Costco Technology Refresh Program Tightened Up
Buying Electronics at Costco
Regardless of price, if Costco has an electronic device (Computer, TV, Ipod, Cell Phone) I want, I'll purchase it there because of their incredible return policy. Today, Costco took one step closer to becoming a normal retailer when they announced a change to their return policy for electronics.
"The cash-and-carry retailer will provide a free two-year warranty for TVs and computers as part of the policy change. Electronics goods purchased before the new 90-day policy goes into effect can be returned at any time."
It's still the best return policy I know of for electronics, but I know I'll shop there less now. Here's the official story from the Seattle PI.
seems kind of reasonable to me. from the article:
"Galanti said some Costco members would buy big-screen TVs and then return them months later, when newer, and less expensive models went on sale. He said the practice had become so prevalent one member recently wrote the company saying she was disappointed because she had heard Costco was going to stop its "free TV upgrade policy."
seems the company is trying to protect itself from dishonest consumers. Costco has a good reputation among social activists, btw, for wages and benefits and general good treatment of it's employees. I like them.
Costco is a great company to its employees. Very civilized. And by industry standards it's still the best return policy I know of.
http://www.boingboing.net/2007/03/15/walgreens_mar
Even once you factor in the cost of buying a membership at Costco and Sam’s Club, the price differences were astounding. Here are the prices he found at Houston stores for 90 tablets of generic Prozac:
Walgreens: $117
Eckerd: $115
CVS: $115
Sam’s Club: $15
Costco: $12
Those aren’t typos. Walgreens charges $117 for a bottle of the same pills for which Costco charges $12.
I buy as much as I can from Costco because of their service and easy of return. With so many electronics offering only 90 day labor warranties it's an incredible value.
Unfortunately Costco deals with a lot of middle of the road Electronic Products and I still have to purchase elsewhere. For example I just bought KRK Studio Monitors from Amazon because Costco doesn't carry studio monitors. Costco doesn't carry high end cameras either.
But for the most part it's a great idea to shop Costco for warranty.
I wrote hubs about Why you should join costco and costco tires. Their tire warranty includes free rotations and rebalancing plus Nitrogen. Can't beat that deal.
And I find that for most items as long as you are willing to buy bulk you'll save a ton over the local grocer. S&W Black Beans work out to $.75 cents per can vs $1.29 at the local market.
And finally one huge Costco Benefit is Costco carries a lot of Organic and local produce where available. I'm sold.
I always cringe a bit when I buy an expensive item at a place other than Costco. I really appreciate the extra security that if the product isn't quite what you had in mind, that it's easy to return. I'm a huge costco fan:)
Paul Edmondson 5 years ago
PS, The comment in the story about the "free TV upgrade" policy is pretty funny. We used to joke and call it the "Technology Refresh Program".