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Costco Reviews, Complaints & Contacts

Costco Wholesale Corporation is the Issaquah, Washington warehouse-club operator that sells memberships, merchandise, fuel and Kirkland Signature products. Costco says it will refund a membership fee at any time if the member is dissatisfied. In 2026 a King County court approved a $14 million settlement of a class action over Costco's promotional emails.

REVIEWS & COMPLAINTS103on USAComplaints · none in 2023-2026 · latest 2013
PHONE(800) 774-2678Membership and Warehouse customer service (Costco's Contact…
WEBSITEcostco.com
HEADQUARTERSIssaquah, WA
PROFILE CHECKED
Submit a Complaint Read reviews & complaints ↓ Call (800) 774-2678 Official website ↗
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Contacts

PhoneAddress

Customer service & general contact

Show all 22 contacts

Customer service & general contact (continued)

Cancel, billing & returns

Official website

Report abuse or suspicious activity

Other contacts

Settlements & legal notices

Corporate & press

VERIFIED

Locations

  • Headquarters999 Lake Drive, Issaquah, WA 98027
EDITORIAL

Company Information

BBB, ComplaintsBoard and Trustpilot figures

Legal name
Costco Wholesale Corporation
Founded
1983
Business type
Membership warehouse club and e-commerce retailer (Nasdaq: COST) selling merchandise, fuel, tires, pharmacy and optical services and the Kirkland Signature private label
Website
costco.comSource: Company website, checked
Headquarters
Issaquah, WASource: Costco Form 10-K for fiscal 2026, cover page, checked

Costco Wholesale Corporation is a publicly traded company (Nasdaq: COST) that files annual and quarterly reports with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, most recently its Form 10-K for fiscal 2026, filed October 7, 2026. Those reports give its headquarters as 999 Lake Drive, Issaquah, Washington 98027, and the same address appears on its BBB profile, which carries an A+ rating; Costco is not BBB Accredited. Costco's own return policy promises to cancel and refund a membership fee at any time if the member is dissatisfied and to refund merchandise, subject to listed exceptions.

The government actions and lawsuits in the sections on this page are reported as the agency orders, court orders and Costco's filings state them. In the EPA order Costco neither admitted nor denied the factual allegations, the CPSC settlement states it is not an admission that Costco broke the reporting rules, and the Washington email settlement order says it is not an admission of liability.

EXTERNAL SOURCE

Independent Sources

BBBComplaints in the last 3 years, 821 in the last 12 months
273 reviews · 2,518 complaints · BBB business grade A+ · average customer rating 1.22 / 5
Figures checked
ComplaintsBoardAll-time user submissions
21 reviews · 2,002 reports · average customer rating 1.3 / 5
Figures checked
TrustpilotAll-time reviews, 442 in the last 12 months
3,170 reviews · TrustScore 2.7 / 5
Figures checked
EDITORIAL

Complaint Themes

Customer service and staff conductReturns, refunds and membership refundsMembership card, renewal or cancellationTires and Tire CenterCostco.com orders and deliveryPharmacy, optical and foodRebates and promised reimbursements

Themes, not a count of complaints.

CONSUMER ALLEGATION

Reviews & Complaints on USAComplaints

103 complaints linked to the Costco profile are published on this site (2004-2013). None are from 2023-2026.

Show 15 more complaints on this page
EDITORIAL

Complaints about Costco: posts on this site, BBB, Trustpilot and ComplaintsBoard

Posts on this site. The reports are dated 2004-2013. None are from 2023-2026. They concern dealings with Costco itself (warehouses, Costco.com, membership, the Tire Center, gas stations, pharmacy and food court) and were written between 2004 and 2013, so the rules they describe may have changed since. The posts have not been verified by this site, and some of them are favorable. Posts about kiosks and programs that other companies run at or through Costco, and about co-branded Costco charge or credit cards, are linked separately because they mainly concern those companies. The topic labels on this page show what the linked posts most often describe: service at the counter, membership renewals and refunds, returns, tires, online orders, pharmacy and food, and promised rebates.

Other complaint and review sites.

  • BBB (headquarters profile, Issaquah, WA): rating A+, not BBB Accredited; 2,518 complaints in the last 3 years, 821 of them in the last 12 months; customer reviews average 1.22 out of 5 from 273 reviews. BBB says customer reviews are not used in calculating its letter grade.
  • Trustpilot (www.costco.com): TrustScore 2.7 out of 5 from 3,170 reviews, 442 of them in the last 12 months. The profile is unclaimed, and Trustpilot notes that the company has not invited its customers, so reviews may not be representative.
  • ComplaintsBoard: rating 1.3 from 21 reviews, with 2,002 complaints; the business has not claimed the profile. These are submissions users chose to post on that site.

