What happens to all the stuff you return to Costco?

Category 1- Items that can be returned to the vendor for full or partial credit (i.e. the warehouse gets some compensation for it). These typically get shipped out fairly quickly. Category 2- Items that cannot be returned for credit. These can stay in the RTV department for quite some time. read more

Costco has a very very very lenient returns policy. If its defective they will refund your money or replace it with a new one. If the item is no longer available then you can apply the amount to a another item that you want. Non electronic products are sold as salvage if there is no RTV (return to vendor) instructions. read more

Here are the handful of items that you can’t return to Costco for a full refund. Alcohol – Bottoms up on any wine, beer, or liquor as you can’t return them to most states in the U.S. and thus all sales are final. Opened or unopened, it doesn’t matter. Cigarettes – Light ’em up, or throw them away, as you can’t return them to any Costco location. read more