3 Surprising Facts About Shopping at Costco

Costco is one of Americans' favorite retailers and with good reason. The warehouse club offers great discounts that help shoppers keep more money in their checking accounts. 

It also provides a huge selection of different products ranging from groceries to housewares, which is ideal for one-stop shopping. And, it even has delicious snack samples in store, as well as fantastic and unique Kirkland-brand food products that many people are eager to break out their credit cards to purchase.

But, while you may think you know a lot about Costco and all it has to offer, you may be surprised to find out these three facts about the warehouse store. 

1. Costco doesn't take manufacturer coupons 

The first big surprise you might have when shopping at Costco is that you will not be able to use any manufacturer coupons. The store does not accept them, which you may not be aware of if you are used to shopping at grocery stores and other big-box stores. 

Costco explains that it doesn't take manufacturer coupons because it regularly distributes its own special offers to members. It also keeps everyday prices low while other stores price things higher with the assumption people will use coupons. 

Still, if you're expecting to use a manufacturer coupon at the register, you may not be prepared for this rule. Your best option is, when you have a good coupon, to compare the post-discount price with what Costco's standard price is to see which is really the better deal. 

2. You can return items to Costco basically any time 

Another huge surprise you may discover when shopping at Costco is that the store has a very generous return policy. 

Specifically, it has a "100% satisfaction guarantee" and will allow you to return products and get your purchase price back at almost any time with a few exceptions such as electronics, tires and other products with a limited usage life, and diamonds. 

This is great news if you buy a product from Costco that ends up being a disappointment. I actually put this into practice once and returned a Keurig that was several years old because I had waited a long time to start using it and it broke almost right away. Costco took it back and returned my money with absolutely no questions asked. 

3. You may not need a membership to shop there 

Finally, there's one more big surprise you may encounter. Most people are aware Costco is a members-only warehouse club so they assume that membership is always required to make purchases. But, surprisingly, that's not necessarily the case in every situation. 

There are certain categories of products you can buy without a membership, including prescription drugs and, in some states, alcoholic beverages. You are also allowed to spend Costco gift cards without a membership, although you can't buy Costco shop cards unless you're a member. Still, if your friends or family are members and are willing to buy you a gift card once in a while, you can use that to get your Costco fix. 

Now that you're aware of these Costco facts, they won't catch you by surprise and you can make more informed decisions about what to buy at Costco, how to buy it, and what to do if a problem arises after your purchase.