In the age of online shopping, easy return policies have become a customer magnet. For Costco, this philosophy has birthed a series of head-turning stories, like the recent case that took social media by storm. According to a viral Reddit post, a customer strolled into a Costco in Pennsylvania with a 22-year-old TV in tow, attempting to return it. Reddit user @estaack posted the image, baffling members of the r/Costco community. Many couldn’t believe someone would try to bring back an item they’d had for over two decades.
In the image, the old TV rested on Costco’s signature orange flat cart, looking every bit the “vintage” it was. According to the Daily Mail, the model appeared to be a rear-projection Samsung HCL552W, a behemoth of early 2000s technology sold in the U.S. back in 2002. Initially, @estaack thought it was a prank. But when they realized it was genuine, they “were impressed.”
Is Returning a TV from 2002 Even Possible?
The post quickly sparked discussions about just how far Costco’s lenient return policy can go. One user, @Caterpillar89, expressed amazement, calling the attempt “crazy.” Another commenter marveled at the audacity, writing, “This is WILD. 22 years later, who just decides to roll in and return a TV?” Someone else chimed in, adding, “You have to be an absolutely psychotic human being to do this.”
In the thread, Redditor @Garjin claimed that the customer did get a refund, although this wasn’t confirmed. Another Reddit user jumped in with a similarly absurd story, sharing that they had seen someone attempt to return a set of plates purchased in 1999 because, as they put it, “One of the plates broke.”
Costco’s Not-So-New ‘Liberal’ Return Policy
For Costco, this isn’t the first time its return policy has gone viral. Daily Mail reports that the original poster overheard employees saying the 2002 purchase still “falls within guidelines,” offering nothing more than a “large shrug” at the peculiar sight.
Costco has become infamous for its flexible policies. In fact, some Reddit users were quick to share more tales of returns at Costco. Jackie Nguyen, a TikTok creator and Costco shopper, shared her own viral video of returning a 2.5-year-old couch, simply because she didn’t like it anymore. “Costco really is the best,” she posted, tagging #costcoreturns and praising their customer-first philosophy.
But times have changed somewhat. Costco’s electronics return policy, for instance, now limits returns to 90 days—a measure put in place back in 2007. Before that, customers could return electronics indefinitely, costing the company “tens of millions of dollars” a year, according to an LA Times article titled “Costco halts liberal electronics return policy.” The policy change allowed Costco to rein in losses, even though many other items can still be returned without a strict time limit.
The Cultural Phenomenon of Costco Returns
From broken dishes purchased in the 1990s to a 22-year-old TV, Costco’s return policy has generated a cultural moment of its own. It’s a unique case of customer service taken to the extreme, showcasing how far some shoppers are willing to go to test a store’s policies.
These viral stories remind us that, at least at Costco, no return is too old or too bold. And while the current rules are stricter, especially for electronics, the legend of Costco’s “anything goes” return policy lives on in every bizarre story shared by customers.
Share Your Own Costco Experience!
Shopper returns couch to Costco after using it for 2 years — even gets full refund without receipt
Have you ever tried to return an item long past its prime at Costco? Do you think their policy is fair game or just outlandish? Share your thoughts, and let’s keep the conversation going!