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TurdF3rguson01/16/20261 replyview on HN

You were shocked that they didn't absorb the cost of your shipping mistakes?


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HarHarVeryFunny01/16/2026

Why would you assume that Costco returns are due to supplier mistakes?

Costco are legendarily permissive with returns, to extent of things like accepting bare stick-like xmas trees back after xmas, and giving a full refund, but ultimately this is to their advantage in encouraging mindless consumerism (which is also the general American model - no-question-no-fault returns are generally an American thing, not a worldwide one).

Now, a liberal return policy may work out for Costco, and Costco is obviously a high volume hence desirable customer for a supplier, but if Costco is pushing much of the cost of returns back to the supplier, that does change the picture a bit!

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