You May Want to Buy These 3 Things at Costco -- Even if the Price Is Lower Elsewhere

Costco charges an annual membership fee to enter its stores. But in exchange, shoppers get to enjoy a world of savings on a wide range of products.

That doesn't mean Costco will always have the lowest prices, though. You might find a better price here and there on Amazon or at Target -- or at a retailer you wouldn't expect. But here are three items it could pay to buy at Costco even if it's not the lowest price out there.

1. Electronics

There are two benefits to buying electronics at Costco aside from price. First, electronics come with a second-year warranty built in. Many other retailers only offer a one-year warranty.

Now, imagine you worked hard to save up $800 to buy a new laptop, and suddenly, on Day 367 of you owning it, it stops functioning. Suddenly, you're out of luck. With Costco, that won't happen.

Secondly, when you buy electronics at Costco, you get free tech support included. And that's huge. Imagine the frustration of buying a laptop only for it not to work. Costco will do its best to make sure you don't have that experience.

2. Groceries

Many stores will give you a refund on groceries if there's an obvious problem, such as if a sealed package of cheese with a Nov. 1 expiration date is clearly showing signs of mold by Oct. 15. But Costco will refund your grocery purchases if you simply buy an item you don't end up liking. And so it could pay to spend a little more for that option.

To be clear, you don't want to abuse that privilege. And you need to be reasonable when requesting a refund for grocery items you don't like. But the general rule at Costco is that you can ask for and get a refund if you're bringing back at least 50% of the item in question.

So, let's say you take a chance on a 24-pack of bakery cookies you're not sure you'll like. If you eat four or five and the taste doesn't grow on you, you can bring them back and get a refund without a hassle.

3. Furniture

Costco won't always have the lowest prices on furniture for one reason -- it's not necessarily trying to sell you budget items like some chain stores do. In fact, Costco is actually a good source for quality furniture you expect to keep for many years.

Now, it may be that you'll find a better deal on a comparable piece of furniture at a store other than Costco. But if the price difference isn't too substantial, then it could pay to stick to Costco no matter what.

First, Costco's customer satisfaction policy means you have recourse if you buy furniture you don't end up liking. But also, furniture purchases are eligible for 2% cash back if you have an Executive membership.

So, let's say you find a nice-looking living room set for $2,000 at Costco and $1,970 at another store (chances are, it won't be the same exact item, but it may be similar). You may be inclined to try to save $30. But you'll actually get $40 back on a $2,000 furniture purchase at Costco with an Executive membership. And you might also have more options if your purchase doesn't work out as expected.

Costco aims to offer the most competitive prices in town, but it doesn't always succeed. If there's a retailer offering the exact same item as Costco at a substantially lower price, then you may want to buy it there for the savings alone. But when you're talking about a modest difference in price, it can sometimes pay to stick to Costco for the extra benefits you'll get.