Had an experience with Costco? Tell other people what happened.

Submit a Complaint
EDITORIAL

Costco membership refunds, returns, tire warranty, contacts and fake messages: what Costco's rules say

The rules on this page come from Costco's own help pages and apply to U.S. memberships. Posts on this site date from 2004 to 2013, so the rules they describe may have changed.

Membership fee, auto-renewal and refunds. Costco's return policy says: "We will cancel and refund your membership fee at any time if you are dissatisfied." A U.S. Gold Star or Business membership costs $65 a year and an Executive membership $130 a year, before sales tax. With Auto Renewal, the card on file "will be charged on the first day of your renewal month". To turn Auto Renewal off, use a warehouse membership counter, your membership account on Costco.com, Member Services chat, or call (800) 774-2678, "at least 72 hours prior to the first day of your renewal month". If you remove it within 48 hours of the renewal date, the card will likely still be charged, but Costco says it will refund that charge to the card within two business days.

If your membership has already renewed automatically on the first of the month, Costco's Auto Renewal Refund Request form refunds the full renewal amount plus tax to the card charged. Refunds take about 5 to 7 business days, and the membership then expires at the end of that month unless you renew it in a warehouse or on Costco.com. Downgrades and other refunds that need a transaction cannot be done by Live Chat or on Costco.com: Costco says to "stop by the membership desk of your local Costco or give our Membership Department a call at (800) 774-2678." An unexpected charge of about $65 or $130 on the first or second day of a month is most likely an automatic membership renewal, according to Costco.

Merchandise returns. Costco's return policy says: "We guarantee your satisfaction on every product we sell, and will refund your purchase price*", with the note "Limitations apply. See the membership counter or Costco.com for details." Electronics have a 90-day window "from the date the member received the merchandise" for televisions, projectors, major appliances, computers, touchscreen tablets, smart wearable devices, cameras, drones, camcorders, MP3 players and cellular phones (the page adds that return details for phones vary by carrier service contract). The page also lists items that cannot be returned or have special rules: custom products made to a member's specifications, airline and live-performance event items, precious metals, Shop Cards, gift card and ticket items, and cigarettes or alcohol where the law prohibits returns. A diamond over 1.00 carat must come back with all its original IGI or GIA paperwork. It says products with a limited useful life, "such as tires and batteries, may be sold with a product-specific limited warranty."

Costco.com orders and price matching. An online order can be returned to any Costco warehouse for an immediate refund, or returned or replaced through Orders & Returns on Costco.com, which sends a return label within the hour for most items. Refunds include shipping and handling, go to the original payment method, and Costco says "You won't be charged for the return shipping." Costco's price-match page for Costco.com orders says purchases that go down in price within 30 days of the purchase date are eligible, that "Costco does not price match with other businesses or retailers", and that warehouse purchases are handled at the Returns counter of the warehouse where the item was bought.

Tire Center. Costco's tire site says that tires bought by members from a Costco Tire Center come with installation at no charge, a 5-year road hazard warranty, rotation, balancing, inflation checks, flat repairs and nitrogen inflation; extra component costs such as TPMS service pack fees may apply. The Costco Road Hazard Warranty works as follows:

  • What is covered: a "road hazard failure", which Costco defines as "a tire that becomes unserviceable due to cuts, non-repairable punctures or impact damage."
  • How long: 60 months from the purchase date or until the tread is worn to 1.6 mm (2/32 of an inch), whichever comes first.
  • What you get: a prorated credit toward a new tire, based on the usable tread left multiplied by the price paid net of discounts, not a free replacement.
  • Who can claim and how: only the original purchaser, by bringing the original receipt and the tire to a Costco tire center and signing a tire adjustment form. The tires must have been rotated and balanced as the vehicle manufacturer recommends and kept at the recommended pressure.
  • Not covered: damage from vandalism, accidents, commercial use, racing or off-road use, snow chains or studs, irregular wear from worn vehicle parts, and tires moved from the vehicle they were first installed on.

For a tire claim, call or visit the Tire Center of the warehouse where you bought the tires. Costco's Contact Us page has no central Tire Center number: it says to reach warehouse departments such as the Tire Center or the warehouse pharmacy by finding and calling the nearest Costco.

Costco's customer service numbers.

