Costco price adjustment policy: 2026 Guide

Certain things can really take the pleasure out of shopping. You might have felt that about your most recent visit to Costco when, a few days after buying a big-ticket item and feeling great about it, you discovered that the product was selling for way less. 

Luckily, most stores alleviate the pain by offering price adjustments on discounted items. In this article, you’ll find out whether there’s a Costco price adjustment policy, how these policies typically work, and how to request refunds. We’ll also reveal how Settlemate automates the price adjustment requests so that you receive maximum gain with minimal effort. 

What is a price adjustment?

A price adjustment is a retail strategy that allows you to request a partial refund if an item’s price drops shortly after you buy it. More specifically, you get to keep the item and receive the price difference back.

Many retailers allow price adjustments as a way of maintaining customer satisfaction and loyalty to the brand. This strategy further benefits the seller because processing full refunds and exchanges is a lot more time-consuming than offering price adjustments, especially during big sales events.

Here’s how the process typically works:

1. You notice that an item you paid full price for is now discounted.
2. After checking the price adjustment time window, you confirm that your purchase still qualifies.
3. You submit a price adjustment request, either online or at the store.
4. The retailer refunds the difference back to your original payment method.

Price adjustments are a valuable perk for shoppers as they solve several pain points, including:

Does Costco have a price guarantee?

Yes, Costco has a price adjustment policy, or as they call it on their website, a price match policy. 

While in retail a price match usually means matching a competitor’s lower price, Costco uses the term to describe what is actually a price adjustment. They explicitly state that they don’t ever match competitor prices.

What is Costco's price adjustment policy?

Costco’s price adjustment policy comes with a specific set of criteria. Here’s what you need to know about it:

• 30-day time window: You have 30 days from the date of the purchase to make your request.
• Resellers are excluded: If you’re a reseller, you can’t claim a price adjustment.
• Same-item requirement: The price adjustment only applies to the exact same item, including model and color.
• Costco-only pricing: The lower price can’t be offered by a third-party, but directly by Costco.

Can you get a price adjustment at Costco Warehouse?

Costco's price adjustment policy applies to the items you buy at the warehouse, but under specific conditions. You can request a price adjustment if you bought an item in a physical Costco warehouse and the price drops at that same location.

Each Costco warehouse prices items differently, so if you see a markdown at one location, it doesn’t mean that the same deal is available everywhere.

Bear in mind that the price of the item must currently be discounted. You can’t claim a price adjustment based on a past promotion or clearance event that has already ended. 

What are the exclusions to Costco’s price adjustment?

There are several limitations to the Costco price adjustment policy you should be aware of, mainly:

• Online and warehouse purchases have separate procedures for price adjustments.
• Certain items aren’t eligible, including gold bars, gold bullion, silver coins, and limited quantity deals.
• Price adjustments don’t apply to Black Friday or other holiday promotions.

Important: Costco notes in the fine print that they may update or limit their price adjustment policy in the future, so make sure you check their website regularly for any changes.

How to request a price adjustment at Costco

Here’s how you can request a price adjustment online and in-store (depending on where you bought the item):

If you make the request online, you should prepare the following information:

• Item number
• Membership number
• Date of purchase
• Order number
• Original purchase price
• Item’s current price

According to the Costco website, it takes about 5–10 business days for the money to appear in your original payment method once the price adjustment request is approved.

Can you request a Costco price adjustment without a receipt?

Yes, you can get a price adjustment without a receipt because all your purchases are linked to your membership account. One of the perks of shopping with your Costco membership is that your receipts are automatically saved to your account.

Costco staff at the returns counter can look up your purchase, or you can access your receipt through the Costco app like this:

1. Open the app and select Account from the bottom menu.
2. Tap Orders and Purchases.
3. Select either Online or In-Warehouse to view your recent purchases.

Why do shoppers still miss out on price adjustment refunds

Even when price adjustment policies are as simple as at Costco, many shoppers never make requests, and the reasons are surprisingly consistent:

• Missed timing: Customers don’t notice the price drops in time, especially when purchasing at multiple retailers.
• Eligibility confusion: Shoppers may be unsure if their items qualify for a price adjustment, and checking the eligibility criteria for different stores seems like a hassle.
• Process complications: Dealing with request forms or negotiating with sales reps at multiple retailers can get pretty overwhelming.

While the reasons are valid, the missed opportunities to claim money can add up to a significant amount.

It doesn’t have to be that way, though. All you need to do is forgo manual price adjustment requests and use Settlemate. The app streamlines the process by tracking the price drops of your purchases and handling the requests automatically, saving you time and ensuring you receive every cent of the money you’re entitled to.

How Settlemate takes care of your price adjustments

If you make a purchase at Costco or another retailer, Settlemate Retail Savings Autopilot can track the product for price drops and file a price adjustment request on your behalf, all before the refund window closes.

How it works:

1. We automatically detect purchase confirmations in your inbox.
2. We track eligible items within retailers’ respective policy windows.
3. When a drop hits, we submit the request with your proof of purchase.
4. You get notified when the credit is issued back to your original payment method.

Download Settlemate on the App Store or Google Play and let its Retail Savings Autopilot handle Costco and other price adjustments for you.

Settlemate’s refund policy makes sure that you make more money from the platform than you invest in it. If the savings you get in the first year don’t cover the cost of your subscription, you may be eligible for a full refund.

Frequently asked questions

What is Costco’s return policy?

Costco has a 100% satisfaction guarantee on most products, so you can return the items at any time for a full refund. You can even get a refund for a membership fee. Certain categories do come with return time limits, such as electronics, which must be returned within 90 days of purchase.

Can you request a Costco price adjustment after 30 days?

Costco’s price adjustment policy only applies within 30 days of purchase. However, you can try to contact customer service if you missed the time window by a day or two. Another option is the classic workaround where you return the item you bought at full price and repurchase it on sale.

Is there a difference between a price adjustment and a refund?

Yes, there is a big difference. When you ask for a price adjustment, you get to keep the product and receive the difference if the price goes down shortly after purchase. A refund, on the other hand, entails returning the item and getting your full purchase amount back. 

Which retailers offer price adjustments?

If you want to see other retailers’ policies around price adjustments, consult our guides: