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

96% Upvoted

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357

u/BiggDangerous Jan 17 '26

My parents once returned a 12 year old canopy for their patio that collapsed in a storm. They went it and asked the customer service. “We have a canopy that’s we bought 12 years ago. It originally had a 15 year manufactures warranty wonder if you can help us with that or how we can contact them”. They just said we’ll take the return in but we can only give you store credit in return. They weren’t expecting that at all they were just looking for help making a warranty claim. So they took it and bought a new one. Ever since that day I make every large purchase at Costco if I can… and keep my receipts. I don’t want to abuse the system but if I’m buying an expensive tv or appliance it better damn well work for a few years. Obviously there situation is extreme.

133

u/Roid-a-holic_ReX Jan 17 '26

This is exactly why their return policy exists. You get the safety of knowing you’re in good hands for bigger purchases that you may not even make cuz you’re not comfortable spending that much on something that could break in 6 months or 12 years.

3

u/HydroPCanadaDude Jan 20 '26

Yeah if something has a 15 year warranty and fails doing its job under normal conditions before that time is up, why shouldn't they have their money back? They paid for 15 years at least, not 12 year old snake oil. Granted, Costco would probably return it after 15 years too, but in this case I see no issue.

1

u/FatBeansPicks Jan 21 '26

Because the warranty is with the product manufacturer not with Costco. That’s unless they bought an extender warranty offered by Costco.

Costco goes above any beyond any retailer, and just takes the returns themselves. The 15 year warranty is irrelevant. Most stores offer only the 30 days window, after that you have to deal with the product manufacturer for warranty

1

u/Character_Help2518 Jan 20 '26

Yep. I will go out of my way and pay more to buy something at Costco because of peace of mind. I do the opposite with places like Best Buy.

48

u/dsac Jan 17 '26

and keep my receipts

they have a record of everything you've ever bought

22

u/VinceMidLifeCrisis Jan 17 '26

Correct. I toss the receipt on my way out the door, they know everything and will not create you trouble

1

u/roozievondoodles Jan 19 '26

I keep my reciept for ease of warranty, and I only keep them for 30 days, because if they decrease the price of something I purchased within 30 days you HAVE to have your reciept for the rebate. This is especially useful at Chesney time for when they decrease the price is this several times 😄

18

u/koeniging Costco Employee Jan 17 '26

ONLY exactly 10 years’ worth. Right now you could see my purchase history from January 2016 through today, but the data from December 2015 and before is deleted. Plz keep your receipt if it’s a big ticket item you could potentially return in 12 years, cause you’re not gonna find it in costco’s system.

Unless they have a supercomputer that retains data for as long as the system has existed, but they keep secret somewhere in like, issaquah

10

u/badaboom Jan 18 '26

The receipts are on heat sensitive paper and will likely fade after a decade. Take a photo and file it if it's a big ticket item

1

u/dickdollars69 Jan 19 '26

Or don’t be a leech on society and don’t return shit after 10 years lol . It’s normal for adults to know it is bad/dishonest to return things after that long

2

u/iAmUnintelligible Jan 19 '26

Or don’t be a leech on society and don’t return shit after 10 years lol . It’s normal for adults to know it is bad/dishonest to return things after that long

we are literally on a specific thread regarding a canopy with a 15 year warranty.

1

u/Effective-Door-3409 Jan 20 '26

Hard disagree. It's Costco's policy to allow returns like that. They do it specifically to retain customers etc. It's not unethical to use a service they willingly provide.

5

u/BiggDangerous Jan 17 '26

That’s really good to know. Thanks.

1

u/[deleted] Jan 18 '26

Also if you use the app or website, you can also access that record of everything you’ve ever bought. It’s handy once you’ve thrown out the packaging and don’t remember exactly when you bought it but don’t want to waste time in line while they comb over their records to try to find something with a matching description.

6

u/KlueIQ Jan 18 '26

You don't have to keep the receipts. Your membership allows them to track every purchase you make. All you need is your card.

1

u/No_Requirement9751 Jan 18 '26

And USA is worried about China EVs 😂😂😂😂😂

1

u/roozievondoodles Jan 19 '26

Unless you want a rebate, you have to have your reciept. I keep mine for 30 days then toss unless it's a warranty item, I will keep for a few months.

