One Costco customer recently decided to test the limits of the company’s return policy.
Reddit user estaack shared a photo of what might be the oldest product ever attempted to be returned at the big box store.
“I just watched someone return a TV — it was purchased in 2002,” reads the post from April.
“I thought it was a prank when I saw it. As a person that doesn’t really take advantage of Costco’s impressive return policy, would a person receive a full refund?”
As seen in the photo, the TV set is a blast from the past, when electronic companies had yet to perfect the sleek screens that we know today.
Estaack told Daily Mail in April that the return was spotted at a Costco in Pennsylvania. The user wasn’t sure if the refund was issued, but they overheard customer service suggest the chunky TV was bought in 2002.
The model looks to be a Samsung HCL552W Rear Projection, which was available in the US in 2002.
“This is WILD. 22 years later who just decides to roll in and return a TV, lol,” replied one Redditor to the post.
“I’m more shocked that they still have their receipt after 22 years,” added another.
Several Redditors suggested that if the product was purchased before 2007, the customer likely would’ve been owed a refund. That was the year Costco tightened its return policy on electronics, accepting returns only within 90 days from the date of purchase for items like TVs, projectors, major appliances and computers.
Before then, the store had allowed customers to return electronics (except for personal computers) at any time for a full refund.
Costco Canada told Daily Hive over email that they could not comment on the specific example in the Reddit post and referred us to their return policy.
Excluding electronics, the store still has a generous return 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% satisfaction guarantee on all of our merchandise.”
Costco Canada
The website doesn’t mention a return window for furniture, home foods, clothes, or food, which is why other customers have been able to return products years later.
Earlier this year, a woman successfully returned a Costco mattress after five years, and another customer returned a couch after two years.
But if you plan on taking advantage of the company’s flexible return policy, you might want to think twice. Costco could be keeping tabs on serial returners.