Costco
Reviews and Complaints

I am writing this letter to Costco CEO, W. Craig Jelinek,

Mr. Jelinek

Brief Background:
I have been a executive member of Costco for over than 10 years. I only could speak highly of the service always received by Costco employees.

Around 2011 I obtained an Auto insurance with Ameriprise (policy# BX07127478). Since it is a partner of Costco, I knew that I will always receive the same exceptional service I always receive at Costco. Many of my friends and family have switched to Ameriprise due to my recommendation.

In 2014 I had a car accident with bodily injury. Ameriprise assured me that the accident would disqualify me from obtaining another policy with Ameriprise since the accident took place while I was insured with Ameriprise.

Since I did not have a car I was added to my parents policy in early 2015.

Let's start my official complaint now:

10/05/2016: I called Amerprise to add another car (Toyota RAV4 2016), I was informed by Ameriprise representative, Corey, that I must obtain a separate policy since I am married and the car is titled under my wife's name. He transferred me to a lady the sales department (I believe). the lady ran my driving record and informed me that my records shows a non at fault in March 2015 in addition to the accident on 09/04/2014.
I advised the lady representative that I did not get in any accident in 2015. I was informed to obtain DMV driving record proofing that (no accident in 2015) to continue with the new policy. She specifically told me, that the reason she cannot write the policy due to the accident of 2015. The accident of 2014 is OK.

on 10/10/2016 I bravely and patiently spent 4 hours at the DMV to obtain my driving record. which proved that I did not have the accident in 2015.

on 10/14/2016. I called Ameriprise to obtain a policy and surprisingly, I was informed that I am not eligible due to the accident in 2014 and the representative refused to connect me with a supervisor to discuss the matter. Even though I have expressed my frustration and I was treated unfairly and been misdirected and given false information.
I've advised the Representative that I will be contacting the CEO of Costco and Ameriprise on this matter.
She told me that she would have a manger to call me.

Today is 11/03/2016. Since i did not receive any calls from Ameriprise, I've decided to give the a second chance and call them again to try resolving the matter.

Again, I was advised that i wouldn't be eligible for get a policy on my pwn due the 2014 accident and i was transferred to Sandra, manager in the client relationship department, no one can find the record of the conversation with the representative who advised me to obtain my DMV record on 10/5/2016.

Mr. CEO of Costco, I just wanted to inform you that I am a client of yours that is UNHAPPY with Ameriprise and I hope you will be able to share my concerns with your account manager at Amerprise to make sure that all of COSTCO client to be given the correct information at the first contact (GET IT RIGHT THE FIRST TIME). I have spent about 12 hours over several days between speaking to Ameriprise and going to the DMV. and getting no policy with Amerprise.

I am sad to say that this is a scar that will always scare me to deal or recommend any of my friends, family or clients to deal with Costco's partners like Amerprise, Credit Card Services, Auto purchase program, Mortgage service with First Choice.

on another note, I did try to purchase a car through the Auto Buy Program (not successful at all). separate story to tell.

Sincerely,
A very Disappointing Costco Member
Hafez Saleh
[protected]
[protected]@gmail.com

This is customer service from costco. They put the wrong size 2 kirklands diapers in the size 3 box. They don't even bother to check or explain.
Please see the following:

Response by email (Pete) (10/30/2016 10:04 am)
Dear yujin,

Thank you for contacting costco.

Size 2 kirkland signature diapers are for 12-18 lb or 5-8 kg babies. Size 3 is designed for 16-28 lb or 7-13 kg. Unfortunately, we do not have physical dimensions on the diapers.

Thank you and have an awesome day!

