"I've seen individuals attempt to return second-hand patio furniture": A man tries to return items at Costco, prompting an employee to step in.

It seems that Costco's famously lenient return policy doesn't extend to this individual—what could be the reason behind it?

Customers have successfully returned a variety of used, damaged, and partially consumed products, receiving refunds without any complications.

However, when this individual attempted to make his very first return, he was denied.

Costco refuses to accept the return.

In a video that has garnered over 90,000 views, entrepreneur Dave Collenberg criticizes Costco for failing to uphold its well-known return policy.

Collenberg mentions in the text overlay, "I’m only sending back 20% of what I purchased."

Collenberg mentioned that he purchased over a thousand totes, commonly known as plastic storage bins, but roughly 300 of those are deemed “defective.”

However, when he attempted to take them back to Costco, he claims they refused to accept them.

In the footage, Collenberg showcases an extensive flatbed loaded with stacked plastic crates.

It appears there was quite a bit of debate happening in the comments, which led Collenberg to disable them. In a subsequent video, he responds to those who claimed there was “much more to this narrative.”

In the subsequent update, it appeared that the bins had indeed been previously used. However, it's uncertain whether they were received in that condition, prompting his desire to return them, or if he was simply attempting to emulate the many others who have gained attention for returning used items to the major retail chain.

The Daily Dot was unable to verify the price of the plastic bins on the Costco website, as they are exclusively available at the business center. However, Home Depot offers comparable bins priced at $10 each. This suggests that Collenberg was attempting to reclaim approximately $3,000 from Costco.

In a statement, Collenberg expressed his surprise at being denied his "only return ever," noting that he has invested "hundreds of thousands of dollars" with the retailer.

"I'll find another place for my business," he remarked.

Costco’s return policy is known for being very generous and customer-friendly. It allows members to return most items at any time for a full refund, with some exceptions like electronics, which must be returned within a specific timeframe. This policy reflects Costco's commitment to customer satisfaction and encourages members to shop with confidence.

Costco offers a “100% satisfaction guarantee” that is completely risk-free.

“We guarantee your satisfaction on every product we sell, and will refund your purchase price,” the site states.

In some cases, a receipt isn't even necessary for returns; they can simply retrieve your purchase history using your membership card.

One person returned a stinky 3-year-old rug that was falling apart. Another returned cat food without the original bag because their furry friend stopped liking it. And others returned fully eaten steak and chicken that just had the bones left.

Although the majority of products, including food items, can be returned, the following exceptions apply:

• Gift cards
• Specific electronics have a 90-day return window
• Diamonds must have all their original paperwork and will need to go through an authentication process
• Cigarettes and alcohol
• Products with a limited useful life expectancy (like tires and batteries)
• Custom items
• Plane and event tickets
• Gold bullion, gold bars, and silver coins

"One commenter expressed relief, saying, 'I'm really glad Costco rejected those totes; they’re outdated and no longer of any value to the store.'"

"Another person commented, 'They ought to issue him a refund, especially since he's open to taking store credit as he mentioned.'"

"Perhaps you should check out another Costco; it might just be the employee that was the issue," someone proposed.

@farmndave Costco doesn’t honor there return policy make it viral #costco #fyp #oregon ♬ original sound – Farmn Dave

The Daily Dot contacted Collenberg for a response through both email and TikTok direct message, and also reached out to Costco via email.