  • Membership and Warehouse: (800) 774-2678 (Monday to Friday 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. PT, Saturday and Sunday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. PT).
  • Costco.com online orders and orders delivered by Costco Logistics: (800) 955-2292 (Monday to Friday 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. PT, Saturday and Sunday 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. PT).
  • Costco Business Center orders: (800) 788-9968 (Monday to Friday 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. PT).
  • Costco Technical & Warranty Services technical support: (866) 861-0450 (Monday to Sunday 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. PT).
  • Costco Mail Order Pharmacy: (800) 607-6861 (Monday to Friday 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. PT, Saturday 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. PT). Costco Travel: (877) 849-2730 (Monday to Friday 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. PT, Saturday and Sunday 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. PT). The page also lists separate numbers for Costco Home Improvement installed products such as windows, flooring, HVAC and awnings.

Costco Next. Costco says: "Access to Costco Next store fronts is no longer available." Its Costco Next Member Services page lists the vendors' contacts and says: "For eligible returns and warranty inquiries, contact the vendor directly."

Recalls. Costco posts its current recalls and product notices on the Recalls & Product Notices page of Costco.com, and federal recalls of products sold at Costco are also posted by the Consumer Product Safety Commission. For example, CPSC recall 26-068 of November 6, 2025 covered about 941,400 bottles of Kirkland Signature Valdobbiadene Prosecco DOCG sold at Costco stores in 12 states, because "The Prosecco bottles can break or shatter, posing a laceration hazard". CPSC told consumers to stop using the bottles immediately without trying to open them, to discard them in the household trash. CPSC also told consumers to contact the importer, F&F Fine Wines International, Inc., doing business as Ethica Wines ((786) 810-7132, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET), for instructions on getting a full refund from Costco. Injuries or safety problems with a product can be reported to CPSC at SaferProducts.gov.

Messages, calls and checks using Costco's name. Costco's customer service site keeps a list of currently known fraudulent offers. It shows fake surveys, giveaways, "membership payment failed" and expiration notices, reward and reimbursement texts, job offers and fake websites, and says of them: "These offers are not from Costco Wholesale." It tells people not to click links in such messages or give the sender personal information. It also warns of calls that imitate Costco's home-office, (425) 313-8100, Costco.com, (800) 955-2292 or membership, (800) 774-2678 numbers, in which a caller claiming to be from a "Chinese Costco Member Service" says a fraudulent account has been opened in the person's name in China. Real Costco emails come from a Costco.com domain (Digital Costco Shop Cards come from [email protected]), and about unexpected checks bearing Costco's name Costco says: "Do not deposit the check or follow the instructions you receive with it." Costco asks that fraudulent calls, emails and texts be reported to the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

If Costco does not resolve your complaint. Start with the warehouse where you bought the item or the Membership line, and keep your receipt, order number and membership number. If you paid by credit card and were billed the wrong amount, or for something you did not receive or did not authorize, you can dispute the charge in writing with your card issuer. Under the Fair Credit Billing Act the issuer must receive the dispute within 60 days after it sent the first statement showing the charge.

A debit card falls under a different law, the Electronic Fund Transfer Act: tell your bank within 60 days after the statement showing the charge was sent. For the co-branded Costco Anywhere Visa, the issuer is Citi, and unresolved card problems can be sent to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau at consumerfinance.gov/complaint. You can also complain to your state attorney general's consumer protection office; the National Association of Attorneys General lists every state attorney general at naag.org/find-my-ag.

The Washington Attorney General, in Costco's home state, takes complaints from Washington residents and about businesses located in Washington, online, by mail to 800 Fifth Avenue, Suite 2000, Seattle, WA 98104, or by phone at (800) 551-4636 (in Washington only) or (206) 464-6684. Deceptive practices can be reported to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, and complaints can be filed with BBB, which forwards them to the business.

EDITORIAL

Government actions: EPA (2025), CPSC (2018) and investigations Costco discloses

EPA pesticide-law penalty, 2025. On May 27, 2025 EPA Region 10 filed a Consent Agreement and Final Order with Costco Wholesale Corp. under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), docket FIFRA-10-2025-0056, assessing a penalty of $3,066,724. Costco admitted the jurisdictional allegations and "neither admits nor denies the specific factual allegations". The order lists four groups of allegations:

  • Between January 1, 2022 and May 2, 2023, Costco's store at 3150 Fostoria Way in Danville, California sold 2,093 units of Boss Antimicrobial Work Gloves, which EPA says were treated with an antimicrobial pesticide but were not registered with EPA themselves.
  • On 108 occasions between November 11, 2021 and April 1, 2022, Costco imported Winix C545 air purifiers, which EPA says were misbranded pesticide devices.
  • Costco was the importer of record for 106 shipments of those purifiers between September 15, 2021 and April 1, 2022 without filing the required Notices of Arrival.
  • After EPA ordered Costco on March 16, 2022 to stop selling the purifiers, Costco sold or distributed them 1,419 times between June 29 and August 3, 2022.

