3 Costco Rules Nobody Told You About

Costco is an interesting business that operates differently from supermarkets and big-box stores. Specifically, it costs money to get access to Costco. A basic Gold Star membership will run you $65 a year, while an Executive membership costs $130 a year but gives you 2% cash back on your purchases.

You may be aware that you need to be a member to get into Costco, or that you need to tag along with a paying member for access to the store. You might also know that Costco has a generous return policy, allowing members to bring back most items at any time for a full refund.

But some of Costco’s rules may be less obvious, especially within the context of making returns. Here are three you may not be familiar with — but you should be.

1. There’s a limited window to return electronics

There are plenty of benefits to buying electronics from Costco. Apart from competitive prices and cash back with an Executive membership, you’re entitled to free tech support if you need help troubleshooting issues. You also get a free second-year warranty included with your purchase.

But you should also know that Costco electronics have a 90-day return window that strays from the store’s general “bring it back at any time” policy. This extends to items like laptops, tablets, TVs, cellphones, and major appliances.

The good news, though, is that 90 days is a reasonable amount of time to figure out if a given item is meeting your needs. So as long as you’re mindful of that return window, it shouldn’t come back to bite you.

2. Some purchases can’t be returned at all

Some of the items you walk out the door with at Costco may be items you’re stuck with for good. Costco will not accept returns for cigarettes or alcohol. And you may not be able to return products with a limited useful life expectancy, like batteries.

You should also know that event tickets purchased through Costco can’t be returned, and neither can gold bars or silver coins. Gift card purchases are non-refundable as well. And that extends to the gift cards you buy to redeem at outside retailers as well as Costco Shop Cards (which you use at Costco itself).

3. Perishable food can be returned if there’s a good reason

You might assume that perishable food falls under the list of purchases Costco won’t take back. But that’s not necessarily true.

Costco will accept fresh food returns if there’s an issue with quality. So if you buy a large carton of berries, bring it home, and wake up the next day to find that most of it is moldy, Costco will generally accept your return.

You can even bring back perishable items for a refund on the basis of having an issue with the way they taste. If you decide to give the store’s chocolate cake a try and you find it way too sweet to be edible, you may be able to get refunded. Or, if you buy a batch of blueberry muffins whose taste seems off compared to the usual taste, that, too, generally warrants a refund.

But to get your money back for perishable foods, you have to do a couple of things. First, you have to make your return within a reasonable window of time. This isn’t because Costco is going to try to re-sell your rotten berries, but rather, because if you bring them back 10 days later, it’s going to be hard to prove that they grew mold prematurely.

Second, you have to return at least 50% of the item you’re bringing back. So in the cake example, it’s fine to bring back a cake with a corner piece missing. If you bring back a cake that’s mostly gone, Costco is unlikely to give you a refund.

Chances are, you’re going to spend a decent amount of money at Costco as a member. It’s important to understand the store’s rules, especially as they persist to returns and refunds. Familiarizing yourself with the points above could help you save money — or at least avoid wasting it.