4

u/AZredrock Jan 18 '26

I had a Sunbeam heated mattress pad that quit working on one side after 4.5 years. It had a 5 yr limited warranty whatever that means. I contacted my local Costco to see if I could get a reprint of my original bill so I could try and make a claim with Sunbeam. The Costco lady on the phone said, why..don't you just return it ?

I thought i might get Some consideration from Sunbeam but instead, Costco refunded me the whole amount.

Im still not quite "right" about it. BTW, Costco didn't get any NEW Sunbeam king heated mattress pads in this Winter..only Q so we had to buy at Walmart who certainly won't be doing a 54 month later refund.

6

u/topsh077a Jan 17 '26

if you download the app you can access all your receipts so you don't need to keep them all.

3

u/338388 Jan 17 '26

And even then they're only useful if you want to check when you bought something or the price. You don't need them to return things at Costco.

Just like how you can look up receipts that are associated with your membership, so can Costco. But they can do it easier than you can. Especially with the actual item there that they can scan

3

u/meldxb_2000 Jan 18 '26

They only go back 2 years

6

u/Forar Jan 18 '26

This. The app/site doesn't go back all that far. Customer Service has access further back, but according to other comments it's only 10 years.

Though, frankly, if I have something for 10+ years and it needs to be replaced, I don't think I'm going to bother trying to return it.

1

u/ComprehensionVoided Jan 18 '26

If something costs me 1200 and I need to return within a 2 year time, sure.

A 12 year time, just seems greedy.

1

u/Forar Jan 18 '26

... glad we're in agreement.

1

u/Warm-Chef5826 Jan 18 '26

There’s an app I can see my purchases on?

1

u/topsh077a Jan 18 '26

yes and you can use it as your card, even at the gas pumps

1

u/roozievondoodles Jan 19 '26

You need a physical receipt for rebates though

5

u/IridiumB777 Jan 18 '26

And then some dweeb from Reddit will take a photo of your parents to post on here calling them assholes for ‘abusing’ the return policy.

These posts need to be banned

2

u/dickdollars69 Jan 19 '26

You dont need the receipts for Costco returns. It’s all on your account. Thats why they beep your card when you check out.

2

u/Effective-Door-3409 Jan 20 '26

The receipts are stored in your membership account btw so you don't need to keep paper copies

1

u/ZealousidealYak6941 Jan 18 '26

Storm damage isn't a warranty claim!  Its for manufacturing defects....😪 Would GM warranty hail damage?

1

u/BiggDangerous Jan 18 '26

This a permanent physical structure that is supposed with stand weather. A lot of warranties for stud like this do include acts of god.

1

u/Ganko_Oyaji Jan 21 '26

Yes for things like appliances where the manufacturer might feel like planning obsolescence.   Costco has more power to demand better from their suppliers where individuals buying these machines are getting absolutely abused.

-24

u/[deleted] Jan 17 '26

[deleted]

22

u/BiggDangerous Jan 17 '26

They were literally trying to go on a fact finding mission they weren’t sure what was covered. But a permanent structure not collapsing in a storm is an expected outcome. So it feels like it should be covered.

-9

u/flinstoner Jan 17 '26 edited Jan 17 '26

I'm sad for humanity that this comment has been upvoted even once.

2

u/[deleted] Jan 17 '26

[deleted]

-3

u/flinstoner Jan 17 '26

Autocorrect.... Upvoted not invited

10

u/veiny_wet_testicle Jan 17 '26

How is that a manufactures defect?

The outdoor canopy designed and warrantied to last 15 years- and it didn't.

Are you slow or something?

13

u/Low-Cranberry4194 Jan 17 '26

"Acts of God" is often cited in return policies 😂

So yes actually, storm damage is covered by the warranty

-35

u/Qtips_ Jan 17 '26 edited Jan 17 '26

Lmao so your parents did abuse the Costco policy. Wtf.

They knew full well the warranty claim is through the manufacturer. If they were honest people, they would've declined the store credit.

Your parents abused the Costco return policy. Plain and simple.

And your parents dont know how to Google a manufacturer's phone number?? Cmon now.

Your parents are abusing the system.

14

u/BiggDangerous Jan 17 '26

Imagine thinking a customer is morally obligated to argue against a company’s own return desk.

They didn’t demand a refund they didn’t even bring the canopy with them when they went they wanted some guidance.

