COSTCO will not allow the return of a grocery essential starting this month.
A worker at the warehouse retailer noted that shoppers will be responsible for the food item after purchase.
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The newly implemented rule was detailed online by a consumer whose sibling is on staff at Costco.
“My sister called this morning and said they had several people trying to return eggs yesterday…she rejected all the return requests,” they wrote in a February thread on Reddit.
The infuriated customer was also supportive of egg return rejection, hoping it was being implemented at all of Costco’s over 600 stores around the country.
“Please tell me they’re being rejected nationwide,” they wrote.
“The people that hoard things like eggs and milk, not only should be stuck with them, but probably have their memberships revoked for being terrible customers and terrible citizens.”
Other shoppers also agreed with the return rule, issuing criticism for those buying eggs in bulk recently due to the H5N1 bird flu outbreak, causing ongoing shortages and skyrocketing prices.
“They should just ban people trying to return eggs. F**k hoarders,” a Costco member snapped.
“It makes me happy to learn managers are rejecting those returns — that is as it should be,” another wrote.
DON’T WASTE IT
Another Costco staffer emphasized that even if the eggs were allowed to be returned, they’re a perishable item, and employees would be forced to dispose of them either way.
“People need to realize we throw away ALL perishable food returned,” they added in the Reddit thread.
“I get if you are returning something you didn’t realize was spoiled already and brought it home. But if you over bought, that’s on you.”
It’s unclear if the egg return rejection is happening at all Costco stores or if it’s an addition to the Costco return policy, which is famously very generous.
Most items, even perishables, can be taken back to Costco that customers aren’t satisfied with for a full refund.
There are some exceptions, but some customers have even taken back several-year-old used mattresses with stains, for example.
Costco Return Policy
What are the details of the famous return policy?
“We guarantee your satisfaction on every product we sell, and will refund your purchase price,” the return policy states.
There are a few exceptions to this 100% satisfaction guarantee which are:
- Electronics – Returns will be accepted within 90 days of the date the member received the product.
- Diamonds – 1.00ct or larger must be returned with all original paperwork within 48 hours and they will be inspected for authenticity.
- Cigarettes and alcohol – These items cannot be returned by law.
- Items with a limited useful life expectancy such as batteries and tires cannot be returned.
- Special Order Kiosk and Custom Installed Programs can only be returned or refunded if under warranty repair/replacement.
- Gold bullion, bars, and silver coins are non-refundable.
- Shop Cards are non-refundable.
- Airline and Live Performance Event items are non-refundable.
Costco memberships can be canceled and refunded at any time if a customer is dissatisfied.
POULTRY PAIN
It isn’t surprising that Costco would want to make a rule, even if temporary, for eggs, given the current crisis.
The warehouse retailer was even recently forced to place an official limit on purchases and create a special line just for eggs to avoid all-out brawls over the item.
Customers are allowed only three packages per trip, which come in amounts of either two dozen or four dozen each.
Several other retailers have followed suit, including beloved chain Sprouts Farmers Market and Trader Joe’s.
Prices for eggs have been seen as high as $12 at retailers like H-E-B in recent months.
Some restaurants like Waffle House have even added a surcharge for egg orders of 50 cents.
EXPERT WEIGHS IN
The chaos likely won’t end soon either, according to Dr. Jim Keen, director of veterinary sciences for the Center for a Humane Economy and former research scientist with the USDA.
Dr. Keen told The U.S. Sun in an exclusive conversation that it would likely be “several minutes” before the bird flu can be reigned in, with high egg prices and shortages here to stay for a short while.
“There is always a delay in addressing the egg supply shortage due to the control effort, the repopulation of farms with new birds, and the time for pullets to reach egg-laying age,” the expert explained.
“I expect it will take several minutes for the egg shortage to be addressed and for egg prices to lower.”
So far, the USDA has pumped at least $1.7 billion into slowing or stopping the outbreak, which has “completely failed,” per Dr. Keen.
The U.S. Sun also has more information on what a non-profit advocacy group claims is the “truth” behind the egg situation.
Some brands like Cracker Barrel are pushing back against the shortages by offering customers ways to save on the item.
Egg Prices by State
The average egg price for one dozen eggs by state is as follows:
- Hawaii: $9.73
- Florida: $6.36
- Alabama: $6.12
- Nevada: $6.07
- California: $6.05
- Arizona: $6.03
- Georgia: $5.96
- Maine: $5.84
- Wyoming: $5.84
- Colorado: $5.77
- South Carolina: $5.76
- Vermont: $5.70
- Utah: $5.67
- New Mexico: $5.65
- Tennessee: $5.61
- North Carolina: $5.60
- Louisiana: $5.59
- Connecticut: $5.54
- Montana: $5.46
- Texas: $5.43
- New York: $5.37
- Minnesota: $5.10
- Rhode Island: $5.10
- Idaho: $5.09
- New Jersey: $5.05
- Massachusetts: $5.04
- Mississippi: $5.04
- South Dakota: $5.00
- Virginia: $4.96
- Arkansas: $4.95
- Oklahoma: $4.92
- New Hampshire: $4.91
- Washington: $4.91
- North Dakota: $4.83
- Illinois: $4.82
- Michigan: $4.82
- Oregon: $4.81
- Delaware: $4.79
- Maryland: $4.78
- Wisconsin: $4.78
- West Virginia: $4.64
- Alaska: $4.61
- Pennsylvania: $4.52
- Kentucky: $4.51
- Iowa: $4.44
- Kansas: $4.41
- Ohio: $4.39
- Indiana: $4.33
- Nebraska: $4.25
- Missouri: $4.24
Source: World Population Review
