Costco’s Return Policy Has Limits

Have you seen those videos online where people challenge themselves to try and return the most random things to Costco? It's been a well-known fact that Costco's return policy is one of the most lenient, and amazing, return policies on the planet! I personally may or may not know some people who’ve taken advantage of their return policy when planning their “Big Screen – Big Game” parties. Don’t worry, I’m not talking about myself, but I would be lying if I said I’ve never benefitted from their lax return policy.

A couple years ago I used an oscillating tower fan that I bought from Costco for a good two months before I got fed up with how obnoxiously loud it was. I’m telling you, that thing sounded like a motorcycle. Listen, I like white noise as much as the next person, but it was impossible to get sleep with that thing in the room!

“Why don’t you just return it?” my wife asked me. At the time, I wasn’t aware of Costco’s return policy, but she assured me that they wouldn’t give me a hard time if I returned it – and she was right!

I remember standing in line and being a little surprised at some of the things other people were returning. One guy was bringing back a mattress that looked “well used” and that’s me being polite. Another person was returning the same fan I was returning, but it was in pieces! I like to imagine the noise drove him into a destructive rage! But I also noticed that every single one of us got our money back, with little to no questions asked.

According to the Daily Mail, Costco is even known for allowing people to return half-eaten food! It’s not as gross as it sounds. If there’s a problem with the food, their website states that members don’t even need a receipt for its return.  

However, even Costco has its limits. Here are some items that you cannot return.

There are a lot of perks to buying your tires at Costco, like free tire rotation, inflation checks and balance, but returning them isn’t one of them. Tires can’t be returned once they’ve been purchased.

There’s also a no return policy for any alcoholic beverage. This include wine, beer, and spirits.

Most electronics have a time window for returns, and it’s usually 90 days. However, there are some things like vacuum cleaners that fall under their general return policy, so use that information as you wish.

Like the booze we mentioned earlier, cigarettes cannot be returned, even if unopened.

One of the things I love about Costco is that you can usually buy gift cards for other businesses at a discounted rate. Pro-tip for gamers, you can regularly get a $100 PlayStation or Nintendo e-shop card for around 80 bucks. Which is a nice way to save money for an expensive hobby, however they’re non-refundable.

Las Vegas shopping is fun, to say the least.

From the uber-expensive luxury stores that crawl across The Strip to the locally owned businesses across the valley, Vegas offers amazing shopping experiences for anyone and any budget.

There are a few shopping centers that have historical ties to the start of Las Vegas. The Historic Commercial Center is the oldest "shopping center" in Las Vegas, according to 8 News Now. Recently, the shopping center had a little makeover that added art galleries, dining and entertainment to the area.

The first enclosed mall in Nevada is the Boulevard Mall, which is still in operation today. The Boulevard Mall has gone through the ups and downs of a growing city. But, this mall deserves an honorable mention.

Recently, the mall added a Mercado section. The Mercado has multiple different vendors that range from clothes, nail supplies, traditional Mexican attire, Mariachi supplies, Latin American produce, and so much more. There is even a food court that has mariscos (seafood), traditional Mexican dishes, vegetarian options and famous street food like elotes, juices and more.

In each major hotel on The Strip, there is usually an area dedicated to ritzy and luxury retailers. Stores like Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Alexander McQueen, Philipp Plein, Dior, Maison Van Cleef & Arpels, Cartier and so much more are plentiful in Vegas.

I had a good friend, who works at a Louis Vuitton store on The Strip. He says that he has a large swath of clients who are from overseas. But, he also said that a a majority of his clientele are local or based in California.

Even if you're not a luxury type of person, it's still fun to explore the shopping malls of each casino and window shop through the stores.

For this list, we will focus on malls and discount stores rather than luxury retailers. This list will also focus on family-friendly places that are accommodating for children as well. So scroll down below to see where to shop until you drop in Las Vegas!

The Fantastic Indoor Swap Meet Las Vegas is a wonderful place, and it's a Vegas favorite. The Fantastic Indoor Swap Meet Las Vegas is an indoor market with tons of vendors. It's truly your one-stop shop for clothes, jewelry, home goods, knick-knacks, plants and more. The entrance fee is $1, and the line of vendors goes on throughout the massive building.

