Costco
Reviews and Complaints

Cat litter in large quantities needs to be in an easily accessible container. This litter - in a green plastic container - is such a struggle for me! The screw on cap opening is too small to insert a proper sized cup to scoop the clean litter into the box, and it's too heavy for me to pick up and pour. I work with a lot of rescues, so efficiency is important, not to mention lack of pain. I must hoist this 35 lb container with an ongoing injury. Either that, or I must use a tiny scoop and try to get my hand in there with it, try not to spill too much when I pull it out, and it takes FOREVER to refill the boxes.

Today I just had it and almost cried with pain and frustration. I guess I'll have to just pay more and purchase outside of Costco.

I bought a Dell XPS 13 Laptop in Oct 2016 and it came with the 2 year Costco warranty in addition to which I bought an extended warranty through Square Deal.

Executive Summary: 2 phone calls in two days for a total of 2 hours and 15 minutes should discourage anyone from buying any electronics and/or warranty from Costco.

The blow by blow follows if you're inclined:

Don't ever bother doing that and here's why. This past June my space bar and right mouse touch pad stopped responding as it should.

8/6/2018: I went on line to Square Deal to report the issue and after inputting all my data they requested I wound up being referred to the Concierge Service.

8/6/2018: I called Costco Concierge Service and spoke to Megan (badge # 4607086)...she, it turns out, is not really a PC tech person but a recently hired customer service rep who I came to understand was following a script of previously loaded questions...we went through a whole bunch of gyrations to fix the problem, including upgrading drivers for keyboard, uninstalling and reinstalling drivers for keyboard (and touch pad)...when that failed she asked if she could put me on hold while she "troubleshoots" the problem...obviously either asking someone else, or searching her database for next step...then she had me log into the Dell support page and we ran a diagnostic support ...and it determined my laptop was properly updated and found no problems...then we tried an external blue tooth keyboard...which worked fine but am unsure why we did that...then we powered down and she asked me to hold the power button for 1 full minute...that did nothing to solve the problem...then we checked my Windows update and all was fine there...finally she suggested she transfer me to a "log me in" technician which she did.

That person was Marisol (badge # 4212196)...after a brief recap she suggested two options: restore my computer settings or "reset" the computer to it's original state...meaning wiping my hard drive and losing all applications, data files and programs...so I opted for the restore...that took 40 minutes and Marisol promised to call me back to see if it was working...All in my phone time was 1 hour and 48 minutes...

8/6/2018: Missed Marisol's call unfortunately but the message she left was, well you judge: "...unable to get you we will be closing the case...if you need additional help please call..." What? Closing the case without even hearing that the solution DID NOT work?

8/7/2018: Called back and spoke to Tracy (badge# 3797501)...after she took some time to read the case notes she concluded that we'd need to "reset" the computer. I always back up my data but the idea of resetting it to the "original condition" did not square with me as the computer came loaded with MS Office 2010...when I asked her how I would reinstall MS Office she replied with confidence that I would only need my product key...really?

Where would I find that? After 10 minutes she finally got that I had no installation disc, no disc drive, no paperwork, nothing which would show my product key...she then put me through to Microsoft agent name Sanjo who had been told I was looking for MS Office 365 product key...now I'm losing my patience...we discuss the resetting and how I could get me product key (after clearing up the misunderstanding) and she wants to know my Office account name...

I never had one I reply...now we're stymied so I ask her to level me up to a supervisor...she stalls and mumbles something incoherent and my frustration reaches a boiling point. The idea of wiping my computer clean when clearly this problem is not software related is downright CRAZY...why would I do that? So the frustration of a space bar and touch pad not working is less than the frustration that these people would have me endure if I allowed my computer to be wiped clean.

I promise to God I will never buy another laptop or electronic device from Costco again...

I have been very unhappy with the products I have purchased recently. On July 27 I bought crab dip took to a party opened it up and it was right looked at the date it was 8/2/2018, short dated. Another time I bought a 3 pack of bacon, took it home opened it and the pack in the middle was moldy. On August 3 I went to buy precut lunch meat and the sell by date was August 3, I processed to tell the deli clerk and he shrugged his shoulders at me. In March I bought my ham for Easter which was April 1, cooked it put it on the table, again I had to throw the whole thing out it was bad, I paid over $25 for it. I use to brag about you but now I tell everyone check your dates. I am a long time Costco member, but I haven't been going ther at all, I really like bj's better. I love your self check out, your deli department and your variety of products that I personal am shopping for. I may have to rethink shopping here anymore.