Pete h

Member service center
Costco wholesale corporation
Customer by service web (Yujin cheng) (10/28/2016 07:35 am)
We have been using kirkland diapers for my baby. My baby was about 16 lbs, we bought size 2. We feel it is getting small. So, we bought size 3 when size 2 is almost finished. But we found out size 3 we bought is same size as size 2. Can you please check if the size 2 and size 3 are supposed to be same size? We compared both, they are same size by measurement.
Product information:
Kirkland supreme diapers
Size 3 (16 to 28 lbs)
Ite./art. 958183
Lot: bi618212x 16:47 353852
Question reference # [protected]

I called the Markham warehouse to inquire about some flooring I needed and was told that they did not have any in stock, but the Richmond Hill store did. I drove all the way over to the Richmond Hill location and could not find the item. I asked someone who looked it up on their computer and told me that they did have them there. After I still could not locate any I asked them again and they admitted that they did not actually have them there after all.

Thanks Costco for wasting my time and gas money. Is this one of the membership benefits that you guys talk about ?

I just went Costco with my 66 years ago dad today and we urchased 3 items. Btw, store located at Alhambra, California. A cashier names Art sad to another employee that my dad and are germs. He sad that just because my dad didn't put the items on the shelf. Art and the other employee who was in a red polo shirt keep talking about us because they thought we areChinese. and speak no English. Why Costco hired people like this? Is this discrimination? So rude!

Just purchased four tires for my 2003 SL55 AMG spent a little more than $1, 000.00 on them to have my car returned to me filthy. The rims were not cleaned off after then mounted and balanced the tires. The tires them selves were filthy full of some sort of mounting glue. All of this should have been cleaned off before they returned the car back to me. when i brought it to the attention of a manger he told me i could wait another 1/2 an hour i declined ran out of time, got on the phone to speek to another manager higher up, but was told i could either wash the rims my self or i could go back to them before 8:30pm and the will take care of that for me. I think this should have been resolved before i even mentioned it. Very poor customer service.

Visited Nampa, Idaho Costco 10/18/16 and spent more than 15 minutes in line waiting for a customer who had multiple orders including a large cigarette order which had to be voided out ahead of us - causing additional wait times. Not one Costco manager cared about our wait! 2 of them standing nearby with clipboards not even noticing the problems with the wait time. When we started putting our goods on the conveyor belt they decided to open a lane next to us and did not give us the opportunity to even move to the open line! What an insult. This is a perfect example of how not to treat customers.

It is very frustrating to shop at Costco.. You go in there to get a few items and you come up to the checkout line there's one checkstand open, and 8 carts in line and you see all these employees walking around. Costco you're thinking to yourself, why don't they open another checkout line! I have this picture of all these carts in line and one checkstand open I'd love to show. It happens all the time!

Please stop holding out on the Kirkland brand Canadian whiskey(crown). Everyone wants it and it's better than the real crown and cheaper. You carry it one day then it's gone the next. Carry it like you do the others and I'll keep your business afloat by myself

October 15, 2016

I've been a member with Costco for the past 3 years, however, I've never checked out their website. A few weeks back we saw a very cute London Fog coat for girls. I decided to go online and see if I could find it elsewhere and found it on their website for less than what was in the local warehouse store. We went to the warehouse to purchase the coat to find that the price was not the same price as on their website. I decided to ask someone about this and went to a woman with a red vest near the cashiers. I had just pulled me phone out to ask why it was different pricing and she screeches at me that "we don't price match". I was taken back a bit since the response she gave was rather rude. I go to ask why and she screeches, again, that they don't price match. She was very rude and acted like I was inconveniencing her (this was within minutes of them opening so they weren't busy yet). I decide since my daughter needed the coat, to pay the difference, but I was irritated. On my way out I decide to stop at the CS desk and ask them. The woman I talked to there was much nicer and more approachable than the head cashier/shift manager that had screeched at me a few moments before. Needless to say, I'm not too anxious to go back to that particular warehouse except to maybe get her name.

I was badly disrespected when I signed up for the gold card today. Don't they train their employees to treat customers good? Thank goodness that it didn't discourage me from shopping. Please find out who helped me fill out my application today, I'm sure she puts her work code in when registering people. Nancy Hitlan. 24625 Tallman ave Warren mi 48089

I love shopping at Costco for groceries and clothes, etc.. But I was very disappointed with the insurance products through Ameriprise. After spending a long time on the phone trying to get estimates for auto and home, I found out 2 surprising things.
They couldn't quote a homeowner's policy because: 1) I am a research medical Professor and the things I write could lead to libel (how ridiculous- this has never happened); 2) I share a tiny garage with a neighbor, each with a driveway. It has a flat roof and that also disqualifies me (again this has never happened with any other insurer). Both are silly concerns. The sides are huge concrete bricks and mortar. I wasted almost an hour.

