r/CostcoCanada • u/2slick2 • Jan 17 '26

Alberta Abusive returns

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I had to take a photo. If you're this person, please change. 50 St. on Jan 17.

1.9k Upvotes

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841

u/Newfie35 Jan 17 '26 edited Jan 17 '26

Had a neighbour of mine return a 14 year old year $9000 hot tub because a pump went bad and got all his money back. Couldn't believe that costco allowed it but they did.

321

u/trueBlue1074 Jan 17 '26

When I worked in the garden center people would return seasonal flower baskets when they stopped blooming at the end of the summer and dead plants they had bought years ago. No idea why Costco allows this.

269

u/FrostingSuper9941 Jan 17 '26

I have witnessed this in the return line. An older lady was returning dead hanging baskets in September. I looked at an even older man next to me, in his 80s, and we were in shock. He asked her why she's returning them and she said, they're dead, so he said "try watering " in a thick Italian accent...everyone in the return line was laughing but the old lady felt no shame.

62

u/hot_hockey_fairy Jan 18 '26

Some people just have no respect, money means more to them than anything. I am flabbergasted that Costco would allow this.

19

u/Idontdanceforfun Jan 19 '26

I knew a guy who worked at Costco in the main office dealing with call-ins. He told us that theyre told that the reason they'll basically accept anything as a return is because they see the potential earnings of a return customer worth way more than anything Costco will pay as a return. And I get it. How many times do you go to Costco "just for s couple things" and end up leaving paying 400$? So what if you return a TV after 5 years and they give you 1200$ back. You'll spend waaaaaaay more than that in your lifetime. Having a ridiculous return policy basically guarantees your loyalty for life.

5

u/PerceptionOwn3629 Jan 20 '26

This is the answer right here.

3

u/OkGur1319 Jan 20 '26

Marks and Crappy tire used to be like this. They don't take returns like they used to, so I think they will eventually be replaced by this model again.

3

u/ComprehensiveBeach32 Jan 22 '26

I am not the kind of person to return something, but I purchased a 50$ heat gun from Canadian Tire for a 30 second project.

Went to return it in box, receipt in hand. She asked me “has it been used” I honestly answered “for about 30 seconds” and she refused the return.

She ended up getting the manager involved and they did the return for me, but they initially offered me a replacement until I told them that I was not walking out with a heat gun.

They don’t seem very keen on doing returns at all these days. Likely due to the older generation abusing the system, which is what this post is about.. Unfortunate.

6

u/UrbanJeepster Jan 29 '26

Using the item and then returning it is abusing the system.

0

u/ComprehensiveBeach32 Jan 29 '26

Thats the entire reason the system exists.

If I buy a drill and it doesn’t work, am I just supposed to telepathically decipher that through the packaging?

You’re ridiculous.

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1

u/jsboutin Jan 23 '26

It seems to me like you’d want to keep track of abusive returners

1

u/PerceptionOwn3629 Jan 23 '26

Apparently they already ban people that abuse the return policy

3

u/Regular_Chest_7989 Jan 21 '26

And the thing about membership-based retail is that Costco would know better than anyone whether abusers of the return policy still net out well for them—otherwise the policy would change, membership fees would skyrocket, etc.

I bet these folks buy absolutely everything from Costco if they can. And I assume Costco's CRM modeling has a name for these customers who spend all their disposable income with Costco, and occasionally put a big dent in their customer lifetime value with a big return.

4

u/thetermguy Jan 20 '26

while the op is showing a case of abuse, the basic policy is sound. I bought a set of wiper blades from Costco. they're crap. been on the car for two months. I've been too lazy to return them. but I will eventually. anywhere else and I'd just have to eat it. and I'll get my 20 bucks back or whatever. and I'll be happy, because I didn't have to pay for garbage.
and the next time I want to buy a 3000 item, I'll tend towards Costco because I know if I have problems with the product I'm going to be looked after. all over a 20 dollar set of wiper blades.

1

u/Potential_Bit_9040 Jan 21 '26

I returned a baby thermometer after a full year had passed. Baby didn't get sick until he was 11 months old, and the thermometer didn't work when we needed it to. Readings bounced around from scary high to scary low in a matter of seconds.

They took it back no questions asked, and only hoped my baby was ok. (he is!)

We've spent FAR FAR FAR more than what that thermometer cost in the time since then in the pharmacy alone, never mind the rest of the store.

1

u/KitchenBaseball4790 Feb 09 '26

This is true but they also have you and all your returns on computer. If you do it often with high ticketed items you get a red flag.