I took my car to Costco to have a tire plugged that had a nail in it. After waiting several hours for the repair. I was told that the tire could not be plugged and that I needed to purchase a new tire by the technician. The technician showed me the tire where he had marked the place where the nail punchered the tire. the puncher mark was in a place that I felt could be plugged and I told this to the technician. The technician then explained that there were two punchers in the time. The second puncher was not market.. The technician again said that I needed to buy a new tire. Since I did not have a replacement tire I purchased a new tire. Later I called the Honda dealership to see if they would check the punchered tire to see if it could be plugged. The Honda dealer tech told me that the tire could be plugged and plugged the tire and placed it on my car.

I was lied to by the Costco tire techs to get me to purchase a new tire. Fortunately I did not leave my tire with them and check to make sure that what I was told by Costco tire technician was correct.

Purchased a pair of glasses with progressive lenses and anti glare coating. The coating was guaranteed. The coating is now coming off unevenly. Took them back to Costco optical and I was initially told this was because I might have used a lense cleaner which damages plastic lenses. When I asked about the guarantee I am now told I cannot get a replacement because my prescription is too old!

We always go to this Costco location and this time we decided to order a full size cheese pizza. As we were leaving we went to pick it up and the guy at the food court checked the pizza, confirmed it was cheese, and then left. We got home, opened the box and it was a full pepperoni pizza, so now we have a full pizza we cannot eat and have to figure out what to do with it. Our receipt said cheese, the check out guy said cheese, so how were we to know that it wasn't. This Costco location is about 30 minutes away so going back seems like more wasted time and money.

Why have you stopped selling litter purrfect cat litter - this is great stuff and I can't purchase it anywhere! Bring it back please, I've tried all stores in vicinity - Watford and Basildon, please consider bringing this back it is the best product out there, and as you are the only stockist and I know a lot of people who use it. Very disappointing

On my last visit to Costco, I was harassed upon entering the store with my service dog, who was obviously wearing his vest. The greeter person demanded to know my medical condition, which violates privacy laws and is none of her business. She was not going to allow me in the store, which was a public confrontation and totally embarrassing and unnecessary. I lodged a complaint afterward and received a vague reply, but nothing resulted, even an apology.

I've been a customer of the South Austin location since it opened years ago. After my last visit, I was reluctant to go again, but today I returned, with my service dog. As I was leaving the store, having had my receipt marked, your employee stopped to say Costco did not allow service dogs. I told him that was absurd and illegal. He began berating me outside the exit, in front of customers (as if I were a shoplifter), until I just left.
What is wrong with your customer service? I can guarantee you I will never shop with you again, with or without. And I will pass this on to other disabled persons to warn them of your discriminatory practices. In particular, the National Parkinson Foundation.

What do you gain by this recurring behavior?

Rex Spurr
Austin, TX

In March 2018, I purchased an LG door in door refrigerator. About 2 months after the purchase, the freezer was making a loud crackling sound off and on. Some of my frozen food were thawing out while some of the fruits and vegetables on the fridge side was getting frost bitten even during the correct temperatures. In May 2018, I contacted Costco Online customer service and was told that if I can't find a comparable replacement then to call them back and get a new replacement. The representative stated that my account would be notated regarding the appliance's defective performance, so I wouldn't have any issue when I call back for the replacement. In the meantime, I continued to search Costco Online for a comparable replacement. After I couldn't find a replacement, I called in July 2018 to set up the replacement appointment just to be told by another representative and a supervisor repeatedly that even though I was never given the exchange timeframe by the representative I spoke to in May 2018, Costco still could not honor my exchange request. I was also told by the supervisor that because I was not given any timeframe for the exchange to be valid, it would result in a coaching opportunity for the representative who failed to give me the correct information. It is very shocking how Costco failed to train their phone operators the correct information to advise their customers on appropriate protocols for replacement issues by emphasizing essential timeframes, but yet at the end, the customer still is getting the short end of the stick. This is a big ticket item and when my food are going waste due to an inoperable appliance, Costco needs to take it more seriously, especially when one of their representative failed to advise the customer of essential timeframe.

I called in a phone order for 1 pizza at 1:21pm. I was told 20 minutes until my pizza was ready. Upon arriving to pay for my pizza at 1:47, one register was open with a line of at least 15 people waiting to order. The ice cream machine was broken, at least 5 workers were standing and laughing inside the window. Only 1 person taking orders!

I then went to pick up my pizza at the window. I was told it would be 7 minutes until it was ready. That puts the time at 2:04.

My pizza was finally ready at 2:10. That is an hour wait time. I was not the only person complaining. Very dissatisfied with my experience.