Costco's Form 10-K for fiscal 2025 describes the matter as settled "for an immaterial amount".

CPSC civil penalty, 2018. On October 5, 2018 the Consumer Product Safety Commission announced that Costco had agreed to pay a $3.85 million civil penalty (CPSC Docket 19-C0001). CPSC staff alleged that Costco imported and sold about 367,000 EKO Sensible Eco Living 80-liter trash cans between December 2013 and May 2015, received 92 complaints in that period, 60 of them from consumers who were injured. CPSC staff also alleged that Costco did not immediately report that a plastic collar could come loose and expose a sharp edge, posing a laceration hazard. The trash cans were recalled in July 2015. The settlement states that it "does not constitute an admission by Costco or a determination by the Commission that Costco violated the CPSA's reporting requirements," and Costco says in it that it "does not believe that it knowingly violated the CPSA". Costco also agreed to maintain a compliance program for the Consumer Product Safety Act.

Investigations Costco discloses. Costco's SEC filings say it received civil investigative demands from the Washington Attorney General's Office on January 2 and August 22, 2024, and a pre-litigation letter from the Los Angeles County Counsel, related to the pharmacy-website tracking-pixel lawsuits, and that it is responding to both. The filings report no outcome.

Data security. Costco's 10-K for fiscal 2026 says "We and our third-party service and merchandise providers have experienced cybersecurity incidents and threats." The California Attorney General's list of data-breach notices includes one Costco entry, for Costco Photo Center, with a breach date of June 19, 2014, reported on September 23, 2015.

EDITORIAL

Lawsuits: Washington email settlement, tariff-refund suits, pharmacy-website privacy case and Kirkland Signature tequila labeling

Court records

Claims in a lawsuit are the plaintiffs' allegations until a court rules on them. This section follows the court orders and dockets for each case and Note 10 of Costco's Form 10-K for fiscal 2026, filed October 7, 2026.

More on the lawsuitsShow less

Washington email settlement (Aaland v. Costco): approved. The class claimed that promotional emails Costco sent to Washington residents had false or misleading subject lines, in violation of Washington's Commercial Electronic Mail Act. In an order dated October 1, 2026, Judge Janet Helson of King County Superior Court gave final approval to a $14,000,000.00 settlement. The order includes $4,620,000.00 in class counsel fees, $16,299.58 in litigation costs and a $2,500.00 service award to the named plaintiff. The order overrules the objections, sends any residual funds to the Legal Foundation of Washington and dismisses the case with prejudice.

It states that neither the judgment nor the settlement is an admission by Costco of liability or wrongdoing. The class is Washington residents who received a Costco commercial email from June 2, 2021 through the class notice date; the deadline to file a claim, opt out or object was August 24, 2026. Class members with payment questions can call the settlement administrator at (888) 808-6247. Costco's 10-K reports a newer email class action filed in July 2026, Jay v. Costco (King County No. 26-2-22333-5SEA), alleging misleading "limited-time" subject lines.

Tariff-refund suits: pending. Four class actions filed in March 2026, Stockov (N.D. Ill.), Gower (King County Superior Court), Ortiz (D.P.R.) and Briggs (W.D. Wash.), claim that Costco passed tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) on to members through higher prices. The suits say Costco should share any refund of those tariffs, under state consumer-protection laws and equitable doctrines. Costco's 10-K says it moved to dismiss Stockov and Gower, that the Gower court denied the motion on July 17, 2026, and that a motion seeking discretionary appellate review of that ruling is pending.

In Stockov, Costco's motion to dismiss was fully briefed by August 12, 2026. In September 2026 Costco, along with more than a dozen other retailers, opposed a request to the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation to centralize customer tariff-refund suits against retailers in one federal court. No court has found that Costco owes members a refund. What Costco has said about the refunds it received is in the company background section.

Pharmacy-website privacy case (Castillo): pending. Plaintiffs allege that Costco installed the Meta Pixel and other tracking tools on its pharmacy website and shared customers' health information without disclosure. On November 14, 2024 the court let the federal Wiretap Act, Washington Consumer Protection Act, Washington Uniform Health Care Information Act, California Invasion of Privacy Act, California Confidentiality of Medical Information Act, Florida Security of Communications Act and unjust enrichment claims proceed. The court dismissed four other claims without prejudice. Costco answered on December 20, 2024.

Costco moved for spoliation sanctions under Rule 37 on May 29, 2026, plaintiffs moved under seal to certify a class on July 2, 2026, and Costco filed a further motion to dismiss and a motion to exclude expert testimony on September 25, 2026. Under the court's October 6, 2026 scheduling order, briefing on those motions runs to December 2, 2026. Costco says it has received related civil investigative demands from the Washington Attorney General's Office and a pre-litigation letter from the Los Angeles County Counsel. A related California state case, Birdwell (Contra Costa County), was dismissed with prejudice in March 2026, according to the 10-K.

Kirkland Signature tequila labeling (Salisbury): dismissed with prejudice. Plaintiffs alleged that Kirkland Signature tequila labeled "100% de Agave" contains alcohol from non-agave sugars. Before ruling, the court said that any non-party wishing to offer its views, "including the Government of Mexico", had to do so as amicus curiae. On October 16, 2026 Judge Kymberly K. Evanson dismissed the case with prejudice, holding that the claims are nonjusticiable under the doctrine of international comity and that the act of state doctrine separately warrants dismissal, and denied leave to amend as futile. Judgment was entered and the case was closed on October 19, 2026. The court did not decide whether the labeling allegation is true. A related Florida case, Glazer, was dismissed without prejudice, according to the 10-K.

Baby wipes (Bullard): closed. A 2024 class action alleged that Kirkland Signature baby wipes contained PFAS. The court denied a motion to dismiss on May 14, 2025; the plaintiff then dismissed the case voluntarily, with prejudice, and it was closed on November 18, 2025.

Other matters in Costco's filings. The 10-K for fiscal 2026 also describes employee wage-and-hour and PAGA actions in California and Washington, including Reyes (E.D. Cal. No. 2:24-cv-00300), Madera (King County, which Costco says has been resolved for an immaterial amount, subject to court approval) and Howell (dismissed). The filing also describes a Washington class action over a policy restricting second jobs, Gray (King County No. 25-2-17717-3), in which a class was certified in December 2025 and trial is set for March 1, 2027. The filing also describes opioid litigation, including the federal MDL No. 2804. Costco says it does not believe any pending matter will have a material adverse effect on its financial position.

California Proposition 65 notice. The California Attorney General's Proposition 65 record 2023-00357 lists Costco Wholesale Corporation and Fly by Jing, Inc. as alleged violators in a notice dated February 7, 2023 about lead in Fly by Jing's Sichuan Chili Crisp. A private plaintiff filed a failure-to-warn suit, Berj Parseghian v. Fly by Jing, Inc., et al. (Los Angeles County Superior Court No. 24STCV02895), on February 5, 2024. The settlement listed in the record, dated January 15, 2025 and corrected February 7, 2025, was followed by a judgment entered April 7, 2025. Its injunctive terms bind Fly by Jing, Inc., which must keep lead exposure from the product below the settlement's limit or give a warning in California.

PUBLIC RECORD

Court & Public Records

Aaland v. Costco Wholesale Corporation (Washington commercial email subject lines)

Settled

Superior Court of Washington, King CountyDecided Docket 25-2-16392-0Source ↗

Settled

Class members with questions about payment can call the settlement administrator at (888) 808-6247.

Case details: Aaland v. Costco Wholesale Corporation (Washington commercial email subject lines)Show less

Settlement finally approved. The class claimed that Costco sent Washington residents commercial emails with false or misleading subject lines, in violation of Washington's Commercial Electronic Mail Act. In an order dated October 1, 2026, Judge Janet Helson of King County Superior Court found the settlement "fair, reasonable, and adequate" and approved a gross settlement amount of $14,000,000.00, class counsel fees of $4,620,000.00, litigation costs of $16,299.58 and a $2,500.00 service award to the named plaintiff. The order overrules the objections, sends any residual funds to the Legal Foundation of Washington and dismisses the action on the merits with prejudice; the court keeps jurisdiction to enforce the settlement. Paragraph 11 says neither the judgment nor the settlement agreement is an admission by Costco of any liability or wrongdoing. The class is Washington residents who received a Costco commercial email from June 2, 2021 through the class notice date.

Stockov v. Costco Wholesale Corporation (IEEPA tariff-refund class action)

Filed

U.S. District Court, N.D. Ill.Filed Checked Docket 1:26-cv-02734Source ↗

Filed — no final outcome recorded

The claims are allegations; no court has found that Costco owes members any refund.

