Can You Get A Refund For A Whole Cake At Costco?

If you purchase a box of Kirkland Signature coffee and find it too bitter after brewing two or three cups, there's no need to worry about wasting money, because Costco is happy to accept a return. Actually, the company is happy to accept a return for just about anything, besides maybe cigarettes and alcohol; Costco's incredibly lenient return policy is one of the many perks that customers keep coming back. Whether you want a partial refund because an item has gone on sale or you purchased a gigantic sheet cake and hate the way it tastes, Costco will give you your money back with very few questions asked.

A Costco membership means you're part of the Costco family, which also means you can take advantage of its widely praised return policy. This means that yes, even after you've taken a Costco sheet cake home, sliced it into squares, and blown out the candles on top, you can still bring it back for a full refund. Costco utilizes what it dubs a "Risk-Free 100% Satisfaction Guarantee," meaning customer satisfaction is at the forefront of its commitment and goals. Any food item, such as a cake, can be wholly untouched or even partially eaten, and the wholesaler's employees will provide a refund.

While Costco stores are willing to accept partially eaten cakes for a refund, there are still limitations to the company's return policy. If you purchase a sheet cake, eat the entire thing, leave a single slice on the platter, and expect a return, you'll be sorely disappointed. The unspoken rule of thumb is that Costco employees will offer a refund on that cake so long as there's about half remaining on the platter. So, if you don't like the slice you ate on the day you purchased it, hope that a trip to the fridge might make it taste better, but find that the problem was the strange raspberry filling all along, Costco will gladly return your money if you bring back that container with only a few slices missing.

While Costco is generally flexible with its return policy, there are always some who ruin the fun. If you're a serial returner, trying to scam the system after getting your fill with a few slices of "free" cake, you might just end up in Costco jail. We're kidding, mostly, but Costco's return policy may be stricter in some stores than others. On the whole, the company wants its customers to be happy (hence the lenient return policy). Return the partially eaten cake or even the prepared platter if you're not satisfied with it, and rest assured that Costco has your back.