Costco Selling Used/Returned Items as New -- Is this normal?

Redfisher wrote: ↑ No their policy is very strict, they don’t sell returns, damaged, or even display models.. they all get sold to auction house who In turn resale said items with no warranty or returns.that being said I’d be more inclined to think that is manufacturing damage and just poor inspection at factory. Costco will replace no problems.

Ottomaddox wrote: ↑ Some display models get sold at my local Costco at a steep discount.

Redfisher wrote: ↑ No their policy is very strict, they don’t sell returns, damaged, or even display models..

chimaican wrote: ↑ If it's a return then it's probably the customer who returned it repackaged so well and then lied to the Costco associate about it's status (as being used), so the associate slapped a resellable sticker on it and it went back onto the shelf. Why a customer would do that makes no sense though as Costco has an amazing no questions asked return policy.

Anyways, same thing happened to me with a tower fan. The box was perfectly taped but when I opened it, the blades were caked with dust from previous use, and it squeaked. After close examination of the sealing tape, I saw they had taped over the original tape perfectly. I was able to return back to the warehouse no problem. Told the associate and they slapped a non-resellable sticker on it.


**edit**

Just saw you bought it online. Yeah, that is strange, but probably the same reason as above except the guy at the depot didn't check over the merchandise.

chimaican wrote: ↑ If it's a return then it's probably the customer who returned it repackaged so well and then lied to the Costco associate about it's status (as being used), so the associate slapped a resellable sticker on it and it went back onto the shelf. Why a customer would do that makes no sense though as Costco has an amazing no questions asked return policy.

Engi-Nir wrote: ↑ Costco used to sell our products online which we manufactured. Basically, you order on costco website, ships directly from the manufacturer, the manufacturer sent you a damaged product.

HghSsociety wrote: ↑ This, I just spent $800 on a battery operated lawn mower from Home Depot and when I opened the box it had lawn clippings in the leaf bag.

smartie wrote: ↑ You mean they resell returned but never used in store?

lennyandcarl wrote: ↑ Yes.

I returned a plastic storage bin that I didn't need and they slapped a "resalable" sticker on it and put it in a different pile. The return to floor pile is usually pretty tiny. Clothes with tags, unopened stuff (although they are pretty stringent on this and they generally don't take any chances... usually!), but mostly things you can easily check are still sealed.

IslandTourGuide wrote: ↑ I think that thread title should be modifed since it implying Costco sold a used item. The item was damaged. Not used. OP is assuming it was returned.
OP ordered online so that was most likely shipped from the manufacturer as someone (Costco staff) indicated. I'm a customer and have seen returned items put in bins for disposal if they cannot be checked, perishable or foodstuff.