Case details: Stockov v. Costco Wholesale Corporation (IEEPA tariff-refund class action)Show less

Pending. The putative class action, before Judge Steven C. Seeger, alleges that Costco passed tariff costs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) on to members through higher prices and should share any tariff refund with them. Costco moved to dismiss under Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 12(b)(1) and 12(b)(6) on May 18, 2026; briefing closed with a sur-reply on August 12, 2026, and the docket shows no ruling on that motion yet. The docket also lists motions to transfer and centralize tariff-refund suits under 28 U.S.C. Section 1407 (entries 30 and 31, received August 25 and September 30, 2026); in September 2026 Costco opposed centralizing the suits against it. Costco's Form 10-K for fiscal 2026 lists three other tariff-refund class actions filed in March 2026 (Gower, King County Superior Court No. 26-2-08898-5SEA; Ortiz, D.P.R.; Briggs, W.D. Wash.) and says the Gower court denied Costco's motion to dismiss on July 17, 2026, and that a motion seeking discretionary appellate review of that decision is pending.

Castillo v. Costco Wholesale Corporation (pharmacy website tracking technologies)

Filed

U.S. District Court, W.D. Wash.Filed Checked Docket 2:23-cv-01548Source ↗

Filed — no final outcome recorded

Costco's Form 10-K for fiscal 2026 says the case is proceeding after the motion to dismiss was largely denied, and that Costco received related civil investigative demands from the Washington Attorney General's Office.

Case details: Castillo v. Costco Wholesale Corporation (pharmacy website tracking technologies)Show less

Pending. The consolidated putative class action, which includes the R.S. and Groves cases, alleges that the Meta Pixel and other tracking tools on Costco's pharmacy website shared customers' health information without disclosure. On November 14, 2024 Judge John H. Chun let the federal Wiretap Act, Washington Consumer Protection Act, Washington Uniform Health Care Information Act, California Invasion of Privacy Act, California Confidentiality of Medical Information Act, Florida Security of Communications Act and unjust enrichment claims go forward, and dismissed the Washington Privacy Act, invasion-of-privacy, implied-contract and conversion claims without prejudice. Costco answered on December 20, 2024. Costco moved for spoliation sanctions on May 29, 2026, and plaintiffs filed a sealed motion for class certification on July 2, 2026. Under a stipulated order of October 6, 2026 (Dkt 127), plaintiffs' class-certification reply and their oppositions to Costco's September 25, 2026 motion to dismiss (Dkt 118) and motion to exclude expert testimony (Dkt 120) are due November 6, 2026, Costco's replies November 20, 2026, and Costco's opposition to plaintiffs' expert-exclusion motion December 2, 2026; the docket shows no ruling on these motions yet.

Salisbury v. Costco Wholesale Corporation (Kirkland Signature tequila labeling)

Dismissed

U.S. District Court, W.D. Wash.Filed Decided Docket 2:25-cv-02277Source ↗

Dismissed

Costco's Form 10-K for fiscal 2026 reports that a related Florida case, Glazer v. Costco (S.D. Fla.), was dismissed without prejudice.

Case details: Salisbury v. Costco Wholesale Corporation (Kirkland Signature tequila labeling)Show less

Dismissed with prejudice; judgment entered and case closed on October 19, 2026. The putative class action alleged that Kirkland Signature tequila labeled "100% de Agave" contains alcohol derived from non-agave sugars. On October 16, 2026, after oral argument on September 15, 2026, Judge Kymberly K. Evanson granted Costco's motion to dismiss the amended complaint with prejudice (order, Dkt 50) and granted in part and denied in part a motion for judicial notice. The order holds that all claims are nonjusticiable under the doctrine of international comity, given Mexico's regulatory authority over tequila standards, that the act of state doctrine separately warrants dismissal, and that amendment would be futile. The judgment (Dkt 51) followed on October 19, 2026. The court did not decide whether the labeling allegation is true.

Bullard v. Costco Wholesale Corp. and Nice-Pak Products, Inc. (Kirkland Signature baby wipes, PFAS)

Dismissed

U.S. District Court, N.D. Cal.Filed Decided Docket 3:24-cv-03714Source ↗

Dismissed

Closed. The putative class action alleged that Kirkland Signature baby wipes contained PFAS. The court denied the motion to dismiss on May 14, 2025. On November 17, 2025 the plaintiff filed a stipulation of voluntary dismissal with prejudice, and the case was terminated on November 18, 2025. The docket does not give a reason for the dismissal, and no court ruled on whether the wipes contained PFAS.