This is the first problem I have had with Costco. But it is important.

Best, Stephen Soumerai (member)

I'm very disappointed with Costco customer service, they treat their customers with a total disrespect, they are rude and highly unprofessional! Will not buy from them again and would never recommend Costco to anyone.
I made my order and bought some beauty products. Shipping was taking too long so I contacted Costco and asked about the delivery date. Their rep wasn't able to give me any information. Time passed and there was no sign of my order so I contacted them again and their rep was rude and impolite, he didn't let me say a word and always interrupted!
Later I did get my order, but I still was very dissatisfied with Costco customer care service!

It is astonishing to me that a company as well organized as Costco has not learned the science of crowd/checkout control.

The absurd system of letting the customers decide which way a long line should curve (or more commonly simply block traffic) is very frustrating. This is a global problem. I shop Costco in Florida, California, and Minnesota and this problem is exhibited everywhere.

I won't get into the equally annoying practice of doing food demos at main aisle end caps which inevitably causes congestion around those demo areas.

I ordered Direct from Costco. On 9/30/2016 the installation was completed. I had a 4K TV on order for my living room and the installers said that he could hook up the 4K mini box in the living room to operate my existing Sony HD TV until my 4K TV arrived. They installed the 4K mini and the regular box and left.
On Sunday, October 2nd my TV went completely blank.
I contacted Directv on Monday and a repairman came out on Tuesday, October 4th.
The repairman said that the 4K mini should not have been connected to a HD TV and that my television was no longer operating because of faulty installation by Costco. On Thursday, October 5th I went back to Costco and was told to report the problem to the dedicated Costco VIP teams. When I call the telephone number she gave me I get a sales person.
The lady at Costco gave me Name: [protected] and Code: Dress 1.
Who can right this wrong?

To costco management/board,

"according to my receipt date, time, and cashier details october 2, 2016 at 15:[protected]), I had a very terrible customer service from a bagger that I shopped and checked out from cashier (polly o.). there was not any customer greetings or smile from the staff and they all look angry and rush customers in checkout lanes. the front end bagger accused customer for stealing plastic bags from meat dept even though I am intended to use them for protecting my meat products and fruit produce (chicken wings, meatballs, and others) and he still removed them away from the packages/boxes and shouting at me in front of other customers saying these products shouldn't need these bags and he said to me" i've been telling customers about this bag that they took, if you want this plastic bag we sell them!"I spoke to him that I want those few bags for my purchases and yet he insisted saying that I am stealing bags and then he tossed them away to trash can with his rude attitude. I asked for his name and he would not disclose to me (he said"none of your business!") and there wasn't a name tag attach on him. since he wouldn't tell me his name, I couldn't complaint on site there. I hope costco managment can track down who this bagger for accusing customer of stealing from my attached receipt on the date and the time I shopped at san jose #1004. I suggest that the management of this store should talk to this individual on correction of this matter and stop bringing embarrassment toward customers. please re-train for better customer service and make sure workers have their name tags in visible zone or on their shoulder.
Below is the address of this wrongful treatment occurred:
Costco ne san jose #1004
1709 automation parkway
San jose, ca 95131"

Thank you for your concern.

Regard,
Carol c.

I am writing this to file a complaint against a customer service representative at Costco # 226, 1250 Old Country Road, Westbury, NY 11590. I am a member of Costco since 1995 and go there regularly. On 1 October, 2016, I went to the above location to return an item which I purchased a few days ago. On the return receipt (copy attached), there were multiple numbers printed. So to make sure I am getting back the amount I paid for the item, I asked her how much I am getting back. Her response was “read it”. I felt insulted. I believe that she responded this way because I look different. I do not know her name. There was some argument and she kept on saying “go and read it” as if I do not know how to read. All the people around me were listening, including the Costco employees.
I am writing this because I believe this is not acceptable in the present days. I am attaching a copy of the receipt. I am sure you can trace her. This should go into her record. I believe she should be disciplined.

