Canadians not using their Costco memberships can get a full refund

Have a Costco membership you aren't really using? It might be worth cancelling it.
A membership to the big box chain can be helpful, but it may not be realistic for smaller households or people who no longer live near Costco.

Luckily, according to the retailer's membership conditions and regulations page, it will cancel and refund your membership fee at any time if  you're "dissatisfied."

To cancel, all you'll have to do is speak with a Costco team member at any warehouse membership counter and receive an immediate refund. You can also call its Member Services Centre at 1-888-426-7826.

The big-box store is known for its generous refund policy compared to other retailers.

"We are pleased to offer what we believe is one of the best return policies in the industry," reads the site. "With a few exceptions, Costco has a 100 per cent satisfaction guarantee on all of our merchandise."

The exception includes electronics like TVs, projectors, major appliances, and computers, which must be returned within 90 days from the date of purchase.

One recent example is of a shopper in the U.S. who returned her year-old pans to Costco.

Content creator Kayla certainly raised some eyebrows when she returned a set of three pans after using them for more than a year. According to her TikTok profile, Kayla is a mom of three who lives in California. In a video posted in July 2024, she describes what it's like to return used items to Costco.

"Come to Costco with us to return these pans that we've had for over a year," she said. "As you can see, they're all used and scratched up, so let's go return them."

After returning the pans, she shows a receipt for store credit worth $86.19 USD ($123.33 CAD).

Last year, a woman successfully returned a Costco mattress after five years, and another person returned a couch after two years.

In what might be the oldest return ever, a customer witnessed someone try to return a 22-year-old TV at a Costco in the U.S.

Canadians have also had success taking advantage of the store's lenient return policy. Dozens shared their experiences in a Reddit thread last year, with the oldest returns ranging from five to 11 years.