The Real Reason Costco Won't Be Accepting These Item Returns Anymore
Everyone remembers that awful feeling that happened as people scrambled to buy supplies while waiting in long lines at the start of the pandemic. Now, as the days grow colder and the number of COVID-19 cases rise, people are starting to stock up again, as reported by Supermarket News. However, Costco decided to take action that may help curb this spike in stockpiling (via Delish).
At select Costco locations, signs were posted on cash registers back in March to announce that those stores would not be accepting returns on some of the items that people were buying up due to the novel coronavirus pandemic. Some of these signs were shared by a number of Costco Instagram fan accounts too, though none have an official link to the stores. It wasn't clear at the time if this was a company-wide policy or if some stores were making these restrictions themselves. The signs listed items like toilet paper, paper towels, rice, water, sanitizing wipes, and Lysol as not being accepted if customers tried to return them.
To find out if this policy is still in effect, Mashed reached out to Costco, and a membership spoke person confirmed that the company is still refusing returns on some essential products.
Here's what people had to say about Costco's return policy change
Costco customers responded on Instagram to the accounts that posted the restriction signs that had popped up. The general response was positive, bordering on frustration and agitation with those panic buying the supplies. According to Today, one Instagram user wrote, "So happy Costco is making this move!" Another person replied, "Good! Hoarders are stuck with it."
According to Delish, one person also chimed in with, "This is such great news! I'm tired of all those people that buy toilet paper and think they can just return it later when they don't need it." Another added, "It's about time! Too many people taking advantage of their return policy." Customers are making it clear, they don't want to end up struggling to find basic items. It's also not possible for many Americans to afford buying items in bulk. The Washington Post reports that while some people are stocking up, many others are living from paycheck to paycheck or currently unemployed.