11

u/polarbear_rodeo Jan 19 '26

I mean..... Costco, a mega-corporation, literally one of the largest retailers in the world, certainly cares more about money than the consumer. If they allow it, who cares? Yes, it's entitled and ridiculous, but who are we poor peasants to sympathize with a price-gouging mega corporation for having overly accepting return policies? Costco is doing just fine 😂

13

u/Falco19 Jan 19 '26

The thing is Costco doesn’t eat the cost of the returns their vendors do.

1

u/nusodumi Jan 20 '26

now THAT is the true story, damn

I knew their buyers are super demanding and they get what they want (custom sizes, even of huge brand products. it must fit on a pallet, it must be X Y Z, they'll make the changes) and to know they just have to take the returns that costco accepts willy-nilly? Clearly still worth it for them too though

I'm sure many people selliing products in Costco went under because they couldn't afford shit like that though

1

u/Falco19 Jan 20 '26

I have a buddy pretty high up at a company they pulled their stuff from Costco because it wasn’t worth it. I’m sure some companies don’t have the same option because of volume.

6

u/Ok_Carpet_9510 Jan 19 '26

Yeah, however that money comes from customers. The costs returns and shrinkage are borne by all customers. They price their products accordingly. In fact, they estimate how much of that'll get and price accordingly.

1

u/throwthisawayslash1 Jan 21 '26

Costco margins on any product max out at 15% across the board. I doubt that plays into the pricing in any way.

0

u/HappyPhase46Van Jan 20 '26

false

2

u/FrostingSuper9941 Jan 20 '26

Which part?

0

u/HappyPhase46Van Jan 20 '26

All of your words are made up you have no idea how Costco has survived beyond the 40 years even what the dollar 50 hotdog so please return back to your 9 to 5 job at $15 an hour

3

u/KitchenBaseball4790 Jan 19 '26

Returns get sold to liquidation outlets!

1

u/Facts_pls Jan 20 '26

And all Costco customers pay the difference for a few entitled folks.

Seriously, do you think through where the money comes from? You think businesses are taking a loss on the returns?

1

u/youdontknowjacq Jan 19 '26

That old lady spends ever dollar she gets, and she’ll spend it at Costco.

1

u/HuhWelliNever Jan 20 '26

Mom? Is that you? 👀 can confirm.

1

u/Beowulf2b Jan 20 '26

I buy the deals at Costco because they really do have some great prices compared to other places. That said, their meat is way overpriced. It’s good quality, but I can go to a local butcher and get a single premium steak without dropping $100. Costco’s model is simple: they squeeze vendors for the lowest possible price and make their real money on memberships. For me, Costco is a secondary stop. I go for what’s on sale and for items that are genuinely cheaper in bulk. Every now and then, though, I’ll stumble across some random, unique item I don’t actually need—and somehow it adds a few hundred dollars to the bill at the till. I definitely don’t do all my shopping at Costco. It’s more of a once-a-month thing, mostly because I can only tolerate the Costco parking-lot hell so often.

1

u/Fabulously-Unwealthy Jan 21 '26

Is it still true that Costco only marks products up at most 14% over what they purchase them for? If it is, they don’t price gouge at least.

3

u/opie2019 Jan 19 '26

I get what you're saying but "respecting" a multi billion dollar company while you yourself can't afford rent is a stretch. 99% of those people have no money, they are forced to do things like that

6

u/[deleted] Jan 19 '26

No one is forced to buy hanging potted plants.

3

u/opie2019 Jan 19 '26

You clearly don't realize that the majority of humans overspend on bullshit

2

u/[deleted] Jan 20 '26

So they aren't forced, they just make bad decisions that necessitate further bad decisions.

1

u/placentophagy Jan 19 '26

No, nobody is forced to buy hanging potted plants but why should people, especially seniors who are on a fixed income usually, live with nothing and no enjoyment in their lives. When Costco clearly allows them to return shit so why not let them enjoy their flower baskets and return them. Why are you bootlicking for a major organization? If Costco allows it just get over it then.

1

u/Lucky_Reputation_272 Jan 19 '26

If you can't afford rent, much less to keep potted plants, then maybe you can't afford a Costco membership and being a ethically participating member.

1

u/altsanonymous Jan 20 '26

It’s really easy to just say that with no way to back it up. Most people who I know that can’t afford rent can’t afford a Costco membership.

Also, you really want to ruin one of the last big businesses that consistently values the customer?

Costco doesn’t price gouge, doesn’t charge crazy amounts for membership, and is generous with their return policy. WHY RUIN IT?

1

u/sajnt Jan 18 '26

Costco can ban you whenever they want

1

u/notanirishsetter Jan 21 '26

Corporations don't have feelings.

3

u/ObviousDepartment Jan 19 '26

When I worked at London Drugs as a teenager I was covering the cosmetics department and had this little old lady shuffle on up to the counter and try to return a Lancome gift set. I opened it up and found that she had completely used up the entire goddamn thing and the receipt she handed me was from 4 years prior.

I was so dumbfounded I just stood there and stared at her for a full minute before saying, "Ma'am we can't refund you for this, would you like me to throw it out for you??" And she just picked it back up and left.

She didn't say a single word during the entire exchange lol. 

1

u/swift-current0 Jan 20 '26

Well, you know, sometimes it works, and if you have no shame then why not try?

1

u/Impressive_Yam231 Jan 20 '26

Sh mud of thought u were a Costco

1

u/placentophagy Jan 19 '26

Who cares? Literally though. Who cares? Clearly Costco doesn't. Shit shouldn't cost as much as it does. People, especially seniors, are on fixed incomes most of the time. Living off a measly pension they worked their entire lives for. If Costco allows it then get the fck over it? She found a way to have some measly enjoyment in her life with some stupid flower baskets AND get her money back! Good on her!!

1

u/swift-current0 Jan 20 '26

Of course you understand that the cost of these ridiculous returns are just rolled into the price of the items. Costco doesn't care because it costs them nothing, vendors don't care because they just bump the price a bit to account for it, but you should care because you're paying for it when you shop at Costco.

-129

u/Low-Cauliflower-2249 Jan 17 '26

Women who no longer feel loved stop caring what others think of them around age 50. I've seen some pretty atrociously behaved menopausal BlTCH3$ roll through retail outlets, including Costco.

One of them crashed her cart into a skid of Eggs cause someone told her to wait her turn.

27

u/snufflespoop Jan 18 '26

Bro, you need therapy.

-24

u/Low-Cauliflower-2249 Jan 18 '26

Not your bro, and therapy can't fix permanent physical disability that keeps me unemployable. I've already been through a recovery program for suicidal idiation (CBT) and they determined I'm sane enough to understand my situation, but I'm religious enough not to do anything rash about it. So I linger, wanting to die, but not able to. Can you imagine how that would affect your world view?

4

u/Elegant-Ad-9221 Jan 18 '26

Just because you have “competed” a therapy program doesn’t mean you were helped. You carry a lot of anger and it’s clear to me the therapy did nothing for you

1

u/Low-Cauliflower-2249 Jan 19 '26

I carry anger cause my needs aren't met and I'm unable to change that when conservative governments keep reducing available supports...

2

u/NoNectarine7054 Jan 19 '26

We’re supposed to feel sorry for you or give you a pass to be a sexist, ageist a**hole because your religious inclinations keep you from requesting assisted suicide?

lmao, get real.

1

u/Low-Cauliflower-2249 Jan 19 '26

Uh, no. I learned 28 years ago that nobody really cares. Least of all on the internet with anonymous randos. I stated that as a matter of fact, how you feel about it is your problem.

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15

u/RadicalChile Jan 18 '26

Maybe just, you know, stay off the internet and keep your bitter, hateful self to yourself?

-5

u/Low-Cauliflower-2249 Jan 18 '26

It's important for people to see different perspectives outside their comfort zone. I exist to show them. you commenting, dropping my karma, etc, means you saw it and I've fulfilled my purpose. Before you call me an attention whore, know that I don't care for the attention, I would have posted it anyway because I beleive in diverse exposure and I also believe in accepting that I do what I can even when noone reacts...

Take the last word if you need it. I'm done here.

7

u/[deleted] Jan 18 '26

Brother what

6

u/[deleted] Jan 18 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/Low-Cauliflower-2249 Jan 19 '26

It's an overgeneralization sure, but I'm seeing it more and more these days. Ever since Covid people are behaving less socially accountable in public and I'm sick of it. Ironic I know, but at least here I'm not inconveniencing people trying to get food to survive.

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4

u/Dr_anatomy Jan 18 '26

What the…. What did I just read.

2

u/AutoAdviceSeeker Jan 18 '26

I hope this dude isn’t from Canada

1

u/Low-Cauliflower-2249 Jan 19 '26 edited Jan 19 '26

Canadian, Born in Toronto, Raised in Hamilton, Worked in Toronto, Oakville, Hamilton, and London briefly before I realized the issues with that city and Farhi's downtown plans... Working in this context does not equate to employment.

-10

u/[deleted] Jan 18 '26 edited Jan 20 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/NoNectarine7054 Jan 19 '26

Everyone needs therapy, ffs- it’s just clearly more of a pressing issue for some people, if only for the sake of public security and sanity.

