Costco
reviews and complaints

I can go to Wal-Mart and purchase a box of 42 tablets for LESS Money than what Costco wants. Costco should be offering a lessor price daily for this over the counter treatment medicine than Wal-Mart! Why pay the Yearly fee to belong to Costco when Costco charges more money than Wal-Mart for these same delayed-release tablets? One must wait for the Costco savings coupon of $6.00 off Prilosec OTC 20 mg in order to match the Everyday Low Price of Wal-Mart.

I have been a member for over 20 years and lately, the produce has been very disappointing. Its a hit or miss. I have purchased the prepackaged mangoes at the Deer Valley location, only to find at least one to be rotten. I have also purchased precut mangoes and pineapple and had to return them because they were rancid. Whats going on Costco? We pay more for less these days and I'm so disappointed with the quality of produce. What do I do with the one or two rotten fruit? Take it back for exchange? Hardly seems worth it when I have to go out my way, use up gas, find parking and stand in line to return. What say you Costco?

Just went into costco saint john went to pay for our items at the cash the women told us we were not allowed to do two seperate orders which we have done before so we said we would just put it on my debit card and she said we werent allowed to do that because I didnt have my costco card present which I have my own just didnt have it in the store. We ended up leaving without our items because the women was rude and not helpful in any way. Just ridicious we will spend our money some where else from now on.

Yesterday we bought green grapes at the Baxter Costco for $9.99. They claimed on packaging that they were sweet but instead they are mushy and not sweet. I think they were picked early. Your minimum words for this complaint is almost not worth my time. What else is there to tell? Bad grapes. That's it and that's all. Thank you.

