Can you return tires to Costco? This is what the policy actually allows – Jalopnik

Costco Wholesale is known for its pretty generous return policy. Apart from some very specific products, Costco emphasizes that it “guarantees your satisfaction with every product… and will refund your purchase price” if you are not satisfied. With a guarantee like that, you might be tempted to buy everything you need from your local warehouse. You can even buy a new set of tires there and potentially save money on Tire Rack in the process. But what if you are not satisfied with your new tires? Does Costco’s return policy apply to them?

New tires purchased at Costco fall under one of the merchandise exceptions for returns, along with electronics and diamonds. That means you won’t get a refund for a set of tires, but there are other ways you’ll be helped if there’s a problem with your tire purchase at Costco.

But even if you can’t get your money back, that doesn’t mean Costco won’t take care of you as a customer. Tires are sold with a manufacturer’s warranty, which means the tire manufacturer must offer a replacement if there is a problem. Michelin, a brand sold by Costco locations, has a 60-day satisfaction guarantee. This warranty allows you to exchange your tires for a new set of equal or lesser value. You can also contact Michelin within 30 days for a price adjustment if the tires go on sale after you purchase them. This way you won’t miss out on offers if you buy the tires just before they drop in price.

While it may be a shame not to get a refund for a returned tire, there are still some great benefits to buying a set of tires from Costco. It offers a lifetime maintenance service for the tires, including checking tire pressure, balancing, rotating and puncture repairs. Costco will even fill your tires with nitrogen. In addition, it has a road hazard warranty included in the purchase price Costco states – covers tires with “unrepairable punctures or impact damage” that prevent them from being normally maintained.

Offering very limited refund periods is a fairly common industry practice, as is simply offering no refunds at all. But as long as you do your research on what tire you need for your car, the only problems you might have should be covered under Costco’s road hazard warranty or the tire manufacturer’s warranty. If you need help, we even have a guide to choosing a set of tires that will give you the best value for your money.