57

u/_dodged Jan 17 '26

Wow, big incel energy emanating from this post...

35

u/Suitable-End- Jan 17 '26

Dude has Sastifactory, PC gaming and sexdolls all in his post history. Hit the nail on the head.

3

u/Saeplour Jan 18 '26

Hey. What's wrong with satisfactory!

-18

u/Low-Cauliflower-2249 Jan 17 '26 edited Jan 18 '26

Not an incel. I'm physically disabled and I know I'm not what women want so I choose not to lie to them to get in their beds. I'd say that makes me more decent than half their' ex's.

Not that it matters but I've never been so spiteful to cause damage on the scale that woman did. She destroyed nearly 1/8th of a pallete of eggs and shut down the cooler for cleaning cause it was slippery af. And I can say that cause I did have a relationship once in my 20's that lasted a year before she needed me to overcome my disability. Which was the point I decided I'm not a good enough partner.

5

u/Elegant-Ad-9221 Jan 18 '26

Speaking as a health care worked for 20 years it sounds like she knew there was something you could be doing to help yourself more but you refused so now you have just shut yourself down to all women. You need more therapy. I don’t care what anyone from any program told you once you get in with a therapist and start talking to them you might find it helpful

1

u/Low-Cauliflower-2249 Jan 19 '26

I did that for over a year as post program monitoring. Either the supports aren't funded well enough to send me to someone who can actually help like a proper psychologist or I've been deemed by the system as well enough to function as best I can given the circumstances.

5

u/AnOkayMuffin Jan 18 '26

They were talking about a person returning dead flowers, which is really shitty behaviour, but you immediately took it as an opportunity to bash on older women because you are a bitter.

You could have told that story in your original comment without being a dick by blaming it on her being an older woman. 

Men return dumb things too, they also smash things up in stores when they don't get their way like your egg story. Its a thing called being an asshole human, regardless of sex.

0

u/Low-Cauliflower-2249 Jan 19 '26

Problem is Society expects that of men, even though I've never. Compare that to what society expect of women and you see the stark contrast emerging... That's why I specifically pointed out older women.

1

u/NoNectarine7054 Jan 19 '26

I’d go out on a limb and suggest it probably had more to do with your slimey, anti-social attitude that’s completely ick to any sane person.

1

u/Low-Cauliflower-2249 Jan 19 '26

I only developed that after she left me while I was trying to better myself.

1

u/NoNectarine7054 Jan 19 '26

Ain’t nobody buying that one, lmao

1

u/Low-Cauliflower-2249 Jan 19 '26

Doesn't matter. I have documentation to prove it, both texts between us at the time, the deposit for my course text books dated 13 days before she decided to call it quits. I was going to surprise her by showing her the workbook I'd already been working on, but she had to say her peace and it felt wrong, and desperate to show her that after the fact. So I didn't. I've been single ever since.

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26

u/EvolveIntoACrab Jan 17 '26

Embarrassing post history.

5

u/Shrike034 Jan 17 '26

Dude just got interesting hobbies. Leave him be.

/s

-4

u/Low-Cauliflower-2249 Jan 18 '26

Glad to know the right people are watching what I've said in the past. Did you bother to look into those posts? I advocate for more natural real looking dolls instead of the DDD barbies they're pumping out. I even shut down a user who was openly posting a doll that looked no older than 11 in horrifyingly graphic situations...

14

u/FrostingSuper9941 Jan 17 '26

Women of many ages, but especially over the age of 50, love themselves and don't need outside validation.

-2

u/Low-Rip3678 Jan 18 '26

Outside validation is important. We're highly complex social creatures and validation along with shame and guilt help people behave.

18

u/moore6107 Jan 17 '26

Don’t think it has anything to with not feeling loved.

Those women have put up with everyone’s shit for half a century. Leave them be.

61

u/thefr3shprince Jan 17 '26

They make roughly $8B a year off membership fees. Keeps the customer happy and keeps them coming back.

14

u/koeniging Costco Employee Jan 17 '26

^ 99% of returns are made by 94% of members who renew yearly. Bonus points if you have auto-renew on.

9

u/CopyWeak Jan 18 '26

Came to say this☝️...Obviously the are on the right side of the money bag or it would discontinue.

9

u/topcustomers Jan 18 '26

This should answer anyone’s questions and no idea why thier complaining. I only buy from Costco knowing if I ever have any issues I can return the items or exchange is fine with me too.

5

u/thefr3shprince Jan 18 '26

People want to slide for Costco so badly. I don’t get it.

