<p>I find Costco’s return policies to be more than fair. They have to deal with fraud as do other retailers.</p>
<p>Among my repeat purchases are peppercorns, vanilla, pine nuts, cumin, sea salt grinder, refrigerated coconut curry sauce, Tasty Bite shelf-stable Chana masala and madras lentils, croissants, frozen Amy’s Indian dinners and enchiladas, frozen vegetable teriyaki bowls, veggie burgers, shampoo, cetaphil, men’s dress shirts, jackets, gloves (several pair of the sport gloves every year), cheeses (but only if I need a lot for some reason), bike helmets, Kirkland balsamic vinegar, Kirkland’s regular EVOO and Toscano EVOO, brown/wild rice and quinoa, Kirkland TP, cat litter. In general, I’ve found the Kirkland brand products to be excellent.</p>
<p>The Kirkland brand is one of the best and so much cheaper. I’ve been using the Kirkland chewable calcium but haven’t seen them lately so had to buy Viactiv which are so much more expensive. Then I tried the Caltrate brand and they tasted terrible. Don’t know what I’ll do if they discontinue the Kirkland brand.</p>
<p>Last year, I bought a pair of GV black slacks at Costco…my sister used her Costco membership card, and paid using her Amex. I got them home and realized they were not the right size. So…I went back without my sister to exchange them for the right size. They didn’t have the right size and refunded me cash on the spot. No receipt.</p>
<p>Regular items- dog food, toilet paper, plain Fage yogurt, powder tide laundry soap, razors, steak, bread for H lunch and almond butter. Good prices on beer. Also good selection of local Santa Ynez Valley wines. H has gotten hooked on Mexican quesildilla cheese. I also buy block feta.
A recent purchase and one they haven’t had again was a two pack of good California olive oil. Our store hasn’t had the Toscano olive oil for a few months.
I buy both of my girls Costco gift cards. They don’t have to have a membership to use them. Older D uses her giftcard for dog food and Frontline flea product.
Regarding returns- I bought my D a vacuum and asked if she could return if it wasn’t adequate for her needs. They told me that our local store policy was that the member return but each store had discretion on how to handle a return. </p>
<p>I know! I think the guy did not know what he was talking about, but I did not have the time to check with the manager. Had to comply with his idiotic request to get out of the store quickly. </p>
<p>I have both Costco and BJ membership. My wife and I find that we buy more things at BJ these days since they carry more brand name items and they come in less than gargantuan sizes. And the lines are shorter at BJs.</p>
<p>I need to do better about stocking up when there is a coupon. Is it just my impression or are there rarely if ever coupons for the Kirkland brand products?</p>
<p>Also, I have been tempted to try the cat litter but holy moly 45 pounds is a lot to schlepp from the store to the car to the house . . . And our cats have been using the same kind of litter since they were 10 weeks old (they are 3 now) so I am a little leery about switching. Do not want to mess up their very good litter box habits.</p>
<p>Well, we have had good results with electronics we have purchased at Costco–never have had problems with returns–with or without receipts, with and without packaging. At our store, they always ask whether the price that the item rings up is the price you believe you paid and will research if you believe you paid more (they usually research if you don’t have a receipt but will always research if you believe you paid more as well).</p>
<p>I bought jeans online and in the store. The online ones were the right length and size–for some reason they only sent the longer and larger sizes to our store. I have even bought size 4 short at Costco.com.</p>
<p>I bought a down jacket online as well–great for travel, with a hood only $40! D and niece bought wool coats there–Calvin Klein, I think. They were only $50 and look great on both girls and came with a detachable hood.</p>
<p>We have bought gloves there, computers, laptops, TVs, Roomba (electronic vacuum cleaners), meat, fish, sashimi, poke (seasoned raw fish), lots of produce and meats, and lots of things for parties and meetings, especially granola bars, unsalted nuts, and holiday foods.</p>
<p>Tend to get best car rental rates at costco.com as well.</p>
<p>I can usually cruise through the COSTCO aisles in less than 15 minutes. The wait in the check out line is another story. My family eats 90% organic so I have my list ready. Sierra Nevada Pale Ale Beer. Fresh Ahi fish. Coastal Cheddar from England. Wild Smoked Peppered Salmon. Pack of organic Fuji apples. 10lbs organic carrots. Kirkland TP and Paper Towels. Canned gourmet cat food. Blue kitchen sponges. Kitchen Trash Bags. Large garbage can bags. Ziploc bags. Double pack organic butter. Organic frozen blueberries. Organic Quinoa. 8 pack organic stewed tomatoes. Bag raw almonds. Bag Pistachios. Jug maple syrup. Other purchases- flat screen TV. Sony and Bose portable blue tooth speakers. Ink cartridges for Canon Printer. Since I live an hour’s drive from Costco, I usually purchase a bag of ice at the check out stand and pick it up before I walk out the exit. </p>
<p>Yes, you do have to be a member or have a friend or family member who will purchase on your behalf. Some prices you have no access to without a member #. Since 20% of the US are Costco members, you should be able to find someone who can purchase for you.</p>
<p>Thumper, some things, usually higher end stuff like Chanel watches and Prada bags, can be purchased by members only, but there is plenty of stuff a non-member can buy. Check their FAQ. I think there is a 5% surcharge on non-members. </p>
<p>If you see the price on the screen without logging into your membership account, the item is an open buy. If you see a “member only” sign, then you need someone’s membership to get it. </p>
<p>We bought Briggs & Riley luggage at Costco. S found it in VA/DC first and later it was also sold in Honolulu. He found a version he preferred at his Costco that never was sold in HI. </p>
<p>We do get a lot of nice high end handbags at our Costco, tho sadly I find most not my style or D’s so we don’t buy those. </p>
<p>Huh. I’ve never seen high-end stuff at my Costco, but then again I’m not really in the market, so maybe I’m just not noticing. I run in for TP and paper towels and run out again.</p>