I wondered how long it would take...

[Frozen Canuck]

Costco is now posting signs saying that they are not allowing returns on:

• toilet paper
• paper towels
• sanitizing wipes
• water
• rice
• Lysol

I mean, some of that stuff you could use for a long while if you over-bought, but things like sanitizing wipes (and other disinfecting products) can lose efficacy after a year or so.

And while Costco is very generous in taking back food items that you don't care for or that spoil or whatever, I can see why they don't want the headache of having to restock (or destroy, in the case of food, since they can't be resold), thousands of pounds of product. I soooooooooo hope that people don't let this stuff go to waste now that it has been purchased.

https://www.delish.com/food-news/a31782964/costco-returns-coronavirus/

 

[tvguy]

Not a Costco member but makes no sense to me since they could immediately resell those items if they had not been opened.

 

[Flight]

How many people in addition to the stresses in their lives due to loss of work or pensions dramatically reduced, could not find household necessities, even in small amounts.

This ratcheted up the misery index for themselves and their families.

Why? Because of panicking mobs buying up huge quantities.

Maybe Costco should let them return those items so others can have a chance of getting what they may desperately need. But Costco should charge a hefty re-stocking fee on those items or if they don’t want to pay that fee, have to stand in the aisle where the items are re-stocked and for an hour have to apologize to each person that comes by.

But I guess we don’t live in that kind of world. Nor should we live in the kind of world that allows hoarding at the expense of others.

 

[3 MEN AND A BOAT]

I’d agree with a restocking fee, it’s the same as after a hurricane with all the returns of generators to Home Depot and Lowe’s.

 

[RamblingMad]

This makes sense. It should dissuade people from buying more than they need.

 

[MarkLT1]

I put some of the blame on Costco. Why didn't Costco limit the number of those items to 1 or 2 per week. You have to be a member, and they know what you've bought.

And I absolutely agree that Costco *should* take returns on those items, if people are still scrambling to get them, and Costco is unable to stock them. If TP and other essentials are now readily available? Screw 'em- the hoarders deserve to be stuck with 14 years of toilet paper filling their house/garage.

 

[mrodgers]

...or if they don’t want to pay that fee, have to stand in the aisle where the items are re-stocked and for an hour have to apologize to each person that comes by.

Absolutely brilliant! I love this idea.

 

[BMB777]

Not a Costco member but makes no sense to me since they could immediately resell those items if they had not been opened.

It makes perfect sense to me. The thought of someone returning toilet paper is what makes no sense to me.

 

[disneychrista]

My guess is people aren’t trying to return them NOW. They are doing this so people will think twice about buying tons of these items now and then in 6 months trying to return them.

 

[MarkLT1]

It makes perfect sense to me. The thought of someone returning toilet paper is what makes no sense to me.

Its not that they are returning a roll. These are giant packs, that are double wrapped (there are several of your normal wrapped 6-packs, in an additional wrapper). I say, as long as there is still a need, and people are desperately looking for TP, Lysol, etc... take it back (punishing a hoarder at the expense of someone who really needs it is not worth it). Again, if Costco is fully stocked, and people aren't still hoarding? Different story- too bad hoarders..

 

[disykat]

The problem is that those products could have been handled by a lot of extra people by the time they are returned and need to be cleaned, etc. People who hoarded more than they could use have the ability to donate them through many channels. Costco is not keeping them from being distributed. They are preventing more hoarding.

honestly, I would not blame Costco (or any grocery store) suspending all returns etc. for the time being and focusing on the greater need - keeping the food supply going. Thank you to everyone who works in essential services right now!!!

 

[MarkLT1]

They are preventing more hoarding.

Which they should have done in the first place by limiting the number of purchases by an individual.

Though I do see your point about cleaning/handling. That is definitely a concern.

 

[disykat]

My understanding is that they have limited it now. Like all of us, they are learning as they go along during this unprecedented situation.

 

[Dole_whip_doll]

I don’t think people would be immediately returning items. They won’t do that until way after this is done and they want to recuperate some money. EVERYTHING, not just food, has sell by dates and is coded in systems based on when/where it was produced, shipped, etc. that’s why you’ll see stuff like perfectly good paper plates or whatever on clearance. They’ve just been in the store stock system for longer than they should be.

 

[GoingSince1990]

Idiots 'will be eating pasta every night until 2025'
https://www.thedailymash.co.uk/news...g-pasta-every-night-until-2025-20200312194397

 

[BMB777]

Its not that they are returning a roll. These are giant packs, that are double wrapped (there are several of your normal wrapped 6-packs, in an additional wrapper). I say, as long as there is still a need, and people are desperately looking for TP, Lysol, etc... take it back (punishing a hoarder at the expense of someone who really needs it is not worth it). Again, if Costco is fully stocked, and people aren't still hoarding? Different story- too bad hoarders..

I understand they are returning the pack, not just a roll. I still don't get it. Costco is a merchant trying to make money. They sold the supplies, they have no reason to take them back.

 

[MarkLT1]

My understanding is that they have limited it now. Like all of us, they are learning as they go along during this unprecedented situation.

Fortunately I haven't been in a Costco since the craziness began. Unfortunately, due to my Crohn's, a TP shortage is more terrifying to me than COVID, so this one hit close to home .

 

[MarkLT1]

I understand they are returning the pack, not just a roll. I still don't get it. Costco is a merchant trying to make money. They sold the supplies, they have no reason to take them back.

There is a shortage of disinfecting supplies during a pandemic. People were morons, and hoarded them. Now let's say an individual is trying to return some of said disinfecting supplies, which others are desperately trying to obtain in order to keep their families safe. Is it really that big of a deal for Costco to take the 3-pack of Lysol spray, wipe it with a bleach wipe, put it back on the shelf, only for it to be immediately purchased?

Seems to me that it is needlessly punishing those who didn't hoard, for the sake of a tiny marginal amount of additional profit.

 

[BMB777]

There is a shortage of disinfecting supplies during a pandemic. People were morons, and hoarded them. Now let's say an individual is trying to return some of said disinfecting supplies, which others are desperately trying to obtain in order to keep their families safe. Is it really that big of a deal for Costco to take the 3-pack of Lysol spray, wipe it with a bleach wipe, put it back on the shelf, only for it to be immediately purchased?

Seems to me that it is needlessly punishing those who didn't hoard, for the sake of a tiny marginal amount of additional profit.

I just don't see how it's Costco's problem. But I guess I'm looking at it strictly from a business point of view.

 

[RamblingMad]

I’ve never had UPS coming to my house this much ever. And it’s mostly due to small orders of stuff I could get or that I thought to get later.