason. I sometimes bring stuff back that is a couple years old, if it has seen little use and fails on me. There are never any questions asked. And I do feel it is fair.

G

My dumb ass BIL worked at Macy's for a bit when he came over from Canada. He told people would go to their car, take out the Thermos and come right back with an empty box claiming there was nothing in it and demand their money back. The store manager would give in due to whatever dumb excuse or law they have to stick to. Yep, dishonest people suck. I think we should have law like they have in some foreign countries, you buy it, its yours. Pound sand if that makes your day.

Do they have such policy in the UK Germany or Japan? Now, I am curious.

Not in Germany. Very strict return policies there. NFW will you bring anything back a year + later. But the honor system isn't working well in some areas of German society. Let's just say their rate of abuse would not be manageable with a generous return policy.

Let me see, that population isn't PC to talk about?

My sister is the queen of returning siht. Me, never. Can't stand the return lines unless its really broken or cost thousands. I normally just ask for another. My wife is pretty good too. She tells me people return half rack of ribs at costo after they have eaten the other half. I shake my head in disbelieve. Sad.

I watch Paolo in Tokyo on YouTube and he has mentioned that in Japan returns are very uncommon. The major retailers yes, but most stores give people plenty of time to try things on, etc because once you bought it, it's yours.

No, it is pretty widespread across the country. Many people will cheat on petty stuff. Tax evasion too. It is almost a national sport. For example telling the lady at the buffet your 6 foot 15 YO kid is really 12 and needs the child pricing. Don't even blush. :rolleyes:

I heard someone complain that they were in line at a Costco, and some other customer in front of them was successfully returning a Christmas tree...in January.

Well, I tell pretty girls that I am only 27 daily and don't even blush and its all true.

My oldest son worked at Costco for years. His last role was managing the returns area. Yes, there are some crazy stories. They do track people pretty closely so the serial abusers are flagged and dealt with. No, you can't return partially eaten food normally. Some people have no shame. Nordstroms and REI are both PNW headquartered companies that were famous for their generous return policies for years. They cut back on those a few years ago. Too many people returning 20 year old NorthFace jackets that were clearly well used. If you try and do something nice for folks, someone will always find a way to ruin it.

people who abuse return policies are even worse than people who dont return shopping carts.

Generous return policies are not some charitable thing that businesses do for the benefit of their customers. It is a strategic decision; that people will buy more knowing that they can return it and most will not. And they will. Once upon a time, maybe 25 years ago, I bought most of my clothes at The Gap. They would take absolutely anything back in return with no questions asked and I bought more stuff with the idea that I could return it if I changed my mind.

I've never shopped at a Costco, I joined last year because I had to in order to return/exchange a car battery, (actually two), and haven't made my maiden voyage into the place yet. It looks like a level of hell that I haven't experienced yet and do not want to...I don't need to stock up for picnic for 300 people and the lines and general crush of humanity is not my cup of tea. Some day I will check it out, now that the pandemic is basically over here. Probably catch TB in the place, lol. :)

I returned a dock ladder after 2 years.
After the 1st year all the stainless bolts were rusting. I called the manufacturer and and they basically said I was bull#hitting them, but will send me new bolts.
The 2nd set of bolts rusted too so I just returned it.
At least I scraped off all the zebra mussels before taking it back to the store.
It wasn't cheap.

We returned a gas grill to Costco, after about a year, heavily used. New model had stainless grates, and ours were rusting. Tried to get update from manufacturer, no help. Costco actually told us to bring it back and buy the new one.

Also returned a laptop, screen went black and mfg(sony) had a charge for warranty repair.

I forgot to mention that Amazon has had an extremely generous return policy but may be tightening it up. They are about as far from a charitable organization as you can get.

I do not return shopping carts and people are usually surprised by my reason: Gathering carts is somebody's job. They get paid. I put the cart in the cart corral and leave it there. I do this to support the guy who has that job.

Denis, our Costco stores are clean. Check-out is remarkably fast. They carry only good quality products. These are the features of their business model which have caused their success. I buy everything I can from Costco. I can rely on the quality, and the quantities work for me also. I am not a recreational shopper. I want to minimize my time doing that. I buy toilet paper perhaps once per year and that is because I live with a female. On my own, I'd probably buy TP once every three years. About $30. That's $10/year. And I don't have to think about it for another three years. Their meat section is very good, as is their bakery.

I almost never return anything. Ever. My time and peace of mind are more valuable to me than money. To a degree.

I put the carts in the cart corrals as well.

What people mean is the jackasses that just leave them in random parking spaces.

My company sells to Costco. As part of the pricing agreement, we give Costco a 1.4% discount on all sales which is called a spoilage allowance. This is to cover returns for any reason. If actual returns exceed the 1.4%, Costco charges us. If returns are less than 1.4%, Costco keeps the change.