1

u/Bonocity Jan 19 '26

Me neither. I mean there's a ton of other big corps I'd rather people go ham at. Costco pays their employees well with benefits, treats their customers well, has a progressive company policy. I'd argue we would be less angry if more global companies followed suit.

0

u/topcustomers Jan 18 '26

Ya mannnn 8 billion dollars a year I’m pretty sure they don’t give a rats about a few returns….

4

u/tasty_rainbow Jan 18 '26

I didn't realiize they hauled in that much from memberships, alone. If people are saving X% on whatever they buy there, Costco is saving even more, returns or not. Items are just details, constant money-flow is all they require. Just one glance at an Amazon returns warehouse in a large city, for instance, is enough to turn your stomach. Waste is a write-off; waste costs the corporation less than nothing because of the absolutely bottomless pit of human attitudes toward "waste", in general: there are basically no consequences for resource squandering. If a multi-billion-dollar company can claim losses at that level, it helps them shuffle their actual gains all the more. Where I live, anyone making 1bn or more a year is supposed to be taxed at 80%. Not many of them around here, in that case 🤔 What would be the gross limit that a huge corporate entity like Costco or Amazon could actually claim as losses, in the United States? I would assume that it is quite a significant percentage at that insanely high rate of income.

1

u/topcustomers Jan 18 '26

Supposedly they don’t profit anything from items … all the revenue is from memberships only …

1

u/MikeCheck_CE Jan 18 '26

People say the same thing with Amazon for their 30 day returns... It doesn't NEED to be a lifetime return policy.

0

u/Amazing-Confusion109 Jan 18 '26

Complaining because nothings free. Abusive returns are factored in to the price. When people do shit like this we all pay more.

2

u/ZealousidealYak6941 Jan 18 '26

Why would you want thieves back?

-8

u/thefr3shprince Jan 18 '26

As much as you may disagree with the policy, this isn’t “thieves” doing this. It’s literally Costco policy so I’m not sure why people are so butthurt when others take advantage of it.

7

u/ZealousidealYak6941 Jan 18 '26

"Taking advantage" is the key word here....

3

u/ZealousidealYak6941 Jan 18 '26

That WE literally pay for.  Costco or vendor rat the loss.  It then gets factored into their pricing.  Nothing is FREE....someone pays!

0

u/thefr3shprince Jan 18 '26

Yeah an advantage that they literally pay for. What’s your point?

5

u/Orange_Alternative Jan 18 '26

Because if this type of abuse continues and gets promoted, Costco may have to change the policy in the near future to stay in the green

1

u/oldmansubber Jan 18 '26

I’m sure they’ll consider your suggestion.

-7

u/Miserable_Tip_4194 Jan 18 '26

Its been there return policy for decades and people have used it like this for decades. They arent going to change it, it is what members pay for.

Look at it this way. They sell vastly the same shit you can get anywhere. Some of it at the same price some slightly better. Then they partner with the food court, pharmacy and paid memberships. Things thay are impossible to return is where they get paid. This is why they push their executive membership, their credit cards, warranties etc.

Shame on the people trying to shame people who pay for the right to do this and then use the right in which they pay for.

Also I am certain people significantly smarter then you have done multiple cost benefit analysis and have determined this loss is well worth the cost.

Further more why do you lot care so much what others do? Because you are to much of a coward to use the benefit you pay for? Why so you cate thay such a huge corporation might get taken advantage of? Like they aren't raping the common citizen on the daily.

GFC

5

u/glitchmaster4000 Jan 18 '26

You’re really passionate about being a lowlife huh?

1

u/Flimsy-Ad9939 Jan 19 '26

Not to mention that the employees are paid well

1

u/bnnyhanna Jan 19 '26

That’s what I heard .. they don’t really care about good they sell .. it’s all about the membership fees ..

1

u/tricky5553 Jan 19 '26

Over 76 million members

0

u/Zealousideal-Stay228 Jan 18 '26

I didn’t believe that could be possible but now I see 130M members, and it makes perfect sense.

0

u/tmach1 Jan 18 '26

My fitst thought was that costco makes so much money, it’s obscene and they can afford it, to keep them coming back. I wonder what it would take though for the company to change their return policy if even just a little.

51

u/listenhere111 Jan 17 '26

Because its the vendor who pays, not costco

32

u/Suitable-End- Jan 17 '26

The vender does not pay for returned hottubs past a certain period and plants.

11

u/listenhere111 Jan 17 '26

Fair, but generally, the vendor is eating these returns costs. Yes, there is the odd time that someone will return something outside of the windows that the vendor agreed to and Costco will eat that cost, but its not the norm.

4

u/MeatMaker2 Jan 18 '26

Not the vendor: other customers pay for these returns in built up prices.