EDITORIAL

Company background

Costco Wholesale Corporation is a Washington corporation headquartered at 999 Lake Drive, Issaquah, Washington 98027; its shares trade on Nasdaq under the symbol COST. Its annual reports say the company "began operations in 1983, in Seattle, Washington." At the end of fiscal 2026 (August 30, 2026) it operated 939 membership warehouses, 647 of them in the United States and Puerto Rico, 115 in Canada and the rest in other countries. Costco also employed 355,000 people worldwide, according to its Form 10-K for fiscal 2026 and its September 24, 2026 results release.

How membership works. The 10-K says the annual fee for a U.S. membership is $65 and includes a free household card. Costco's help pages give the U.S. prices as $65 a year for a Gold Star or Business membership and $130 a year for an Executive membership, before sales tax. Executive members earn a reward of 2 percent on qualified purchases, subject to an annual maximum. Costco reports 84.1 million paid members at the end of fiscal 2026 and member renewal rates of 92.3 percent in the U.S. and Canada and 89.8 percent worldwide. Membership fees brought in $5,907 million in fiscal 2026, against $5,323 million in fiscal 2025, on net sales of $297.2 billion.

More company historyShow less

What Costco sells. Besides merchandise in warehouses and on Costco.com, Costco sells its private-label brand, Kirkland Signature, and runs gas stations, pharmacies, optical and hearing-aid centers, food courts and tire installation at or near its warehouses. Under the co-branded card program agreement Costco disclosed to the SEC in 2015, Citibank, N.A. is the exclusive issuer of the co-branded Costco credit card in the U.S., so billing disputes about that card go to Citi, not to Costco.

Tariff refunds. Costco's fiscal 2026 results release says fourth-quarter earnings included a one-time benefit of $0.15 per diluted share from IEEPA tariff refunds received in the quarter, "less partial reinvestment of those refunds in increased member values." The release does not describe cash payments to members. Several member class actions ask Costco to pass those refunds on; they are described in the lawsuits section.

EDITORIAL

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I cancel my Costco membership or turn off auto-renewal, and can I get a refund?

Costco's policy is to "cancel and refund your membership fee at any time if you are dissatisfied." To cancel and get the fee back, go to the membership desk at any warehouse or call the Membership Department at (800) 774-2678; refunds and downgrades cannot be done by Live Chat or on Costco.com. To stop Auto Renewal, remove it at a membership counter, in your account on Costco.com, by Member Services chat or by phone at least 72 hours before the first day of your renewal month. If the membership has already renewed automatically, Costco's Auto Renewal Refund Request form refunds the renewal amount plus tax to the card that was charged in about 5 to 7 business days. The membership then expires at the end of that month unless you renew it.

Where can I find Costco warehouse hours and holiday closures?

Costco's warehouse locator shows hours and upcoming holiday closures once you select your local warehouse, and it can be filtered to warehouses with a gas station, tire center or pharmacy.

How do I get a flu shot at Costco Pharmacy?

Costco's pharmacy immunization page says walk-ins are welcome based on current wait times, and suggests booking an appointment in advance online to save time; scheduling is also offered through the Costco Mobile app. It says many insurance companies cover immunizations given at the pharmacy and that Costco accepts all major forms of insurance. Age restrictions may apply and vary by state, and eligibility for some vaccines varies by state.

Who do I contact with questions about the Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi?

Costco's help article tells existing cardholders to contact Citi directly: (855) 378-6467 for consumer cards, (855) 378-6468 for business cards, or www.citi.com.

How do I apply for a job at Costco and check my application?

Costco's customer service site points to the Costco careers page at costco.com/jobs.html for employment information and the online application. It says application updates are not sent by email or messaging apps and recommends contacting the location you applied to directly. For problems submitting an application online, it lists Costco Human Resources at (800) 284-4882, option 2 and then option 3.

What is a $65 or $130 charge from Costco on my card?

Costco says a charge of about $65 or $130 around the first or second day of the month is most likely the automatic renewal of a membership: $65 for a Gold Star or Business membership and $130 for an Executive membership, before sales tax. If you did not want the renewal, use Costco's Auto Renewal Refund Request form or call (800) 774-2678; the refund goes back to the card in about 5 to 7 business days.

If you do not recognize the charge at all, call Costco at (800) 774-2678 first. If that does not resolve it, dispute the charge in writing with your card issuer; under the Fair Credit Billing Act the issuer must receive your dispute within 60 days after it sent the first statement showing the charge. A debit card falls under a different law, the Electronic Fund Transfer Act: tell your bank within 60 days after the statement showing the charge was sent.

What is Costco's return policy for electronics and other items?

