Kitchen Appliances Costco Employees Say Get Returned The Most

For Costco members, the warehouse store is a treasure trove of household gems, discounted bulk groceries, and affordable services at exclusive prices. You may encounter a plethora of deals and trending household items, from a viral Costco reading chair that offers comfort and storage to appliances and gadgets that are designed to make life easier. But every so often, like many stores that sell home goods, a household appliance is found to be insufficient or problematic, resulting in buyers asking for an exchange or full refund on the product. If you've browsed the appliance aisle and marveled at the prices, you might wonder about the most frequently returned kitchen appliances at Costco. Referring to the wisdom of Costco employees may give you insight and keep you from purchasing a faulty kitchen appliance and then dealing with the hassle of the returns desk.

Although Costco offers many exclusive deals, it's not uncommon for even the highly praised items to be returned to the store, whether due to a defect or failure to meet the standards promised by the product. According to employee discussions on Reddit's r/Costco – Keurig coffee makers and SAMSUNG and LG refrigerators are among the most frequently returned household items at Costco, for many of the aforementioned issues. It should be noted, however, that the information is shared by Reddit users who are claiming to be current or former Costco employees, so this evidence is mostly anecdotal. If you ever find yourself in a situation where your product stops working or is damaged in transit, knowing Costco's return policy is the best way to find information that's accurate to your situation.

Costco is a hub for major appliances, and name-brand refrigerators and freezers are among the long list of items that they offer. But one Reddit user on r/Costco who claimed to be an employee said that LG and Samsung appliances, including refrigerators, are some of the most frequently returned items. "The reason I chimed in is because, based on my experience, it's like 80% of the calls [are for Samsung and LG]," the employee wrote on Reddit. This claim seems to check out, given that customers who have purchased these items at Costco aired out their grievances in the same forum. Some of the returns were because of something simple, such as cosmetic damage to the fridge during shipment, but others were more frustrating.

In another post on r/Costco, one customer shared that their LG fridge started to have problems once the return period at Costco was over. "Out of nowhere, the freezer would stop working," the user wrote on Reddit, "I've come home to a puddle in my kitchen on five occasions." Other buyers responded on the same thread, explaining that their LG freezers had also randomly stopped freezing after a year in. 

As it turns out, LG was forced to pay a class action settlement in 2022 due to "cooling defects" which were not covered by the warranty (via Top Class Actions). Samsung also faced a lawsuit in 2018 for problems with the built-in ice machine malfunctioning (via ClassAction.org). Samsung and LG's warranty periods are typically one year from the purchase date, but when bought through Costco, the warranty extends two years, so Costco may still be a better avenue if you're determined to try this appliance brand.

Keurig is a popular brand in the coffee world. Many perks of their coffee makers include speed and convenience. Costco offers various Keurig models and their compatible K-Cup pods in bulk. Apparently, though, there are hidden downsides to Keurigs, because according to reports by Costco employees on Reddit, Keurig coffee makers are also a frequently returned kitchen appliance. In the r/Costco subreddit, a Reddit user under the name FlyestFools, explained, "Those little Keurig machines were definitely the item I saw the most when I worked refunds." 

Customers chimed in with the reasons for their returns. Some reported the machine shorting out, the inner components melting, losing power, or otherwise breaking within a year. Perhaps this makes sense given that in 2022, a lawsuit was filed against Keurig because coffee makers could lose permanent power when cleaned with the recommended descaling solution. A $950,000 settlement was reached, according to ClassAction.org. 

This isn't to say that every Keurig has such problems, but because Keurig machines can be expensive depending on the model you choose, it's important to consider its longevity before splurging, even with the Costco member pricing. Keurig itself has a 30-day return policy, but buying through Costco may give you more time. Costco's return policy doesn't specify a strict window for returning or exchanging coffee makers, but mentions a "risk-free 100% satisfaction guarantee." Other kitchen appliances and electronics fall within Costco's 90-day return policy, so you should have at least that much time. Some customers also report successful returns or exchanges even a year or more after purchase, so hang onto those receipts if you pick up a Costco Keurig!