Sincerely
Debbie Gulbranson

Date: 02/23/2016

Re: horrible level of customer service from james at costco yorkdale

To whom it may concern at costco head office,

I would like to share our horrible customer service experience in dealing with james who is a tall caucasian chubby guy at the membership desk area at 6:30pm today at the costco location at yorkdale at 100 billy bishop way, north york, on m3k 2c8, phone: [protected]. I came with my mother at approximately 6:30pm to have my mother to be added as the secondary account holder and be able to get her own costco membership card. I am the primary account holder. I showed james my other’s health card and employee id card for proof of photo. I also showed him a printed tfsa bank statement showing my mother’s full name clearly and our home address. He told us he can’t accept her health card and work employee photo id as proof of photo id. He also said he wants a physical mail piece or statement that came from the mail. Does he not realize that nowadays many people have their bank statements online now and you just need to print it out? We all have electronic copy now in pdf format where we just download online and print it out. We don’t need to wait or receive much statements in the mail anymore. Most people want all their statements online to save on paper and costs. The big banks will charge less or give you free online statements instead now. If they send your statements through the mail, they will want to charge you more money in fees on a monthly basis due to all the administration costs involved. Even my banking is done online now and they do not send me much documents through the mail much anymore. Everything is sent electronically online now by email or you just need to download it yourself. James really needs to update himself and be more self-aware of new technology. We found him to be very arrogant, rude, stubborn, outdated and clueless by the way he talks to his customers.
We found james to be very rude, arrogant and condescending by the way he spoke with us too. He was very argumentative and confrontation too when I tried to explain things to him. I told him clearly that my mother does not drive so there’s no driver license. Then he said do we have passport or citizenship card. Who the heck would normally carry such sensitive documents around when they go shopping? What if these important documents are lost or stolen? Will james take the responsibility for this if it does get lost or stolen?
Why didn’t anyone tell us about this before at costco regarding that type of id is acceptable or not? I do not see any clear policies about this on the costco website at all!
I told james clearly that last week when we came on sunday, february 19 at 5:45pm at this same costco location, we met with another male customer service rep at membership and he said my mother’s work employee photo id which had her name, photo clearly on it was fine as proof of photo id which is completely opposite to what james is telling us today. The guy we dealt with on last sunday was much nicer, understanding and more pleasant to deal with in comparison to james. He also said we are just missing a statement or piece of mail that shows proof of address. He told us come back another day to show all this proof again and he will try to help us again. So he never told us that my mother’s work photo employee id card or health care was unacceptable at all!
James also rudely said “if I can’t accept health card as photo id then why would I accept a work employee photo id, this can be anyone... ” the way james spoke to us and treated his customers was horrible. He was very rude, cocky, arrogant, hostile and condescending. This is totally opposite in contrast to the guy that we deal with last week on sun. Feb. 19th at 5:45p (Tall skinny caucasian guy wearing blue shirt). Too bad we didn’t get the name of the guy we met last sunday as he was much more pleasant to deal with, genuine and much more helpful than james. James then went on to give us a lecture and argued with us about how he is just following procedure and not being difficult. He was very hostile, confrontational, enjoys arguing with others and very stubborn. Why did costco hire people like him in the first place to work in a customer service job? We keep wondering... Does costco want to lose more customers and more people cancel their membership?
I told james that this is our 2nd time coming to costco over this matter as a very busy and don’t have time to keep coming to costco to get a lousy membership card. Costco rules and policies should have been clearly & consistently communicated to me from the beginning. I went on the costco website and there was no clear policy on what is acceptable as proof of address and photo id. So it seems like each customer service rep can tell their customers different policies/stories and it is very inconsistent.
Thankfully after I spoke with a female manager, she was able to help me with getting my mother’s membership card finally after wasting 30 minutes talking to james and dealing with his rudeness/arrogance. I told the manager which is a young woman that I would like to cancel my membership if my mother doesn’t get added to my account today with her own card.
We found james to be very immature, cocky and lack good customer service etiquette. Costco should train their customer service representative much better and hire better people or else costco will lose more customers. Some of my family members have already cancelled their costco membership and I plan to cancel mine next if I have to deal with a crappy customer service rep like james again. We felt james treated customers like dirt/garbage. He acts like he is the big boss or something when he talks to his customers. He is so cocky and arrogant. We just can’t stand having someone like him serve us as a customer ever again.
I normally shop at markham costco and never received such crappy and poor level of customer service until today. I even told james that I would complain to head office at costco about what I experienced today. He arrogantly said, “go ahead; I will have your name down just in case too”. James clearly doesn’t seem to care what others think of him and doesn’t realize how horrible his communication and customers service skills are. People like him should be re-trained again or be fired! We hope the next time we visit this costco yorkdale location; we won’t receive such crappy and garbage level of service again from people like james.
Please feel free to contact me if you want more examples of how james was rude, arrogant, condescending, and provided horrible customer service at my contact details below.

Member since 04/2009

I want to say first of all, I've never had a bad experience with any Costco employees in all the years I have been a member. In fact, one of your employees assisted me with getting my infant car seat into a shopping cart as I walked in.

The very poor interactions I had were with the member services desk where I went to obtain a temporary member card. There were several people in front of me, but the only white male worker there asked if there were temporary IDs that were needed. A man in front of me went to the front of the line and was helped, so I went up with him. After this male employee helped the man in front of me he looked at me, turned around and walked away. I was a little confused but I didn't say anything, I just waited.

Well instead of helping another customer, he stood there and talked to another employee. Then two of the female workers went on break, and after maybe 5 to 10 minutes of waiting the male employee asked me if I needed help. At this point I was irritated, but again didn't say anything. I asked for a temporary ID, which he made.

However he and another hispanic female worker must have known that I was irritated because as I walked away I heard them snicker. I have never had such rude and unprofessional service from anyone. If it were any other business, I would ask for my money back. But this isn't the kind of situation that warrants a refund. I just think these workers need to know that their actions affect your company. For some reason I doubt these employees really care, as it seemed this man was a manager.

In today's world, people have so many choices of where they shop and spend their money. It's unfortunate that even one poor interaction could ruin a customer relationship. The thought of going back and being treated that way makes me sick.