Thank you,
[name removed], [address removed]
[phone number removed]

I wanted to install two new garage doors in my duplex, and as with most things, my first thought was to check with Costco. I have long trusted Costco’s excellent customer service and quality products. After the initial bid by Costco’s vendor DoorPro America, however, this entire process was marked by lack of communication, lack of professionalism, and unreliability.

Beginning May 25, 2016, the initial appointment for the bid went smoothly, but starting with the appointment for the site measurement visit to mark the spot for electrical outlet installation and indicate any other work required by owner prior to installation, it went downhill from there. They canceled the first appointment, and never returned my phone calls to find out why they never showed up on the rescheduled date. After getting no response from the company’s customer service line, I called the initial salesman, Dennis--he seemed to be the only person in the company who answered his phone—who followed up for me and was told they did come out, but failed to call me when I asked specifically for a call so I could meet with them at the site on the rescheduled date. They failed to clearly communicate placement of electrical outlets in either unit, and failed to note an issue in one of the units that would hinder installation. This resulted in frustration and confusion when my contractor came to install the outlets and more frustration and confusion when the installer finally came out--after two more cancellations—and told me he couldn’t install one of the doors because of the fixed cabinet in one garage that would obstruct the track. I questioned whether they really did physically inspect and measure both garages; if they did, they did not clearly communicate what was required. We did reach a resolution, and the job was finally completed on July 25, 2016, but this did not have to be so painful nor should I have had to fight so hard for them to keep their appointments and commitments. I do not recommend getting garage doors through Costco.

I found out that there were some flies inside my rice despenser. So I poured it out and saw there were lots of it inside and I saw also lots of worms. I discarded the rice and clean the rice dispenser and plug all the holes that could possibly an entrance of flies going inside my rice dispenser. I bought another batch and same thing happened. There lots of worms and the worms turns into flies. I now believe that SunWest Calrose Rice sold by Costco is infested with worms or larvae before I bought it and is the source of the problem I am having. I request that Costco investigate this problem at the shortest possible time. Meanwhile, what should I do with the worm/flies infested rice inside my rice dispenser and another unopened 50 lb. bag that I already bought?

Order#[protected]

My mother in law placed their order on 7/13/16 - the order arrived on 8/10/16. the original order time was 9-10am - they did not show up until 6:45pm - when they did show up - they were outside for over an hour putting together 8 chairs. My Mom only ordered 4 chairs - we asked them what they were doing - and they said - oh sorry - were coming in right now. they bring the chairs in - and the top of the table - hitting the post to the fence on the way in - breaking the light on the post.
When they were in the house, they realized that they did not have the bottom to the table. they came back the next day at 11:25am to install the bottom of the table. after my mom had called the office in Arizona - and no-one would answer or call us back.
I would like to get my Mother in law some type of a credit on this order for their problems that they encountered on this order.
Please contact me at [protected] - Melanie Caswell

I went to purchase gasoline early this morning as the pumps were opening up, and I was at least the 3rd or 4th person in the Costco gas line, and after I authorized my debit card, I went to pump my gasoline and the pump I was at was still locked, but all the rest were not. I attempted to call for help from an attendant, but no one came over to help. I cancelled my request, drove around to start all over again at the next pump. When I went to authorize my card, it would not authorize as the original authorization was still holding funds on my card. I was running on fumes, and I had to check my balance on another card to ensure I had enough money to run that card, which I luckily did. I was almost left with no gas and no way to buy my gas and no attendant there to help. I also ended up being late to work because of the time this took, and I specifically went that early so it would not take me very long to get my gas. I am very unhappy with everything that happened all because the attendant did not unlock all of the pumps, there was no signage to that effect, and no attendant available. I think it is a requirement for an attendant to be available at all times.