Most merchandise can be returned for a refund of the purchase price under Costco's satisfaction guarantee, although "Limitations apply". Televisions, projectors, major appliances, computers, touchscreen tablets, smart wearables, cameras, drones, camcorders, MP3 players and cell phones must be returned within 90 days from the date you received them; phone returns also depend on the carrier's service contract. Custom-made products, airline and live-performance event items, precious metals, Shop Cards, gift card and ticket items cannot be refunded, cigarettes and alcohol cannot be returned where the law prohibits it, and diamonds over 1.00 carat need their original IGI or GIA paperwork. Tires and batteries may come with their own limited warranty instead.

How do I return or replace a Costco.com order, and does Costco price match?

Take the item to any Costco warehouse for an immediate refund that includes shipping and handling, or sign in on Costco.com, open Orders & Returns and choose to return or replace the item. Costco says most return labels arrive within the hour, some items such as food, floral and paper products take longer, and you are not charged for return shipping. Refunds go to the original payment method. If a Costco.com purchase drops in price within 30 days, you can ask for a price adjustment; Costco does not match other retailers' prices. For warehouse purchases, ask at the Returns counter of the warehouse where you bought the item.

How do I contact Costco about an order, a membership or the Tire Center?

For Costco.com orders and deliveries by Costco Logistics, call (800) 955-2292 (Monday to Friday 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. PT, Saturday and Sunday 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. PT). For membership and warehouse questions, call (800) 774-2678 (Monday to Friday 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. PT, Saturday and Sunday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. PT). Costco also lists (800) 788-9968 for Costco Business Center orders, (866) 861-0450 for Costco Technical & Warranty Services, (800) 607-6861 for the Mail Order Pharmacy and (877) 849-2730 for Costco Travel. There is no central number for the Tire Center or a warehouse pharmacy: Costco says to find and call the nearest Costco for any warehouse department.

What is the $14 million Costco email settlement and has it been paid?

The Costco email settlement is the settlement of Aaland v. Costco Wholesale Corporation in King County Superior Court, case 25-2-16392-0, over claims that Costco sent Washington residents promotional emails with false or misleading subject lines. The court gave final approval in an order dated October 1, 2026, approving a gross settlement amount of $14,000,000.00, dismissing the case with prejudice and stating that the settlement is not an admission of liability or wrongdoing by Costco. The class is Washington residents who received a Costco commercial email from June 2, 2021 through the class notice date, and the deadline to file a claim was August 24, 2026. For payment timing and amounts, contact the settlement administrator through the settlement website or at (888) 808-6247.

Are there lawsuits asking Costco to share tariff refunds with members?

Four member class actions filed in March 2026, Stockov (N.D. Ill.), Gower (King County Superior Court, Washington), Ortiz (D.P.R.) and Briggs (W.D. Wash.), claim that Costco passed IEEPA tariff costs on to members through higher prices and should share any tariff refund it receives. Costco's 10-K for fiscal 2026 says it moved to dismiss Stockov and Gower, that the Gower court denied the motion on July 17, 2026, and that a motion seeking discretionary appellate review of that ruling is pending. The cases are pending and their claims are allegations; no court has ordered refunds to members. Costco's fiscal 2026 results release says it received IEEPA tariff refunds in the fourth quarter and partly reinvested them "in increased member values".

What government actions involve Costco?

In May 2025 EPA Region 10 and Costco filed a consent agreement and final order with a $3,066,724 penalty over antimicrobial gloves and air purifiers that EPA alleged were sold in violation of federal pesticide law; Costco "neither admits nor denies the specific factual allegations". In 2018 Costco agreed to a $3.85 million civil penalty with the Consumer Product Safety Commission over the late reporting of a laceration hazard in EKO trash cans, in a settlement that states it is not an admission of a violation. Costco's SEC filings also disclose civil investigative demands from the Washington Attorney General's Office related to the pharmacy-website tracking lawsuits, with no outcome reported.

How can I tell whether a text, email or check claiming to be from Costco is real?

Compare it with Costco's list of currently known fraudulent offers on its customer service site, which shows fake surveys, giveaways, reward texts, "payment failed" and membership-expiration notices and says of them: "These offers are not from Costco Wholesale." Genuine Costco emails come from a Costco.com domain. Do not click links in a suspicious message or give the sender personal information, and do not deposit an unexpected check that bears Costco's name or follow the instructions sent with it. Calls can show Costco's real numbers on caller ID: Costco warns of callers who imitate its home-office, Costco.com and membership lines. If in doubt, hang up and call Costco yourself at (800) 774-2678, and report the message to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

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