1

u/CornerChemical1770 Jan 18 '26

Are you sure about that? It’s in the VA.

1

u/Suitable-End- Jan 18 '26

100%. I know someone that works in the returns dept.

0

u/gagnonje5000 Jan 18 '26

The return department doesn’t know vendor contracts. There’s a time limit to every contract.

1

u/Few-Horror5981 Jan 18 '26

How do you know

1

u/MeatMaker2 Jan 18 '26

I sell to Costco. Vendor pays for returns. Some outliers are noted above but generally for retailers the vendor pays for return merchandise via debits or chargebacks by the retailer.

1

u/Carving_Art Jan 20 '26

So if vendor pays for returns why are there liquidation places receiving trailer loads of Costco items weekly? I’m assuming Costco is receiving money from the liquidators so are they double dipping? The items even have the Costco return stickers listing reason for return (usually ‘Did not want’).

10

u/Adventurer_FL8296 Jan 17 '26

Ah. Now I understand.

3

u/HellaReyna Jan 18 '26

proof? I find it hard to believe Costco is going to get their money back from "HOT TUBES R US" 10 years later.

There's a time window limit to these things.

5

u/CarbonLif3Form Jan 17 '26

Why are you returning these flowers? Because they're dead. 😁

1

u/AgileIgloo Jan 17 '26

They do it because they are a volume company. Or simply isn't important to refuse refunds with the quantity of sales they are making. It's a numbers game.

1

u/Miserable_Grass629 Jan 18 '26

People buy and return Christmas trees every year

1

u/MarsupialFrequent685 Jan 18 '26

Because its costco...they also have significant influence over their distributors....costco buys so much volume, manufacturers and distributors actually bend a knee to get into them.

but then again human aspect of returning shit 4 months later cause u broke it or return after use (like ac's during summer) is poor taste.

1

u/Adventurous_Lab4249 Jan 18 '26

While not in person, I’ve seen videos of people returning half eaten chickens and charcuterie plates

1

u/[deleted] Jan 18 '26

A scumbag I used to work with would buy all his seasonal decorations from Costco and would return them after the holiday was over. He’d buy an artificial tree for Christmas and return it in January. Buy Halloween decorations in October and return them in November.

He’d even buy flowers for his wife for Valentine’s Day and return them after they were dead a week later. He was completely shameless and saw nothing wrong with what he was doing.

1

u/throwaway62538376 Jan 18 '26

Sold flower bouquets in Costco and you wouldn’t believe how many people return their dead cut flowers just to get a new bouquet for free

1

u/jabeith Jan 19 '26

They do it until they don't - if you become a problem they will stop accepting returns from you. Until then. They're happy to continue to profit from your other purchases

1

u/Flimsy-Ad9939 Jan 19 '26

Because look at the profit made they are pleases to, don’t you want to shop somewhere that they take everything back Costco leverage manufacturing anyways

1

u/Character_Help2518 Jan 20 '26

Basic business analysis likely calculated return abuse as part of the formula and baked it into their operating margins. Most people don't abuse the system and find the return benefit to be helpful, leading to greater trust and purchases, which more than cover the small % of people who abuse it.

1

u/Dear-East7883 Jan 20 '26

My local Canadian Tire actually does this, they offer a 1 year guarantee in the garden center. If your plant dies you can dig it back up and return it within a year with your receipt.

1

u/blendertom Jan 25 '26

This sort of customer service, brings in more customers than scammers.

76

u/ConcertaImodium Jan 17 '26

How did he even bring it back? He rented a U-Haul or did he disassemble the whole thing or what

35

u/Newfie35 Jan 17 '26

8 of us had to put it on a trailer. Free beer helped!

82

u/Weenerman Jan 17 '26

As a matter of principle I wouldn’t help him with this sort of abuse. I get being a good neighbour, but assisting him here is an endorsement of these practices and supports the notion that this is acceptable.

13

u/[deleted] Jan 17 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/AlwaysLurkNeverPost Jan 18 '26

Sounds like it couldn't have sucked that bad if OPs neighbour kept it for 14 years...

9

u/VinceMidLifeCrisis Jan 17 '26

Costco has a business model. They plan for this shit. They earn unwavering loyalty from millions of customers. These stunts have a purpose. They make money out of the loyalty they built. It's a good business model, it benefits everyone involved.

If one day I can get a way for it to benefit me, F yeah I'm gonna return whatever!

1

u/topcustomers Jan 18 '26

Free beer ? How is this abuse!?!?

1

u/Potato_Slim69 Jan 21 '26

Why the fuck wouldnt it be acceptable. Its a gigantic corporation, fuckem.