I was at the return counter returning an item. There was an employee in a blue shirt arms length away but facing my right ear talking very loud to someone next to him. Stated something about needing signatures on the check. I lost my hearing in my left ear due to Menier's in 1986 and have relied on my right ever since. There was a customer to my left and told my clerk I had a hard time understanding him because of all the talking around me. This employee in the blue shirt piped up and said I should get my hearing tested and get a hearing aid and he was smirking as he said it. I defended myself by stating that I had my hearing tested and have even tried hearing aids but they didn't help. A hearing aid would have only amplified his already loud voice directly into my hearing ear. He was not only invading my space and felt he was too close, but he was ridiculing a handicapped person and I find that unacceptable. Although I don't have his name I will recognize his babyface. I was at the Costco on 2-21-17 at 16:13 and although it was Seidi doing the refund, it was the employee working next to her that was talking to me that I couldn't hear. No complaints about the employees behind the counter, just the insensitive employee next to me. Will you do anything ?

Date : 2/18/17 Store #: 128 Product Item # 1094116 HP Laptop Computer
COSTCO Executive Member

My recent experience: Very, very, poor Concierge Service -Technical Support.

2/18/17 - Sat amPDT
Bought Laptop HP 15" touch screen (item #1094116) - nothing real fancy just a basic HP model laptop.
After initial set up by me, I wanted to know how to use some features in Windows 10 so I called Concierge Services, computer service, and the individual asked a few questions (to validate?) my purchase from COSTCO. That being completed, I asked the individual about some features in Windows 10 and the consistent reply was:
- Oh, we don't do that ...we don't handle that because it is a Microsoft product or that is a HP product or that is a...

Finally, I said 'Thank You' and hung up the phone.
- Not to be easily dissuaded, I tried again that same afternoon and got a different Concierge Services rep - also with similar results to my questions, with an exception to connect me with the laptop OEM: Hewlett Packard, or with the software manufacturer: Microsoft. This experience still left me less than happy as I compared the Technical Support provide by COSTCO and Dell (on my other computer) that I use daily. With DELL I can get my technical questions answered and solved. This Saturday pm Technical session was concluded, partially successfully because: a) it was getting time to 'change shifts' in India, and b) I needed to reboot after the installations were completed.

2/19/17 - Sun pmPDT
- Again, not easily dissuaded, I called COSTCO Concierge Services back so I could resume the technical support call with the OEM: Hewlett Packard. Of course there were the same questions from COSTCO Concierge Service to 'validate my purchase' from COSTCO, before answering my questions...
- After asking my initial questions and finding the similar response ..'.we don't handle that because it is a Microsoft product or that is a HP product or that is a... Then I was informed, the OEM (HP) was closed on Sunday and please call back on Monday (Presidents Day; a US-Federal Holiday!).

IN SUMMARY:
- I'm not sure this was a good purchase, and I KNOW the computer technical support system is 'broken'. I know there are 'word smithing' that goes on in the advertising world... therefore the reputations have been earned. However I believe Corporate reputations transcend 'word smithing' when customers know they have been duped.
After all what comes to your mind when you open the computer box and read enclosed flyer...'EXCLUSIVE FOR MEMBERS' / Trouble shooting assistance covers initial set up as well as everyday use.../ All calls are handled by service representatives in the United States/ English- and Spanish-speaking agents are available/ ...Call [protected], 5am -10pm Pacific Time, 7 days a week (excluding holidays) ...

- I can't tell you how frustrated I am with this recent experience. I like (and pay for a 4 year technical [hardware and software]support service agreement) the great technical support sold by Dell. I think their motto is 'If Dell sold it, we'll fix it' if it is connected to a Dell product, we'll try to fix it.' Am I loyal customer - yes, until this most recent event.

Not sure if this note will bring about improving the COSTCO Concierge Services for computers or not. As a consumer I will be aware.

Why change the packaging paper? It's hard enough to lift and pour a 40 pound bag into the container.

What brilliant person thought to package a 40 pound bag of dog food in a high gloss slippery paper. The little slit I made spilt the entire bag open as I attempted to pour. Then it slipped right through my hands and arms and the dog food went EVERYWHERE!

Who cleans up the mess but the FAT dog I bought the HEALTHY WEIGHT DOG FOOD FOR.

Come ON! Can't Kirkland do better?

