Costco has its own way of doing things, from how it keeps its rotisserie chicken priced at $4.99 to how it operates its checkout lines. But one surprising fact about Costco is that they keep your receipts on file for two years. Yes, 730 days (or 731 if a leap year is involved). That’s a pretty long time, but there’s a good reason for it.
After all, if the IRS suggests consumers keep receipts for three years, then you’ve got to figure businesses should work similarly. Still, when you factor in how many members Costco has, that’s a whole lot of receipts to keep stored in their system.
So let’s dig in to the why behind this policy, and how it matches up with Costco’s reputation for stellar customer service.
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Why does Costco keep your receipts on file?
Simply put—it’s to simplify the lives of Costco members. Keeping receipts on file for two years within each member’s account means easier returns and easier ordering if you want to buy something again. It isn’t some sort of Costco scam to keep your purchase history organized in this way, it’s really just a smart business move.
Does this apply to all purchases?
Nope—certain things are excluded from its two-year receipt policy. According to Costco Customer Service, you won’t be able to access the following:
- Instacart
- Gasoline (unless it was purchased on or after Sept. 30, 2024)
- Food court
- Optical
- Travel
How can you access these receipts?
It’s all part of your Costco membership. As long as a purchase was made within the last two years, you can view or print a copy of the corresponding receipt through your Costco.com account. It’s really as easy as just signing in (just make sure you save your password).
Once you’re logged in, head to “Orders & Returns,” which you’ll see in the upper right corner of the Costco.com home page. Then, under “Orders & Purchases,” select the “In-Warehouse” tab to access receipts for anything you bought within the physical store itself.
If the receipt you want is for a Costco.com order, you’ll also want to hit up “Orders & Returns.” Then select the date range in which the order was placed. From there, choose “View Order Details” next to the order you want.
Is there any way to access even older receipts?
Yes, but you’ll have to chat with a Costco customer service rep directly. Your best bet is to go straight to the membership desk at your local warehouse. If the item was purchased within the past 10 years, they can likely pull up the receipt for you and print it out.
Now, if it’s a Costco.com order, you can contact customer service through the website. Again, if the order was placed within 10 years, they should be able to email you a copy of your receipt. It will go to the “Bill To” email address associated with that order.
Can you still return items after the two-year mark?
Yes, but there are some exceptions. Costco stands by its “risk-free 100% satisfaction guarantee” return policy, but it can’t play fast and loose with everything. For example, electronics are only accepted for returns within 90 days of purchase (and that’s from the date the member received said purchase). This includes, but is not limited to, televisions, projectors, major appliances, computers and tablets.
And then for diamonds that are 1.00 carat or larger, members must present all the original paperwork to receive a Jewelry Credit Memo.
Last, Costco doesn’t accept returns on cigarettes or alcohol. And for items considered to have a “limited useful life expectancy,” like tires or batteries, these may be sold with a limited warranty that’s specific to the product.
Most other things are fair game for returns, even beyond two years.
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Sources:
- Costco.com: “How do I view my receipts for in-warehouse purchases?”
- Costco.com: “How can I get a receipt for a Costco.com order?”
- Costco.com: “What is Costco’s return policy?”
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