I purchased a computer that was on sale. When I got to the register they charged me sales tax on the original purchase price which was 150.00 more, rather than on the sale price. I asked about this and was told it was store policy. So, I rarely check the tax on my receipts but have I been overcharged on sales tax on all the sale purchases I have made over the years? Something stinks bad here.

I would like to add to the myriad of complaints about your corporate decision to remove the polish dog and chocolate frozen yogurt from your food court menu. If you're thinking that what you have replaced it with is any more "healthy" then you should check with the FDA. Once again the majority of the people are in the minority as a fallout from this decision. It's not too late For Costco to continue with it's well known "Customer Satisfaction Policy"!

I went to purchased a phone at this Costco Verizon wireless kiosk in Rancho Cucamonga and this gentleman, I think his name is Joshua helped me. I waited for a whole before he can help me because he was with another customer. After waiting for probably 30 minutes, he eventually helped me however while helping me he gets interrupted by this lady asking lots of questions and now my transaction got delayed because of this interruption. While waiting for another one hour, he did finally asked me to pay for the phone at the Costco cashier, so I left, for about ten minutes I came back with my phone so he can finish my transaction. He now tells me to wait since he is helping another customer. Oh my God, why can't he finish what he has started so that I can leave instead of me waiting again. What kind of service is this? I then decided to cancel the sale and went home. I am really upset. This man is Horrible. DO NOT GO TO COSTCO VERIZON WIRELESS KIOSK. THEY WILL LET YOU WAIT FOREVER AND IF YOU DECIDE TO GO STAY AWAY FROM EMPLOYEE # 129629

I have purchased a Volupta cacao powder at local Costco store and checked the label for ingridients. The cacao power was listed as the only ingredient. We have used half of the package as my wife noticed on the bottom of package a statement about a chemical contained in the powder that can cause reproductive health problems. A chemical inside the organic product? And the name of the checmixsl is Not explicitly listed ?
I have two children who consumed this product regularly during the last 2-3 months since I bought it.
I need Costco to investigate this as soon as possible, let me know the exact name of the chemical and the send me the research done on it.
I'm also be reporting this product to the government authorities as I'm not sure how it got approved by the FDA.

Thank you for your cooperation
Alex Benim

Today 7/20/2018 I was at Costco Livonia MI & they were out of Kirkland Light Beer. They told me every Costco in southeast Michigan stopped stocking Kirkland Light Beer.
If you don't start restocking Kirkland Light Beer I may as well drop Costco membership, and go with Sams Club their membership is cheaper & they give military discounts for membership to veterans, which is something Costco should be doing! They also give 5% back on gas instead on 4% like Costco.
I also have a good suggestion for you to offer your customers a 1cent discount on every gallon of gas for opting to not take a printed receipt at the gas pumps. You would save a lot of money on the special printing paper & ink. I will guarantee 90% of your customers will opt out of having a receipt for the extra 1cent off on each gallon of gas!

Last month, I bought this butter from costco, Edison, NJ. I saw mold on 2 of the sticks. One I already used and the other I saw and discarded. Even the strawberries are moldy most of the times. Poorly kept facility.
The parking space is also poorly kept. Last month when I went to costco I fell down and sprained my leg at costco parking because of uneven poor condition of the parking space. My husband went inside for help and nobody helped. We called 911 went to the hospital and was not able to move without crutches for 1 month.

I contracted with Completely Floored through Costco on [protected]. There have been complications regarding matching wood trim which the company has been unable to resolve. I have been waiting over 2 months for these materials to finish the job. It can take a week to get someone to call back. Still no date about when they will finish. Contract states projected job finish date of 5/10/2018, over 2 months ago.

During my recent visit to my nearby Costco, I noticed Solar Panel Brochures on my way out. I decided to look into it and had a lady call me back from the 800 number on the brochure. Her demeanor was not welcoming nor personable. She was standoffish and was not helpful. I am surprised Costco allows this. This is unacceptable and Costco really needs to consider who they are partnering with.

We have been victims of identity theft, so I use unique online passwords (different for each site). It had been years since I had used my account, so I reset my password which included the word "[censored]". Costco did NOT like that at all. The attached screenshot shows the message "Prohibited characters error. Your actions have been flagged as malicious". What's going on? We had planned to join next week but after this & taking away the Polish Dogs is just too much. This nasty woman & her husband will instead use the free services & shop at Winco, Target & all the other competitors.

I stood at the register for a while then when they finally got to me an employee named Nivia very rudely asked me, "what do you want" I was really taken aback by her hostility and when I told her I wanted a pepperoni pizza she rolen her eyes and asked, "yea a slice a whole one which one?". It's a running joke how rude the people in the food court are compared to the workers in the store but this time was just out of order. I love the food there but it's not worth being made to feel like crap for simply ordering something.