How To Get A Refund From Costco

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The NO.1 Way To Get A Full Refund From Costco

Costco is a wholesale retailer that sells furniture, electronics, and groceries — rivaling BJ’s and Sam's Club. Since launching in 1983, Costco has since exceeded sales of $64 billion. Costco is among the top 3 largest retailers on Earth — along with Walmart and Amazon.

However, if you want a refund on a Costco membership, what are your options? Can it be straightforward to get your money back? We’ve put together a comprehensive guide that explains Costco membership refunds and much more.

Costco Membership Refund Policy

Costco states on its website that you can get a refund any time you’re dissatisfied. You can qualify for a refund for different reasons, such as:

  • Not being satisfied with the membership benefits
  • Not seeing the need for the membership
  • No longer need to go to Costco for goods
  • Accidentally signing up for the membership
  • Being charged for the membership without your consent or approval
  • Having multiple memberships among family members

While Costco doesn’t specify additional details on membership refunds, the company states that you’ll get a full refund if you ask for it. We assume that this refund is for the current subscription year and not any past years you’ve been a member.

Why Is It So Easy To Get A Costco Membership Refund?

You may notice that it’s not always easy to be granted refunds from other companies, while the opposite is true for Costco. This is because the membership is simply a means for members to shop more at Costco, and this is how the company makes more money as a result. Since the company makes money hand over fist from people shopping for groceries daily, money the company makes from memberships alone is merely pocket change to Costco executives.

If you’re not interested in shopping at Costco or don’t want to use the membership anymore, Costco simply won’t stop you. Though if you’re looking to shop at Costco again, you’ll have to pay a 5% surcharge for every order, so Costco technically has no way to lose in this situation.

Costco Membership Tiers Explained

Costco currently has two memberships for typical customers. These benefits are described here:

MembershipPrice Per YearBenefits
Gold Star Membership$60
  • 5% surcharge waived
  • Works at any Costco location
  • Access to Costco services and departments
Gold Star Executive Membership$120
  • 2% back on any Costco and Costco.com order
  • 5% surcharge waived
  • Works at any Costco location
  • Access to Costco services and departments

The Gold Star Executive membership consists of a $60 membership fee and a $60 promotion fee. The 2% back perk maxes out at orders worth $1,000, which is $20. While a $1,000-dollar order would mean you pay $980, your discount will remain $20 if your order goes over $1,000. So if your final total is $1,050, for instance, you would pay $1,030.

How To Cancel Your Costco Membership

Costco outlines 2 ways in which you can request a refund for your membership, and you can also chat from any Costco page. You can either ask for a refund by phone, by chat, or in person. All 3 methods are very easy to get a refund for, and you’re not required to log in to the website beforehand.

Here’s how to cancel your membership for a refund:

  • Call 1 (800) 774-2678 to speak with a Costco representative.
  • Click the “Chat Us” button on the lower-right corner of the page.
  • Visit your nearest Costco location and speak with a representative at the membership counter.

The fastest refund method depends on your current time and location as you’re reading this, as customer service doesn’t operate 24/7. In-person cancellations, however, will give you a cash refund on the spot. If you’re looking to get your money as soon as possible, visit your local Costco as your earliest convenience.

What Are Costco’s Customer Service Hours?

Costco’s customer service has different hours for phone and chat representatives. The Membership and Warehouse department works 7 days per week.

Live chat support operates 6:30 AM to 5:30 PM PST on weekdays. Weekend hours are 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM PST.

For phone support, the staff is available from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM PST on weekdays. On weekends, they’re available from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM PST.

aRefund.com’s 4-Step Refund Process

If Costco for whatever reason won’t grant you a refund, you can always rely on aRefund.com. We’ll get in touch with your bank and help you get a chargeback going. Chargebacks undo transactions on your bank so your money goes back in your bank account.

Here’s how aRefund.com works:

  1. Sign up for an aRefund.com account.
  2. Explain what happened with your Costco membership and why you’re asking for a refund.
  3. Review the professional letter our cutting-edge AI tool has written up with your data. We’ll also include a reason code that you need for the chargeback to take place.
  4. Wait for the letter to arrive at your bank and a formal review is made.

That’s all there is to it! Costco won’t intervene as a chargeback takes place, so it will all come down to your bank to have the final word.

Can I Get A Refund From Costco Food Purchases?

If you wish to return an item to Costco, you can do so even if you’re not a Costco member.

If the food item is unopened and non-perishable, Costco will resell the item. For perishable items that are still unopened and edible, Costco will either donate them, be given to an employee, or discarded.

Costco has outlined a return policy on this page. There’s a list of items on the page that aren’t eligible for returns, such as gift cards, cigarettes, and alcohol.

Can I Get A Costco Membership Refund Even If I Benefit From a Service?

While Costco will grant full refunds on memberships, you might feel guilty if you ask for a refund if you’ve used the service in order to receive a crucial benefit recently, such as saving on gas, getting new tires for your car, or receiving prescription glasses. Because all these departments charge for products and services, you can feel confident in getting a refund from Costco for your membership. Simply visit your Costco store and head to the membership counter.

aRefund.com Makes Impossible Refunds Possible

Have aRefund.com contact your bank so you can get refunds without the consent of Costco and other corporations. Whether you want to return memberships, bus fares, or food orders, nothing is impossible when we can help you build a strong case to give you back your money.

Register today and be prepared to submit refund requests anywhere where you experience corporate setbacks!

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Can I Email Costco About A Membership Refund?

There’s currently no email address you can write to for Costco customer support. You’re free to chat with Costco right on the website during customer service hours.

How Much Time Do I Have To Request A Costco Membership Refund?

You can request a refund at any time during your current billing term. Unless Costco states otherwise in the future, you can cancel and get a refund for the whole year, even if your membership is up for renewal tomorrow.

Can I Register For A Costco Membership In The Future After I Cancel?

If you cancel your Costco membership, you can reapply at any time in the future. Feel free to reapply any time at the membership counter at your nearest Costco location.

Do I Get Discounts For Orders With A Costco Membership?

Non-members are paid 5% extra on their Costco orders. When you sign up for a Costco membership, this 5% surcharge is canceled. For Gold Star Executive Members, you get 2% back on the total of each order. But in terms of price drops or discounts on items, it’s not what you should expect when it comes to general Costco shopping.