7 Surprising Costco Purchases You (Usually) Can't Return

Costco has a famously generous return policy. You tried a new pasta sauce only to find out you didn’t like it? Return it. You threw the receipt away the minute you unloaded your Costco haul? That’s fine. Costco customer service will take your item back.

There are a few notable limits to Costco’s generosity in this regard, however. You might want to double-check this list before trying to return certain things to your local Costco.

Costco will not accept returns on personally customized products. This applies to items such as keepsakes you might order from the photo center and birthday cakes you’ve ordered with a special message written in the frosting.

If Costco created the product according to your specifications and you don’t end up needing it, you’re probably out of luck if you’re looking for a full refund.

Costco will take refunds on electronics, but only if you return them within the 90-day return window. This policy applies to computers, tablets, smartwatches, cameras, drones, and MP3 players which can be an especially good deal if you pay with a Costco rewards credit card. 

Keep that timeline in mind if you try to get ahead of your holiday shopping by purchasing gifts more than 90 days before you give the gift.  It’s also something you might want to factor in when you're deciding whether or not to purchase a warranty for your device at checkout.

Because Costco sells its phones out of kiosks through a third-party company called Wireless Advocates, the retailer’s cellphone return policy depends on the cellphone carrier you choose.

Costco partners with Verizon, AT&T;, and T-Mobile. So, if you have any doubts or concerns about your choice next time you buy a new phone from Costco, make sure you get the full details on your carrier’s return policy.

Costco’s return policy on major appliances — ranging from ranges to dishwashers and water heaters — is the same as the policy for electronics. That means you have 90 days from the time you receive the item to return it.

Considering some of Costco’s competitors only give you 48 hours, this is actually quite generous.

If your Costco diamond is 1 carat or larger, you can still return it. But there are a few hoops you’ll need to jump through first.

You need to have all the paperwork you received when you purchased the diamond. Before you get a refund, Costco will give you a Jewelry Credit Memo, which is a promise to give you a full refund after the diamond has been fully authenticated by Costco’s gemologists. Once Costco has verified that the diamond is not a fake, the retailer will issue you a full refund.

If you are trying to return a crate of wine after a canceled party and the clerk at customer service tells you “no,” it isn’t personal. While there are a lot of surprisingly acceptable and weird Costco returns, Costco’s policy is not to accept returns of tobacco and alcohol where it is illegal to do so by law.

While this can be inconvenient at times, maybe it's a sign that you should throw another party.

When you buy items like batteries and tires, there is some expectation that over time they will wear out. Because of this, Costco won’t commit to accepting the return of your two-year-old tires.

Depending on the product, there may be a limited warranty that comes with your purchase. If you have gone past the warranty window, however, you can always try begging the store manager for a little mercy. You never know how it might turn out.

All in all, Costco is generally very cool about returns. In addition to taking advantage of some smart Costco shopping hacks, you can even return your membership for a full refund if it’s not working out for you.  

Just remember to keep the receipts for your big diamond purchases, buy only the alcohol you intend to drink, and circle back for a performance review on your Costco appliances and electronics within 90 days. Keep those things in mind, and you should be in the clear.