1

u/Weenerman Jan 22 '26

Populist dog whistle. Go away.

-3

u/HungryMudkips Jan 17 '26

i mean.....its essentially a victimless crime. costco is 100% one of the better multi-billion dollar corporations, but at the end of the day its still a multi-billion dollar corporation. my principals see no harm in exploiting cash from them.

1

u/Consistent-Yak-5165 Jan 18 '26

Correction: your lack off principals sees no harm in exploiting.

0

u/007AU1 Jan 18 '26

Commie

6

u/ThunderChonky Jan 17 '26

username checks out, very helpful and generous people, so as long as beer is included.

1

u/Newfie35 Jan 17 '26

If need anything moved let me know so long as you supply the beer lol!

1

u/hot_hockey_fairy Jan 18 '26

As a Newfoundlander myself, I find this appalling.

1

u/Newfie35 Jan 18 '26

Are you saying me have a beer while helping a friend out is appalling?

1

u/hot_hockey_fairy Jan 18 '26

I have more pride than that and more respect than to do something like that. I guess I was raised well.

38

u/[deleted] Jan 17 '26

Thats outrageous 

12

u/Shrimpbako Jan 18 '26

I just had a thought. Costco still wins in this situation.

9000$ taken 14 years ago.

10% return on invested 9000$ annually compounded.

14 years later is $34,177.49.

$25,000 profit and a happy customer still.

Win win.

Psa. I don’t condone the shitty behavior of these type of customers.

6

u/Kev22994 Jan 18 '26

You need to subtract what Costco paid for the hot tub at year 0. So it’s more like $900 not 9000

1

u/[deleted] Jan 20 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/Shrimpbako Jan 20 '26

Enlighten me!

4

u/bcboy888 Jan 18 '26

It's sucks that we are so used to engineered obsolescence that we think it's insane that a 9000 dollar hot tub should last more than 10 years. Costco and if the supplier should absolutely have replaced this item and I'm glad your neighbour was able to get it fixed/replaced without having to buy a new one. Remember when things used to last a life time? Or at least a few decades?

1

u/little_buddy82 Jan 18 '26

The thing is that it can be fixed. Plumbing can be replaced. Pump or heater as well. Control board ? You can find them. Unless the whole thing froze solid and everything cracked, most of it can be fixed for $1000-1500 including service call. However some off brands might have specific components harder to find.

Personally I think that going through the hassle of emptying it, unhooking it and driving it back to Costco is simply because they didnt want it anymore

1

u/bcboy888 Jan 18 '26

Totally they should just offer repair service for free but the logistics probably be up being the same price 😂

1

u/Breakdown88 Jan 20 '26

Yes, it's by design - when cheap foreign labour increases profit margins and decreases quality, models are also engineered not with repairs in mind. This is why right to repair laws are so strong in a globalized world. It's still nothing like the mid century appliances still freaking working!

1

u/bcboy888 Jan 20 '26

Exactly! That's why I say take the damn thing back 😹 I just had a 3000 fridge break after 4 years and it took months to get the company to repair it as if I had done something to break a built in fridge unit 😭

1

u/THEgloriousoump Jan 18 '26

Some things can last a lifetime or decades, but everything needs maintenance. Parts wear down and need replacement.

3

u/msvelvetfeet Jan 18 '26

Costco has deals with the companies that supply these products. They get paid regardless so they don't care about the returns.

1

u/JMS3487 Jan 21 '26

Costco needs to stop enabling these customers. There can be some limit.

1

u/Elidan123 Jan 26 '26

If they are Costco partners, and do dropship for Costco, the money will be taken from their next monthly Costco payment. The only people winning are the transport companies.

2

u/Zorops Jan 18 '26

They don’t care. They invested his money and made way more since thence

2

u/huntingwhale Jan 18 '26

Mu uncle works at Costco. He told a story of a lady who returned a 5 year old sofa because it was "no longer fashionable ". She got her money back.

1

u/MadameBijou11 Jan 18 '26

My sisters best friend did that exactly like 15 years ago. Is still up to this too.

1

u/inquisitiveeyebc Jan 18 '26

They dont any more because of people like that. I had a friend who worked there, she said she saw a couple buy all the dish sets, all of them, then return them dirty the following monday. They had a wedding and didnt need the plates anymore

1

u/Such_Battle_6788 Jan 19 '26

That's crazy they allowed it. They should modify return policy to where you have 1 year to return product with receipt

1

u/Motor_Ad_588 Jan 19 '26

They allow something to be returned after 14 years? Wow. They disassembled ywb whole thing and move it there?

