Does Costco price match other stores?
If you have ever wondered whether you can show Costco a lower price from Amazon or Walmart and get the difference, the short answer is no. Costco does not price match other retailers. But there is a related policy that is easy to confuse with price matching, and it can put money back in your pocket: Costco's price adjustment on its own price drops within 30 days. Here is the difference, explained clearly. Policies can change, so always confirm the current terms on Costco's official customer service pages.
The short answer: no, Costco does not match competitors
Costco does not price match against other retailers. On its official customer service page, Costco states that it does not price match with other retailers because it already offers competitive prices at the point of purchase. So bringing in a screenshot of a cheaper price at another store will not get you a refund of the difference at Costco.
Costco's customer service page points instead to its satisfaction guarantee: if you are not satisfied with a purchase, you can return the item for a refund. That return guarantee is separate from the price adjustment policy covered below.
This is the part shoppers most often get wrong. The phrase price match usually means matching a competitor's lower price, but that is not something Costco offers.
- Costco will not match Amazon, Walmart, Target, or any other retailer's price.
- Costco's stated reasoning is that its everyday prices are already competitive at the point of purchase.
- If you are unhappy with a purchase, Costco's return and satisfaction guarantee is the relevant policy, not a competitor price match.
Price matching vs. price adjustment: the confusion explained
Part of the confusion is that Costco's own policy uses the words price match to describe what most shoppers would call a price adjustment: a refund of the difference when Costco lowers the price on something you already bought. That is different from matching a competitor's price, which Costco does not do.
Once you separate the two ideas, the policy is simple to understand. For an adjustment, Costco compares its own price today against the price you paid, not against another store.
- Price matching another retailer: comparing a competitor's price to Costco's. Costco does NOT do this.
- Price adjustment on Costco's own drop: if Costco lowers the price on something you already bought, you can request the difference back. Costco DOES do this, and its policy calls it a price match.
What Costco actually offers: a 30-day price adjustment
Here is the good news. If an item you bought drops in price at Costco within 30 days of your purchase, you can request a refund of the difference. Costco's official policy states that purchases that reduce in price within 30 days of the date of purchase are eligible for a price match, which in plain terms is a price adjustment on Costco's own price.
A few details worth knowing, based on Costco's published policy:
- The window is 30 days from the date of purchase.
- It applies only to Costco's own price drops, not to prices at other stores.
- Some items are excluded. Costco's policy states that precious metals are not eligible for a price match or promotions.
- Costco's policy says it reserves the right to deny a price match request at its sole discretion and may restrict the policy in the future, so always confirm the current terms with Costco directly.
Warehouse vs. Costco.com: they are separate
An important nuance: Costco treats its physical warehouses and Costco.com as separate channels. Costco's official policy states that it does not price match Costco warehouse prices for Costco.com purchases, noting that Costco.com prices factor in shipping and handling fees that do not apply to warehouse purchases.
Because the two channels are priced differently, an in-warehouse price and an online price for the same item can differ. As a general rule, request an adjustment through the same channel where you bought the item. When in doubt, check Costco's official price adjustment page or ask a warehouse employee.
- Warehouse purchase: typically handled in person at a Costco warehouse, generally at the membership or returns counter.
- Costco.com purchase: handled online through Costco's price adjustment request, started with the Request a Price Match button on the order.
- Online prices include shipping and handling not reflected in warehouse prices, which is why Costco does not adjust Costco.com purchases to warehouse prices.
Shopper folklore: price endings and the asterisk
You may have read that the last digits on a Costco price tag, or an asterisk in the corner, reveal secret deal signals. These tips are widely repeated by shoppers and covered by many shopping blogs, but they are not officially documented by Costco, so treat them as commonly observed patterns rather than guaranteed rules.
Two of the most commonly reported signals:
- A price ending in .97 is widely reported by shoppers to indicate a clearance or markdown item, often specific to that individual warehouse.
- An asterisk on the tag is commonly said to mean the item is being discontinued or will not be restocked.
- Because these are shopper observations, not published Costco policy, do not rely on them for a guaranteed outcome. If you want a refund on a price drop, the price adjustment policy is the official route.
How to request a Costco price adjustment
If Costco's own price drops within the 30-day window, the process is straightforward. The path depends on where you bought the item.
Keep your receipt or order confirmation, since you will generally need proof of purchase and the relevant item details.
- For a warehouse purchase: bring your receipt to a Costco warehouse and ask about a price adjustment, generally at the membership or returns counter.
- For a Costco.com purchase: use the Request a Price Match button on your order at Costco.com and complete the form, which will ask for your order details.
- Act within 30 days of your purchase date, since the window is time sensitive.
- Confirm current eligibility and exclusions on Costco's official customer service pages, since policies can change.
PriceMatcher is an independent app, not affiliated with Costco, that scans your Costco receipts and alerts you when an item's price drops inside the 30-day window, so you have the chance to request an adjustment before time runs out.
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PriceMatcher is an independent app and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Costco Wholesale Corporation.