A customer at Costco's electronics department faced consequences for repeatedly returning televisions. The shopper kept exchanging TVs for one he liked, but the store eventually intervened.
Costco's Rare Reprimand for Returns
It's uncommon for Costco shoppers to face consequences when returning items, as the wholesale giant usually offers swift refunds. However, a recent incident highlights the exception to this rule.
The U.S. Sun previously reported on some unusual returns at Costco, including a single diamond earring, an old couch, and partially eaten food. Despite these oddities, Costco's return policy typically allows members to get their money back for most items they aren't satisfied with.
Costco's policy promises satisfaction with every purchase, with refunds available for nearly all products. However, there are a few exceptions.
Recently, a customer's repeated returns of televisions fell into these exceptions. According to a Reddit user on the r/costco subreddit, her husband continuously bought and returned TVs in search of the perfect one. Eventually, Costco intervened, banning him from returning electronics for six months.
This incident highlights Costco's 90-day return limit on electronics, which has existed since 2007. While Costco's policy generally accommodates returns, certain items like alcohol and cigarettes cannot be returned due to legal restrictions, though some customers have attempted to return empty wine bottles.
Costco has had its share of customers taking advantage of return policies, and the company addresses these situations individually.
Some employees have shed light on how Costco decides on returns.
"At my store, we monitor the ratio of returns to purchases. If you're returning over half of what you buy, we may halt returns," one employee explained.
They added that decisions can also be influenced by the department involved and the approval of the on-duty manager.
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The employee revealed that Costco can restrict memberships across all locations to ensure consistency in handling returns.
In one case from 2018, a former Costco member canceled her membership after attempting to return a printer she had purchased eight years earlier.
However, despite such measures, some customers return items like used mattresses purchased years ago.
Costco's Vintage TV Return Sparks Controversy
A recent viral photo, initially reported by the Daily Mail, has reignited discussions about Costco's renowned return policy.
The picture captures an old Samsung television, dating back to the early 2000s, being returned at a Costco store in Pennsylvania, displayed on one of the store's signature orange flat carts.
In January, Costco's return policy gained attention after a video surfaced of a woman returning a couch she had owned for over two years without a receipt. During that time, customers and employees affirmed the retailer's lenient policy, allowing returns on most items regardless of time.
However, the return of a TV over two decades old has surprised even devoted Costco enthusiasts. One Reddit user commented on the viral post, astonished: "This is WILD. 22 years later, who just decides to roll in and return a TV?"
The original poster mentioned that after two decades, they felt the TV didn't fit their space anymore.
The user who shared the viral photo on the r/Costco subreddit told DailyMail.com they couldn't confirm if a refund were given but heard store staff hinting that the TV might have been bought in 2002. The TV model, a rear projection Samsung HCL552W, was likely available in the US market in 2002.
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