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This. I talked with the manager from one of the CostCo's near us (happens to be a neighbor) and their reasoning was people were overbuying items in the expectat

This. I talked with the manager from one of the CostCo's near us (happens to be a neighbor) and their reasoning was people were overbuying items in the expectation that if they didn't need them all after all they would just return them. This policy pushes back on that mindset.

yjftsjthsd-h 7y ago
That works iff the policy is known ahead of time
- mplewis 7y ago
  Great! Now we know it for next time.
- wahnfrieden 7y ago
  It’s not an arbitrary rule that needs advance warning; it’s unethical hoarding, and there will be more instances of hoarding in these communities in the future.
  - MarioMan 7y ago
    Yes, but Costco is known for their excellent return policy. They're an ideal target for this sort of scheme.
    - BubRoss 7y ago
      You say that, but a long time ago I tried to return some toilet paper when I had only used one side and they wouldn't even give me store credit.
  - omgwtfbyobbq 7y ago
    As far as I understand it, changes in a contract require notice, arbitrary or not. I don't believe it's legal for a company to change their contract, in this case stating that something is no longer returnable, after the fact. It still applies after the notice is provided of course.
    - deleted 7y ago
      [deleted]
    - ardy42 7y ago
      > As far as I understand it, changes in a contract require notice, arbitrary or not. I don't believe it's legal for a company to change their contract, in this case stating that something is no longer returnable, after the fact. It still applies after the notice is provided of course. IIRC, lots of consumer contracts contain language saying the terms are subject to change at any time with little or no notice.
      - omgwtfbyobbq 7y ago
        I've seen similar language, but I don't think they can change the terms with no notice. I think it's usually little to no advance notice, but they still need to provide notice when they change the terms. Providing notice seems to be something fundamental in our legal system.
        ardy42 7y ago
        > but they still need to provide notice when they change the terms. Providing notice seems to be something fundamental in our legal system. Maybe so, but the "notice" probably could be something that's practically meaningless, like updating the terms on their website, or something. Alternatively, their return policy may have language forbidding some kind of ill-defined "abuse" of the policy, which can be interpreted to forbid anything they'd want to forbid. In any case, Costco has lawyers that unilaterally write this stuff in its favor, so I highly doubt it violated any of its own contracts.
    - ben509 7y ago
      > I don't believe it's legal for a company to change their contract... IANAL, but that's breach of contract. To amend the contract, both parties have to assent. That's why you get those "terms of service" updates that always mention, "and if you don't like the new terms, here's how to delete your account," since your usage of the service constitutes assent to the terms. Purchasing a good is different, it's more bilateral because both parties are still responsible after the initial exchange for delivering on their promises. So if your check bounces, you still owe them, and if the goods are junk, they still owe you. The tricky part here is figuring out what the contract is. When you purchase goods in the US, the framework of the contract you're engaging in is laid out by the Uniform Commercial Code, if you want to look that up. Costco has a satisfaction guarantee[1] and they will refund your money but there's an asterisk: "*Limitations apply. See the membership counter or Costco.com for details." I couldn't find anything more on their site. A "guarantee" has a legal meaning[2]: > 4) a promise to make a product good if it has some defect. So I think it means a customer would be required to explain why he's unsatisfied with the goods, in what way they're deficient. That someone bought too much TP doesn't make it deficient. [1]: https://customerservice.costco.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/1191/~/what-is-costcos-return-policy%3F https://customerservice.costco.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/1... [2]: https://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/guarantee https://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/guarantee
  - yjftsjthsd-h 7y ago
    > It’s not an arbitrary rule that needs advance warning Yes, it is. Until now, absolutely nobody would care if you wanted to buy TP by the pallet, and Costco would be happy to let you return it if you wanted to. > there will be more instances of hoarding in these communities in the future. By all means make a new rule and communicate it for the future. I only object to retroactively punishing previously-allowed behavior.
    - klipt 7y ago
      If the hoarders are running out of space and need to get rid of toilet paper, they can always donate it to seniors.
    - freepor 7y ago
      Costco isn’t bound by the Constitution. Their fine print lets them basically do what they want to and if you didn’t want them to have that right you shouldn’t have signed their membership agreement.
    - IAmEveryone 7y ago
      This is turning out to be an excellent test of people’s ability to reason, to separate what they would like to be true from what is. Judging by the balance of comments, and the comment I’m replying to approaching #DDD, people are having a surprisingly hard time with it.
  - KarlKemp 7y ago
    Yes, the famous we-can-change-the-contract-if-enough-people-don’t-like-you provision. Does it only apply to return policy? Or could CostCo also, say, change the price retroactively? Does it work the other way around? Say I order from Amazon. Then, I notice many people don’t like them. Labor safety, no paid sick leave, etc. Can I refuse to pay? I’ll tell them why and they can better themselves.
- ardy42 7y ago
  > That works iff the policy is known ahead of time Next time this happens, the memory will help deter the hoarders and profiteers.
hajile 7y ago
Warehousing is probably a bigger issue. There aren't a ton of TP packs to the pallet. Even a small percentage of people returning TP can result in there not being enough room to store it and the cost to ship it elsewhere is just too high.

