Are Costco getting stricter with their policies?

roses

I am a Costco member (I got membership through the company I work for) since about 13 months ago. I recently renewed my membership & asked to change my free partner card because I gave my current partner card to my brother who only went once over a year & my boyfriend wanted it instead. The girl was quite difficult about it but she changed it.

Are they becoming stricter on their rules? When I signed up I was told I could give my partner card to whoever I want colleague/husband/uncle etc but 1 year later they seem to not like it when you change your partner.

Also is their returns policy still return what you like for any reason? I want to buy a Bissell carpet cleaner but have read mixed reviews about it. I want to buy it, have a try & if I find that the reviews are true & it is really flimsy then I want to take it back. Do they now have a no returns for used items or are they still ok with returning anything?

Alison_B

They have always been OK with me. Might be worth a try but your brother should be able to get a card in his own right now. We had a card through my brother-in-laws business but he left and his company refused to renew our card which was fair enough. I got in touch with Costco about this and they said that because I had had a card, I could renew it in my own name now rather than through this company but as an individual member rather than trade.

HankMcSpank

I'd have thought they'd be be laxer with their rules/policies nowadays.

For example, they've just opened up membership to our company (large international blue chip)...I can't see how our Co fits their previous 'rules'...& I guess it's a sign of the times & how competitive the retail mkt sector has become.

MickKnipfler

I've never really understood their policies. They sell brand name stuff generally at a good price. If you take Mayonaise for instance, I think if you buy 5L, you get it for about the same price as Tescos own. I don't really see that much scope for making a markup selling their stuff though unless you've got a corner shop. Some people try reselling their stuff on Ebay but I don't think they really make much

FannyHill

Do they add VAT on top of the advertised price ?

horfsby1984

it may just be that one person-if you got someone else you may not had the problem

MickKnipfler

FannyHill wrote:

Do they add VAT on top of the advertised price ?

Prices instore give inc and ex. I've not seen prices advertised elsewhere

roses

HankMcSpank wrote:

I'd have thought they'd be be laxer with their rules/policies nowadays.

For example, they've just opened up membership to our company (large international blue chip)...I can't see how our Co fits their previous 'rules'...& I guess it's a sign of the times & how competitive the retail mkt sector has become.

i would have thought it the opposite then if they are opening up more membership to the general public as they don't want people taking advantage of them!

roses

I need to change my partner card again. I gave it to my boyfriends uncle last renewal & he didn't go once!

I am due for renewal again next month. Anyone know if they will be ok if I change my partener card to a work colleague or are they going to get weird about it?

I have moved house & started work for a new company. The new company also give Costco membership so I suppose another method would be not to renew my membership then just sign up as a new member at my new postal address & new partner.

skintlass

I think your partner card is supposed to be just that - for your other half - I've had extra cards on my account and am now an extra card on my BIL's account (he has trade membership) but they have charged for those extra cards.

roses

I went today after work, renewed my membership & she changed my partner for me. So looks as though you can change your partner every time you renew your membership ie split it with a friend so the membership costs £15 each