I bought a pair of glasses at the Costco Optical in Greenville, SC. They arrived promptly the next Friday (February 10th, 2017). I paid for them to be shipped to my house because I am a busy and working student and did not have time to drive and go get them before the next weekend. I was expecting the glasses to be at my door the following Tuesday (February 14th, 2017) because I only live 45 mins away in Clemson, SC, which means a short drive for UPS ground. I called that day and I was informed that the glasses had not even been placed in the back-room to be shipped out. I then waited patiently until Friday (February 17th, 2017) and the glasses had still not arrived. By this point, I could have driven to go get the glasses. I am requesting a refund for the shipping costs of my glasses due to the unsatisfactory amount of time the process has taken.

Today I called Costco to ask what could be done about a cash card that was taken out of my card by a valet driver. The lady on the phone told me that I could come down and they'd transfer the remaining balance onto a new card. I told her I'd come in now and hung up. When I arrived at Costco (on a Sunday that was extremely busy so I try to avoid coming on a Sunday) some of the employees tried to be helpful but when they asked what could be done to help me the supervisor Carrie, told them and me that nothing could be done and shrug her shoulders. I asked them to even shutoff the card to avoid the card being used and she couldn't be bothered. When another employee, Jesse, tried to explain the possibility of calling the help desk she again shrugged her shoulders, said it was closed and seemed irritated. I've been shopping at Costco for years and I've never had such bad customer service by a supervisor. They way she talked to me and her employee was less then professional. She could have cared less that someone else was going to spend the money on the card I was requesting she transferred. I understand that the credit card company was closed, but she could have handled that in a better manner. I understand that it's busy and stressful to deal with customers all day, but as a supervisor in a customer service based industry it's unacceptable. I then watched her talk over another customer while he was trying to explain his problem with a product.

My husband and I went to the Costco in Inglewood today (02/18/2017). Everything was going perfectly until my husband &I I went to go pay for our things. We were next, I gave the Costco card to the cashier, and then the guy asked me who's name is on the card. I told him it was my husbands. My husband came back from getting something and he told my husband that I couldn't pay with my EBT card because I didn't have a seperate Costco card. We NEVER had a problem with paying until this guy came along and embarrassed us. I told him "Is there somewhere else we can pay because this is ridiculous". I was upset, and he brought in another coworker to just prove that he was right. I couldn't get the man's name but he was a Hispanic man, short hair cut, light skin. I can indentify him in person if I had to go back. He was very rude and my husband and I felt discriminated. He let the lady in front of us pay with her EBT card. Why didn't he let us? Is it because he feels superior to us just because we were using food stamps? Or was he just trying to bribe us into buying another membership? Whatever the reason, I didn't like what he did to us. We stood in a long line, not expecting to be turned away. We had to leave our groceries right there at the line. It was injustice done to us; we've never had this problem until today. I might just not come back to Costco to do my shopping knowing there's rude employees.

The hem on these pants doesn't last very long at all and once it begins to fray, they're trash. So I could spend a few more dollars on name brand khakis and have them last for years, or buy these and use them for a much shorter time. If they would just fix the hem I would continue to buy them, but who knows if that will ever happen. Right now I believe they are a waste of money. They have good material, but the fraying is really annoying.

We have been customers for many years and although we have had some products we were not fully satisfied with... This one is unacceptable!

I was having my peaches and yogurt this morning and crunched down on a piece of peach pit... Almost broke my tooth!

I think you need better quality control in making sure there are no pit pieces in your product. # on label: l pgd b96170016p u
# on jar: best by 04 25 18 pdg 621500 21:28

Please contact me [protected]@ [protected] linda solmonson

I have had several devices/toys that have been damaged by Kirkland and the name brand batteries they carry (same as Kirkland) because they LEAK. They are VERY dangerous to put in the hands of your children in their toys.

I finally got angry, collected all of these inferior batteries and went back to Costco to return...and then got HASSLED on my return because I was a few batteries short of a "full package". I explained over and over to the clerk, but she would not listen. Eventually after I was getting upset...a manager came over and took care of it. RIDICULOUS response to a customer that has a problem due to their product (I even brought in a device that still had their leaking batteries inside) and she still didnt want to refund my few dollars.

Costco lost a lot of cred with me...after being a member for 25 years.