yjftsjthsd-h 7y ago

That works iff the policy is known ahead of time

mplewis 7y ago
Great! Now we know it for next time.
wahnfrieden 7y ago
It’s not an arbitrary rule that needs advance warning; it’s unethical hoarding, and there will be more instances of hoarding in these communities in the future.
- MarioMan 7y ago
  Yes, but Costco is known for their excellent return policy. They're an ideal target for this sort of scheme.
  - BubRoss 7y ago
    You say that, but a long time ago I tried to return some toilet paper when I had only used one side and they wouldn't even give me store credit.
- omgwtfbyobbq 7y ago
  As far as I understand it, changes in a contract require notice, arbitrary or not. I don't believe it's legal for a company to change their contract, in this case stating that something is no longer returnable, after the fact. It still applies after the notice is provided of course.
  - deleted 7y ago
    [deleted]
  - ardy42 7y ago
    > As far as I understand it, changes in a contract require notice, arbitrary or not. I don't believe it's legal for a company to change their contract, in this case stating that something is no longer returnable, after the fact. It still applies after the notice is provided of course. IIRC, lots of consumer contracts contain language saying the terms are subject to change at any time with little or no notice.
    - omgwtfbyobbq 7y ago
      I've seen similar language, but I don't think they can change the terms with no notice. I think it's usually little to no advance notice, but they still need to provide notice when they change the terms. Providing notice seems to be something fundamental in our legal system.
      - ardy42 7y ago
        > but they still need to provide notice when they change the terms. Providing notice seems to be something fundamental in our legal system. Maybe so, but the "notice" probably could be something that's practically meaningless, like updating the terms on their website, or something. Alternatively, their return policy may have language forbidding some kind of ill-defined "abuse" of the policy, which can be interpreted to forbid anything they'd want to forbid. In any case, Costco has lawyers that unilaterally write this stuff in its favor, so I highly doubt it violated any of its own contracts.
  - ben509 7y ago
    > I don't believe it's legal for a company to change their contract... IANAL, but that's breach of contract. To amend the contract, both parties have to assent. That's why you get those "terms of service" updates that always mention, "and if you don't like the new terms, here's how to delete your account," since your usage of the service constitutes assent to the terms. Purchasing a good is different, it's more bilateral because both parties are still responsible after the initial exchange for delivering on their promises. So if your check bounces, you still owe them, and if the goods are junk, they still owe you. The tricky part here is figuring out what the contract is. When you purchase goods in the US, the framework of the contract you're engaging in is laid out by the Uniform Commercial Code, if you want to look that up. Costco has a satisfaction guarantee[1] and they will refund your money but there's an asterisk: "*Limitations apply. See the membership counter or Costco.com for details." I couldn't find anything more on their site. A "guarantee" has a legal meaning[2]: > 4) a promise to make a product good if it has some defect. So I think it means a customer would be required to explain why he's unsatisfied with the goods, in what way they're deficient. That someone bought too much TP doesn't make it deficient. [1]: https://customerservice.costco.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/1191/~/what-is-costcos-return-policy%3F https://customerservice.costco.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/1... [2]: https://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/guarantee https://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/guarantee
- yjftsjthsd-h 7y ago
  > It’s not an arbitrary rule that needs advance warning Yes, it is. Until now, absolutely nobody would care if you wanted to buy TP by the pallet, and Costco would be happy to let you return it if you wanted to. > there will be more instances of hoarding in these communities in the future. By all means make a new rule and communicate it for the future. I only object to retroactively punishing previously-allowed behavior.
  - klipt 7y ago
    If the hoarders are running out of space and need to get rid of toilet paper, they can always donate it to seniors.
  - freepor 7y ago
    Costco isn’t bound by the Constitution. Their fine print lets them basically do what they want to and if you didn’t want them to have that right you shouldn’t have signed their membership agreement.
  - IAmEveryone 7y ago
    This is turning out to be an excellent test of people’s ability to reason, to separate what they would like to be true from what is. Judging by the balance of comments, and the comment I’m replying to approaching #DDD, people are having a surprisingly hard time with it.
- KarlKemp 7y ago
  Yes, the famous we-can-change-the-contract-if-enough-people-don’t-like-you provision. Does it only apply to return policy? Or could CostCo also, say, change the price retroactively? Does it work the other way around? Say I order from Amazon. Then, I notice many people don’t like them. Labor safety, no paid sick leave, etc. Can I refuse to pay? I’ll tell them why and they can better themselves.
ardy42 7y ago
> That works iff the policy is known ahead of time Next time this happens, the memory will help deter the hoarders and profiteers.

hajile 7y ago

Warehousing is probably a bigger issue. There aren't a ton of TP packs to the pallet. Even a small percentage of people returning TP can result in there not being enough room to store it and the cost to ship it elsewhere is just too high.