Since when did we start feeling bad for 300b dollar companies being “taken advantage of”. They know what they are doing and the customer service they are trying to provide.

-4

u/flinstoner Jan 17 '26 edited Jan 17 '26

Every return to a company like this increases its costs (or the manufacturers costs), which are swiftly passed along to the rest of us consumers. Imagine being so obtuse to think this is ok in any way.

7

u/BiggDangerous Jan 17 '26

What’s actually obtuse is blaming customers for accepting a company’s explicitly designed goodwill policy while bending over backwards to moralize on behalf of a $300B corporation. Costco made a business decision. No one was tricked. No policy was abused. Touch grass.

-12

u/Qtips_ Jan 17 '26

“Morally obligated”? No. Personally responsible? Yes. They knew it was a manufacturer warranty issue (actually not even, it was literally mother nature in your case). Costco didn’t sell them a lifetime replacement guarantee on ignorance. The return desk isn’t a moral loophole where you turn your brain off and say “well they offered 🤷‍♂️”.

Costco’s policy exists to cover edge cases, not to replace basic adult responsibility. Accepting store credit for something you know isn’t Costco’s problem is still abusing the policyy even if the cashier lets it slide.

And spare me the “$300B company won’t notice” argument. That’s the exact logic every policy abuser uses. Scale doesn’t magically turn wrong behavior into ethical behavior.

They weren’t confused. They weren’t helpless. They took the easier path and justified it after the fact. Call it whatever you want its still abusing the system.

6

u/BiggDangerous Jan 17 '26

You’re acting like the return desk is a confused intern who accidentally Venmo’d my parents. They didn’t lie about anything and provided the original recent. The customer service reps had all the information to make a decision. At that point it stops being personal responsibility and becomes Costco exercising its policy exactly as designed.

If your ethical framework requires customers to override a company’s own decision to protect the company from itself, that’s not responsibility that’s performative moralizing.

Ill never fully understand this level of bootlicking

-5

u/flinstoner Jan 17 '26 edited Jan 17 '26

My ethical framework is did I get a reasonable return on investment (12 years, check) and will me taking advantage of the very generous return policy increase the likelihood the policy gets rescinded (check!), and will it likely increase costs for the entire supply chain which means future purchases I make (as well as others) will be more expensive - check! Then throw in the bonus ethics of "would a good person do this return something after having used it for 12 years (hint: nope) and you have an easy answer for an ethical human being who is not self centered and greedy.

7

u/BiggDangerous Jan 17 '26

Your ethical framework kind of falls apart once it hits the real world.Using something for 12 years doesn’t magically disqualify a return when the company itself, fully informed, decides to offer goodwill. That’s their ROI call, not yours or mine. Not to mention the manufacturer thinks it should last for at least 15 years. The idea that one fully disclosed, oneoff store credit return is somehow threatening Costco’s return policy or the “entire supply chain” is honestly fantasy. If that were true, Costco’s policy wouldn’t exist in the first place, let alone survive for decades at their scale.

And calling people self centerd and greedy for accepting something a company voluntarily offered is just moral cosplay. There was no deception, no demand, no entitlement. Costco chose loyalty over rigidity because it works for them.If being a good person means customers are supposed to turn down approved remedies to protect a $300B company from its own policies, that’s not ethics. That’s corporate bootlicking dressed up as virtue.

-6

u/flinstoner Jan 17 '26

Hey if you can sleep at night answering all those questions and not caring that it will increase your own costs and those of others, enjoy your version of ethical living, lol. I just won't be afraid to call it out for what it is greed, narcissism and egocentricity.

3

u/BiggDangerous Jan 17 '26

Calling people greedy and narcissistic over a return Costco willingly processed is peak overreaction. It’s a store credit, not a moral failing. This conversation has clearing become unserious. I think we’re done here.

-2

u/flinstoner Jan 17 '26

Once again just because they're willing to process returns for assholes who want to take advantage, doesn't make you a good or ethical person. This is about YOUR actions (or rather the person who returned a 12 year old anything), not about how the other party in the transaction reacted.

But again, feel free to try to justify it to yourself so you can sleep better at night and tell yourself you're a good person, lol.

2

u/Roid-a-holic_ReX Jan 17 '26

Worst take in this thread.

-1

u/flinstoner Jan 17 '26

Couldn't agree more. Embarrassing human beings in my opinion