14 Items You Can't Return to Costco Even With a Subscription (2023)

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Last updated on April 3, 2023| WithLafuente cat |Edited byHelen Cannon

Christmas tree after Christmas. A litter box with litter in it. A half-eaten fried chicken. These are just some of the craziest things Costco has ever accepted for return. Not just customerssave a tonaccess products in the shopping cart, but also use the many advantages that membership brings with it.

But believe it or not, there are some things the big juggernaut won't take back, despite its notoriously generous return policy. Here's what it is.

If you're looking for a new TV, you've come to the right place at Costco. They have a really impressive range of TVs in their inventory. You can search by size, brand, and features like Smart TV technology.

However, Costco will only accept a TV return if you have purchased it within 90 days. otherwise you will get stuck watching TV. But don't despair: if your TV is having trouble, Costco's technical support team can help you fix it.

In case you didn't know, Costco sells home appliances that are likely to be cheaper than what you would find at a dedicated home appliance store. These include microwaves, refrigerators, stoves, water heaters, washers and dryers, and dishwashers. This makes Costco a one-stop shop when you're moving into a new home and need to outfit your kitchen, bathroom, and laundry room. They even have device packages.

However, keep in mind that like TVs, you have 90 days to decide whether or not you want to keep the device. After that, Costo will no longer accept them for return.

While drones are certainly less important to your home than TVs or appliances, they can be a lot of fun to experiment with. You can also take your photography to the next level, especially if you want to capture the perfect aerial shot. And some people have found fun ways to make money with a drone.

Of course, drones are extremely affordable at Costco, although the aerial camera selection is quite small. However, before you buy one from the big store, you should be aware that even these cannot be returned after 90 days. So be extremely careful when taking your drone for a spin.

It's hard to remember a time when computers weren't an integral part of our working lives. Due to the growth of the Internet, the way we work looks completely different than it did 50, 30 or even 20 years ago. Luckily, Costco sells computers to equip your office with the best equipment on the market.

And if you use computers for recreational purposes like gaming, don't worry — Costco has options for you, too. Again, note that you only have 90 days to return a computer purchased from Costco — a good reason to get a solid warranty.

Mobile phones, like computers, have become an integral part of our lives. We rely on each other for phone calls, text messages, news and information, and even directions to get us from A to B. How could we ever get anything done before we had these amazing technological marvels that fit in the palm of our hand? But as you know, cell phones and plans don't come cheap, making Costco a great place to buy your next iPhone or Android.

In that case, it's really surprising that Costco allows you to return a phone within 90 days of purchase. But after that time, you guessed it: the phone is yours forever.

Costco has been selling jewelry for decades. Unlike the other items on this list, you can return most jewelry after 90 days. So if you bought an engagement ring to pop the question and the person said no, at least you can get your money back.

The only exception is if you have purchased a diamond of 1.0 carat or larger. In this case you will need all original documents (receipts, certificates etc.) if you want to return the piece. Even then you won't get your money back as you will be credited with other Costco trinkets.

Costco isn't here to judge your lifestyle choices. That's why they sell cigarette cases, bottles of wine, and huge handles of your favorite liquor. However, Costco does not set the return policy for these items.

The customer service page states "Costco will not accept returns of cigarettes or alcohol where prohibited by law." If you want to return a case of wine or a bottle of Scotch, even if you bought it with itBest Credit Card for Costco, you should know if the state where you bought it allows it.

It's not cheap to get a complete set of tires for your vehicle, especially if you choose to fit brand new tires (as opposed to used tires). Luckily, Costco is able to fit tires to a variety of trucks and cars, and they're usually less expensive than your local auto repair shop or dealership. However, these tires do not fall under Costco's standard and generous return policy.

Since tires naturally wear out with prolonged use, it makes sense that Costco wouldn't let you reship them at the end of their lifespan. However, you can purchase a warranty with the tires to cover any breakdowns.

Whether you want to power your kids' toys, power devices while camping, or power your vehicle, you need a battery. You might even have one installed in your car at Costco when you traded those tires in.

But like tires, all batteries have a lifespan and are not designed to last forever, even non-rechargeable ones. This means you should rethink taking out a dedicated product warranty to protect your purchase. This way, if something goes wrong long before the battery dies, you can have Costco replace it.

Nobody is perfect. Most of us have made some Costco shopping mistakes that have resulted in a return or two. But when it comes to custom orders that Costco makes for a customer, don't expect to get a refund unless they're the ones who made the mistake.

You're covered even if you and Costco negotiated a warranty at the time you purchased the custom-made item. Otherwise, do not attempt to restore this cabinet, cabinet, dash cover, or window trim. Costco won't take it back.

From Apple Watches to Samsung Galaxy Watches to Fitbits, smartwatches have become popular wearables for anyone wanting to track their steps, workouts, or even more conveniently, get notifications. In the past we might have thought that a mobile phone was handy enough for traveling, but today it is absolutely normal to have a device in your hand.

Like cell phones, if you bought a smartwatch from Costco, you only have $90 to return it. After that, everything is yours.

In a world where there is never too much technology, many of us own laptops, smartphones and one mid-sized device – a tablet. The convenience of owning an Apple iPad, Samsung Galaxy Tab, or Microsoft Surface is obvious: They're smaller and lighter than laptops with many of the same features, and have a larger and brighter touchscreen than a smartphone with phone capabilities. They are perfect for watching shows or movies while travelling, checking email, surfing the web and more.

When you buy a tablet from Costco, you have 90 days to decide if you want it forever. After that, the mega store won't take it back.

Projectors are a great alternative to traditional televisions. They give viewers the opportunity to use a larger "screen" with less brightness, which is ideal for dark rooms similar to cinemas. Some are even portable, so you can take your shows and movies with you outside or on the go.

But like TVs, when you buy a Costco projector, you only have 90 days to decide whether you want to keep it. Then you should already know whether you still want it forever or not.

You can think of Costco as your one-stop shop for everything from laundry detergent to laptops to freshly baked muffins. But the retail giant also offers plenty of great blood pumping options, like water heaters to keep your home and showers warm. They vary in size and capacity depending on the needs of your home.

Just like washers and dryers, Costco only allows you to return a water heater before the 90 days are up. However, after paying a professional to install it at your home, you don't want to uninstall it and send it back to Costco.

In addition to the great benefits of the subscription, which offers a lotsavings opportunitiesIn fact, Costco has one of the most lenient return policies in retail for its customers, which at times has resulted in seriously questionable returns. However, if you are purchasing expensive or custom items, it is best to familiarize yourself with their policies.

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