Costco Price Adjustment Policy 2026: 30-Day Window, Eligibility, and How to Request

What Is Costco’s Price Adjustment Policy?

According to Costco’s official policy, if a price drops within 30 days after you purchase an item, you can request a refund of the difference. The refund is issued to your original form of payment. This applies to non-resale members only. Resellers are not eligible for price adjustments; they must buy during the actual promotional period to receive the sale price.

Costco does not price match competitors. The adjustment only compares your paid price to a lower price at Costco itself, either at the warehouse where you shopped or on Costco.com where you ordered.

The 30-Day Window

You have 30 days from your purchase date to submit a price adjustment request. This is the official time limit. After 30 days, requests are typically denied, though warehouse managers or online processors have the discretion to approve requests submitted shortly after the deadline. There is no guarantee a late request will be approved.

For items with specific sale dates or promotional windows, your request must fall within both the promotional dates and 30 days of purchase. If the promotion ends before 30 days pass, the deadline ends when the promotion ends.

What Is Excluded from Price Adjustments?

Costco explicitly excludes the following from price adjustments:

• Precious metals, including gold bars, gold bullion, and silver coins
• Items purchased by resellers (business buyers)
• Products with promotional quantity limits, beyond the limit you purchased
• Items purchased during Black Friday or other holiday promotions

Additionally, Costco reserves the right to deny any price adjustment request at its sole discretion and may restrict or change the policy in the future without notice.

Warehouse vs. Online: How the Rules Differ

How to Request a Price Adjustment at the Warehouse

For items bought in-store, go to the Returns desk at the warehouse location where you made the purchase. Bring your membership card or have your membership number ready. You do not need your physical receipt because all purchases are saved to your membership account. The warehouse staff will look up your transaction and issue the refund immediately if approved.

You can request adjustments on items that went on clearance after you purchased them at full price.

How to Request a Price Adjustment Online

For Costco.com purchases, you must use the online form on Costco.com or call customer service at 1-800-955-2292 to request the adjustment by phone. When you submit the form, have the following information ready:

• Order number
• Membership number
• Item number for the product
• Date of purchase (month and year)
• Price you originally paid
• Current sale price on Costco.com
• Shipping status of the item

Once submitted, you will receive an email confirming approval or denial. Refunds are typically issued within 5 to 10 business days to your original payment method.

What About Warehouse vs. Costco.com Prices?

Costco.com prices often differ from warehouse prices because online prices include shipping and handling fees. Costco does not price match between channels: a warehouse price adjustment will only match the warehouse price, and an online adjustment will only match the Costco.com price. You cannot request that a warehouse purchase be adjusted to an online price, or vice versa.

Special Categories with Extra Rules

Some product types have additional conditions:

• Tire and wheel promotions: Qualify for price adjustments if the promotion period permits. If you bought online, submit an online request. If you bought at the warehouse, visit the warehouse where you made the purchase.
• Special order kiosk and home improvement installed products: Price adjustments are based on the contract date and pre-tax price. Exceptions for Costco Shop Card value are limited to 14 days before and 14 days after the promotion dates. Costco Shop Card promotions cannot be combined with other manufacturer offers.

What Happens If You Lose Your Receipt?

You do not need your paper receipt to request a price adjustment. All your purchases are automatically saved to your membership account when you provide your membership number at checkout. You can access your receipts through the Costco app or website by logging into your account, then navigating to Orders and Purchases. The warehouse Returns desk or Costco.com customer service can also look up your purchase using your membership number.

Can Costco Deny Your Request?

Yes. Costco explicitly reserves the right to deny price adjustment requests at its sole discretion. If your request is denied, you have the option to return the item under the Costco Return Policy and repurchase it at the lower price. However, you run the risk that the item may be out of stock when you try to rebuy it.

How Does This Compare to Price Matching?

Costco’s price adjustment is different from price matching. A Costco price match policy typically refers to matching a competitor’s lower price, but Costco does not offer that service. Costco’s actual price adjustment policy only applies to Costco’s own price drops and promotional discounts.

Money-Back Guarantees Beyond the Adjustment

In rare cases, customers have reported receiving additional Costco Shop Cards after requesting a price adjustment, though this is not guaranteed and appears to be at the company’s discretion. These extra credits are separate from the price adjustment itself and should not be expected.

Tips for Tracking Price Drops

To avoid missing the 30-day window, consider setting a calendar reminder for big-ticket purchases like appliances, electronics, or furniture. Some third-party tools like the CostPal app can send notifications when Costco prices drop. Monitor prices regularly during the first 30 days after purchase, especially for items likely to go on sale. Price drops on major items can exceed $500.