I placed an order through Costco online for a split king adjustable bed and mattress set. I paid for removal of my current bed. The delivery company delivered the product but one of the mattresses was defective. I immediately notified Costco and they requested pictures. As I took pictures of the defective mattress, I noticed that they delivered the wrong mattress set. I paid for a more expensive one but they delivered a less expensive one. The one I received contained latex to which I am allergic. The one I paid for does not contain latex but now they are sold out. I have been corresponding with customer service reps but I am doing an awful lot of work to not have a bed to sleep on.

These treats are dog killers. I lost my sweet Jindo Uno ten days ago after a bag of these were brought into our house by a friend we were dog sitting. I don't feed this kind of treats but the dogs got them out of the pantry where I thought I hid them. I was out to the store and returned to find a floor full of empty dog treat bags. Usually not a problem, they get diarrhea and no big deal! NOT THIS TIME! Mango must have tried to eat these rock hard treats and swallowed shards of them whole. I woke up the next morning to find her laying dead on the kitchen floor in a pool of blood from her anus. It was loaded with sharp shattered points of the treats that had torn apart her intestines! Please take these off the shelves immediately!

The straws on the Horizon brand individual chocolate milk boxes are generally dysfunctional.
When drinking the milk you get so much air that you can't enjoy the milk. Come on! We want to enjoy our chocolate milk!

I tried a Kirkland chocolate milk box yesterday and thought, "This tastes better and the straws are normal. We should switch."

I bought some today and discovered that Kirkland changed their boxes to the Horizon style container with the "worst straw" I've ever come across!

Please return to original Kirkland Container! And tell Horizon to buy Kirkland boxes. Kirkland chocolate milk is my preference as well as the original container and straw style. It tastes better and works better.
Don't lose the overall quality of your product by using that awful Horizon brand style box with straw.

Take the example of Capri Sun. Don't change something that is excellent.

I would like to continue buying Kirkland individual size chocolate milk boxes but if the container keeps using that stupid straw I will never buy any chocolate milk again from Costco.

I am a new customer to the Costco at home water delivery, Crystal Springs. My first delivery was scheduled for Thursday, (which requires the home owner to be home the entire day to receive first delivery). No delivery arrived. I called and they noted it was rescheduled for Friday. Friday I stayed home all day and no delivery. I called Friday and they explained it was rescheduled for Monday. Monday I stayed home again. I called Monday afternoon and the rep said it was rescheduled for Tuesday. I explained this was unacceptable. He contacted the local distribution manager and the confirmed that it would in fact be delivered Monday afternoon. No one showed again. I called back today, Tuesday to confirm when delivery was showing up and they noted it was rescheduled again for Wednesday. I can not calmly explain the frustration and anger I am feeling currently. I never once received a call from Crystal Springs noting a reschedule. The rep explained that they are having distribution issues. Costco should not be endorsing/partnering with a company that can not make a simple delivery and that lacks even basic customer service. Four days I've wasted staying home waiting for a delivery. Completely unacceptable. I am looking for someone who can help here. It seems that Costco's partner, Crystal Springs does not care. Please contact me to let me know how this can be resolved.

Recently I received charges on my credit card from a Costco. The person that hacked my credit card purchasing at Costco inadvertently shipped the products to my address on the credit card when I brought this to Costco's attention and the Visa card company Costco said that they would take care of it since I received the product . Bring the items in and they would take care of it. Freddy front desk manager at Menomonee Falls Costco refused to do anything about even though he knows the person that was hacking my credit card and made the purchase he refused to help both Visa or myself or take the product or report the person who is stealing credit card numbers. Freddy the manager basically called me a liar and that I had made purchases so that I could sell the items on Amazon . Another front desk member looked up who it actually made the orders and found out it was a woman named Patricia that had hacked my credit card and was making the purchases. I asked Freddy the manager if they commonly let members use other people's credit card that doesn't match their ID to make purchases . Front dest manager Freddy said Costco does not care how members pay. Freddy the front desk manager went on to say that I was the thief and I was trying to fraud him.
Freddy the front desk manager said I don't even talk to non-members and so I will not deal with you because you're not a Costco member.