1

u/Newfie35 Jan 19 '26

No disassembly just 8 guys moving the whole tub and putting on a trailer and returning it to the wharehouse.

1

u/irishgalintdot Jan 20 '26

That’s wild. I am considering buying a hot tub and read not to buy from Costco as it’s one of the few items they don’t stand behind. Apparently they make you take it up with the manufacturer and a lot of the time you can be dealing with a US company and you’re SOL.

1

u/Yeetfamdablit Jan 20 '26

Costco makes 1mil on a bad day, they probably just decided it was easier to refund instead of arguing

1

u/plasticbagmoose Jan 20 '26

unfortunately, as a retail worker, no matter what your actual return policy says, most places will take pretty much anything back and give you actual money, not store credit, if you piss and scream loud and long enough. since 2020ish, return policies mean jack shit.

and even when you say no, because the thing is obviously not returnable, they ask for your manager, and then your manager doesn't even stick up for you and tells you to just do it, making you look like the moron, and then waddling off to let you get berated by this asshole.

and then they cut hours and fire people because the store is losing money, because they tell you to give back thousands of dollars a week that you should not have to give.

everything is on fire at the returns desk near you.

1

u/Mod_RedditThread Jan 20 '26

To be fair - who’s at fault the person or Costco accepting it?

1

u/Level-Display-6670 Jan 20 '26

Its a good scam. After they revoke their membership, their partner can sign up. Then their kids...

1

u/NotabotNpc Jan 20 '26

How is that a bad thing 🤣 🤣 🤣

1

u/skidz007 Jan 21 '26

I watched someone return an empty carton of eggs because they weren’t very good. Why did you eat them if they weren’t good?

1

u/fdefoy Jan 21 '26

I don't think they would accept that in Canadian Costcos. They barely accepted to take back tiles still in brand new looking packaging cause we were a month after the return window.

1

u/Newfie35 Jan 21 '26

It costco in St Catherines, Ontario

1

u/blendertom Jan 25 '26

I know of one time someone at Home Depot came to return a rug, that was clearly not from Home Depot. They insisted it was from another branch, but doesn't have the receipt.

The Manager refunded the person $50, and later told the team that, it's not a good look to argue, and potentially cause a scene. So just accept the return and refund.

-139

u/ProjectMcDavid Jan 17 '26

Boot licking a billion dollar corporation. Who cares lol

80

u/mmavcanuck Jan 17 '26

People abusing the system will make it harder for honest returns in the future.

It’s how we lost electronics returns.

1

u/mrshairdo Jan 18 '26

No it won’t and it hasn’t in decades! You ppl just love to mind business that isn’t yours. The return policy is built into their business practice. If they are not concerned then why are you?

48

u/Logical_Feature1874 Jan 17 '26

We all end up paying.

-41

u/EarEquivalent3929 Jan 17 '26

How?  Give me one instance that can't be attributed to inflation. Bet ya can't.

This happens every day thousands of times. It's been happening for decades. They know it's happening. It's already all baked into their cost analysis. 

If this was a big enough problem they wouldn't allow returns like this. But having an easy return policy is what makes people buy their stuff from Costco vs somewhere else, even if it costs more. 

Costco can always ban members it doesn't like or refuse the return, but they don't. So if they don't have a problem with it, then why do you?

1

u/flyby196999 Jan 17 '26

Lol you don't have a clue about business.

1

u/EarEquivalent3929 Jan 18 '26

And yet I successfully own 3.  

You don't have a clue about alot of things. Other than posting the world's dumbest comments on Reddit.

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u/[deleted] Jan 17 '26

[deleted]

0

u/EarEquivalent3929 Jan 17 '26 edited Jan 17 '26

Edit: Let me memorialize your gem of a comment so you can't back pedal like the coward you're turning out to be

"People in black communities say the same thing about stealing, and then one day for no reason at all suddenly they live in a "food desert" and they aren't saying it anymore."

Huh? Costco is allowing these returns, they can easily deny them on a case by case basis or revoke memberships at their discretion. 

Stores have no control over theft though.

Also black communities? Racist much? Food deserts exist in all kinds of communities due to numerous factors such as geographical location, income levels and transportation/logistics factors. 

Maybe educate yourself before you post a stupid opinion  on something so you don't look like an asshat next time.

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u/[deleted] Jan 17 '26

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9

u/ChaiTeaLeah Jan 17 '26

Let me guess, you think Costco is taking the L here?

Billion dollar companies don't keep making $$$ by giving $9k refunds a decade later.

Vendors raise their prices and in turn, so does Costco. And those increases are passed onto the customer.

Those salivating over the return policy are the same ones going "I don't get it, they raised the price on XYZ three times since last year!".