The items are affordable and the tagline of the market also says that they "fight inflation." The entrance fee is $1 for the entire day. There are also food vendors that serve delicious agua frescas, fresh coconuts, tacos, hamburgers and more. Another fun part about the Indoor Swap Meet is the vintage market that has different antiques, furniture and collectibles. It's a fun way to spend a weekend because the aisles are endless, and there are so many things that captivate attention. 

The Las Vegas North Premium Outlets and the Las Vegas South Premium Outlets are loved by locals. At these malls, you can find discounted designer items, expensive perfumes on sale, and amazing high-quality makeup on a bargain. Even if you don't plan on buying something, you'll most likely end up purchasing an item because the stores have great deals that are hard to pass up. 

The Las Vegas North Premium Outlets is an outdoor mall, and the Las Vegas South Premium Outlets is an indoor mall. I think the Las Vegas North Premium Outlets have a slightly better selection to shop from, featuring couture houses, mid-range and high-fashion designers at outlet prices. However, it does get very hot during the summer. So if you plan to adventure around the Las Vegas North Premium Outlets then definitely bring water and a handheld fan -- you'll thank us later.

There are food courts in both outlets, and many people prefer the South Premium Outlets during the summer because it's an indoor mall. Both are great if you have family coming in. The Deuce bus shuttles right to the outlet malls from properties on The Strip.

This is the most popular mall on our list. But, we had to add this in case someone still wasn't aware about the beautiful Fashion Show Mall. This is the mall located right on The Strip. From designer to more affordable brands, this mall truly has it all. It's three levels, and it's simply gorgeous to walk around in. This iconic mall use to have weekend fashion shows that were free, and the shows were works of art with a runway that raised from the ground and LED lights.

However it seems that after the pandemic, the mall halted the fashion show. Now, the mall uses the runway space for revolving "interactive experiences," that make for great photo opportunities.

From beloved retailers to local Las Vegas entrepreneurs, this is a must-visit for anybody that is taking a trip to Las Vegas. Some of our favorite stores are the Bite Beauty Lip Lap; where you can make your own lipstick, Casino Quest; which has gaming classes and souvenirs, and the Hello Kitty Café is simply amazing. Although there's not a kid's play area, there are many things and activities that can entertain children like the Fantasy Lab and Happy Camper Pizza

.

Broadacres Marketplace is a Las Vegas tradition. This is a famous outdoor, open-air swap meet has over 1,000 vendors, according to the market's social media.

There's a food hall with rows of delicious food like tortas, machetes, agua frescas, coconuts, and so much more. The famous micheladas are a must-try if you go. You can get anything that you dream of at this market. From furniture, mattresses, home goods, artisanal mexican goods, toys, makeup and more, Broadacres has it all.

During Friday nights, the market has live music and bands that usually play regional Mexican music. The market stays open later on Friday nights, so people can dance and party. It's truly a fun time, and I love going with my friends and family to this market. The entrance fee ranges from $2.50 to $3.50 depending on the day and time you attend. There's also an area for kids with slightly sketch carnival rides, but the kids always have a blast when they attend.

During summer, it may get a little hot. So the best time to attend is during the cooler months. But, if you plan on attending Broadacres during the summer, we recommend bringing plenty of water and a fan, too. Plus, the agua frescas will cool you down.

The Grand Canal Shoppes at The Venetian Resort Las Vegas made out list for one reason: The Gondolas. 

This attraction is what makes The Venetian so special and memorable for many people who visit. The added element of having canals weave throughout the mall is why this casino shopping area made our list in comparison to other casinos. Children adore the gondolas, and the mall transports you to the streets of Italy with the décor and the ceiling painted with clouds and cosmic colors.

The stores are pretty high-end or mid-range with some souvenir shops scattered throughout the mall. The dessert shop is always a kid's favorite, and the entire mall is more of an "experience." I think everyone should ride the gondolas at least once with their family because it's fun to glide around the casino while riding the boats.

Other honorable mentions when it comes to malls inside casinos are the The Forum Shops at Caesars and the Miracle Mile Shops.