Costco vs BJ's Wholesale Club Return Policy

Costco

• Risk-free 100% satisfaction guarantee on merchandise — Costco will refund the purchase price on most products at any time
• No time limit on most merchandise returns
• Electronics have a strict 90-day return window from the date the member received the merchandise
• Membership itself can be cancelled and fully refunded at any time if dissatisfied
• No receipt required for most returns — purchases are tracked by membership card and can be looked up at the returns counter
• Having a receipt or order confirmation speeds up the process but is not mandatory
• Items should be returned in reasonable condition; however, Costco is known for accepting used items

BJ's Wholesale Club

• Items purchased on BJs.com may be returned to any BJ's Club location.
• Returns created online must be sent back within 30 days, otherwise they will be automatically canceled.
• For questions or assistance regarding the return process, contact BJ's Member Care.

Costco

• Electronics (90-day return window): televisions, projectors, major appliances (refrigerators over 10 cu. ft., freezers, ranges, cooktops, over-the-range and under-counter microwaves, range hoods, dishwashers, water heaters, washers, dryers), computers, touchscreen tablets, smart wearable devices, cameras, aerial cameras (drones), camcorders, MP3 players, and cellular phones
• Diamonds 1.00 carat or larger: require original IGI or GIA certificates and a 48-hour inspection period by a Costco Graduate Gemologist before a refund is issued; diamonds under 1.00 carat follow the standard unlimited return policy
• Cigarettes and alcohol: non-returnable where prohibited by law (varies by state)
• Airline tickets and live performance event tickets: not returnable
• Precious metals (gold bars, silver bullion): may have additional return instructions and restrictions
• Costco Shop Cards and gift cards: not returnable
• Custom-ordered products: not returnable (except for warranty repairs)
• Products with limited useful life (tires and batteries): sold with a limited warranty instead of being returnable — tires carry a 5-year Road Hazard Warranty protecting against treadwear damage and tire failure
• Custom-installed programs and duplicate items: not returnable
• Contact lenses: separate return procedures apply — contact the Costco Optical department
• Eyeglasses: in-store purchases handled by warehouse optical departments; online orders have separate FAQ procedures
• Hearing aids: must contact the warehouse hearing aid center for returns
• Freight/oversized items: special return handling procedures may apply

BJ's Wholesale Club

• Items deemed ineligible for return through the online system.
• Damaged items may require a specific process outside of the standard online return flow.
• Gift returns from BJs.com follow an alternative process (in-club at member services, chat, or email to customercare).
• Online returns that are not sent back within 30 days of creation will be automatically canceled.
• Specific product categories, such as tires, may have distinct return policies as implied by related help articles.

Costco

• Original payment method (default for all returns)
• In-warehouse returns: refund processed immediately at the returns counter
• Online (Costco.com) returns: refund including shipping and handling fees credited to the original payment method
• Online return refunds typically process within 2-3 business days after Costco receives the item
• Financial institution may take an additional 3-5 business days to post funds to your account
• Debit card refunds may take up to 10 business days
• Cash purchases refunded in cash at the warehouse

BJ's Wholesale Club

• Refund will be issued
• Refund processing is part of the refund policy
• Contact Member Care for specific refund method details

Costco

• Costco.com orders can be returned at any Costco warehouse or by initiating a return online through your Costco.com account
• To return online: go to Orders & Returns, select 'Return or Replace Items' next to the order, and follow the prompts
• Return label provided within the hour, or you can schedule a pickup (where eligible)
• Return shipping is free — Costco covers the cost
• Shipping and handling fees from the original order are also refunded for online returns
• Freight items may require special return handling and scheduled pickup

BJ's Wholesale Club

Not available

Costco

• Bring the item to the returns counter at any Costco warehouse
• No receipt needed — the associate can look up your purchase using your membership card
• Refund processed immediately at the counter
• Online purchases (Costco.com) can also be returned at any warehouse
• Original packaging preferred but not always required

BJ's Wholesale Club

Not available

Costco

• Gifts can be returned at any Costco warehouse; the membership holder who made the purchase will receive the refund
• If you are not a Costco member, you may need the original purchaser's membership information for the return
• Costco Shop Cards (gift cards) are not returnable or refundable

BJ's Wholesale Club

Not available

Costco

• Membership fee is 100% refundable at any time if you are dissatisfied — Costco will cancel and refund the full membership fee
• All membership tiers (Gold Star, Executive) receive the same return policy benefits
• Executive members earn 2% annual reward on purchases but the return policy itself is identical
• Membership card tracks all purchases, eliminating the need for receipts
• Costco Concierge Services provides free technical support for electronics purchased at Costco

BJ's Wholesale Club

Not available

Costco

• Damaged or defective items can be returned at any time under the satisfaction guarantee (no time limit for most items; 90 days for electronics)
• For electronics, Costco Concierge Services offers free technical support and can facilitate warranty claims or replacements
• Major appliances delivered by Costco should be inspected upon delivery for visible damage
• Freight items that arrive damaged should be reported immediately — Costco will arrange pickup and replacement

BJ's Wholesale Club

Not available

Costco

• Costco offers price adjustments within 30 days of purchase if the item drops in price at Costco
• Applies to both in-warehouse and Costco.com purchases
• Costco does NOT price match competitors — only Costco's own price reductions qualify
• Costco does NOT price match warehouse prices for Costco.com purchases (or vice versa)
• Gold bullion and precious metals are not eligible for price adjustment
• For in-store adjustments: visit the returns counter at the same warehouse location
• For online adjustments: credits typically post within 5-10 business days to the original payment method
• No receipt needed for price adjustments — purchases are linked to your membership

BJ's Wholesale Club

Not available

Costco

• Exchanges can be done at any Costco warehouse — return the item and purchase the replacement
• Costco does not do direct in-place exchanges; you return for a refund and buy the new item separately
• Online purchases can be exchanged by returning online and placing a new order

BJ's Wholesale Club

Not available

Costco

• Costco has one of the most generous return policies in retail — no time limit on most items
• No receipt needed for any return — all purchases are tracked by membership card
• Membership can be cancelled and fully refunded at any time
• Electronics must be returned within 90 days — this is strictly enforced
• Diamonds over 1.00 carat require a 48-hour inspection with original IGI/GIA certificates before a refund is issued
• Tires come with a 5-year Road Hazard Warranty instead of being returnable
• Costco Concierge Services provides free technical support for electronics
• Costco has faced reports of cracking down on return abuse — excessive or unreasonable return patterns may be flagged

BJ's Wholesale Club

• Returns for items purchased on BJs.com can be initiated by selecting the order in your online account's Order History.
• Contact BJ's Member Care for questions or assistance in the return process.