Costco is famous for its return policy, but one Arizona customer recently found out that the perks have specific limits. The shopper decided to bring his 86-inch LG TV back to the store after it stopped working, expecting a quick refund. Instead, he ended up leaving with a brand new unit that he paid for at full price.
As reported by BroBible, the man filmed the experience for TikTok, where the video gained millions of views. In the footage, he explains that he was watching a movie when lines appeared on the display and the screen turned white. He mentions that he has owned other TVs for a decade without issues, so this failure felt unexpected. He pulled the massive screen off his wall and hauled it to the store, believing he could use the membership benefits to get his money back.
When he arrived at the returns desk, things did not go as planned. A staff member met him outside to explain that the policy does not cover major appliances if they were bought more than 90 days ago. Once he reached the cashier, the employee confirmed this restriction. The worker checked the purchase date and noted that the TV was bought in 2024, which placed it outside the return window for electronics.
Things did not go as planned
The cashier provided a printed sheet with information for Warranty Technical Services, explaining that they might be able to help fix the device. He also told the customer that buying the manufacturer warranty for future electronics is the best way to avoid these situations. During the exchange, the employee noticed the customer’s son filming the interaction and asked him to stop.
The customer later shared his perspective on the situation to BroBible. He stated, “I have always respected Costco and thought they had a legendary return policy and amazing customer service but dang I was wrong……My only 2 year old LG TV that was purchased through Costco just quit working one day and you know #kinghillbilly needs TV to survive!”
He further added, “So I pull 86 inches off my wall and truck it down to Costco in the Queens Suburban (not to take advantage of anybody) but to use the perks of my exclusive Costco membership which is a no questions asked return policy, or so I thought.”
He also claimed that the experience became more tense after the camera stopped rolling. He said that a female employee reportedly demanded they delete the video, which he declined to do. He eventually walked away and bought a new LG TV at full price. He did mention that a staff member working at the self-checkout area gave him a free extended warranty for the new TV because she felt bad about the interaction.
Published: Nov 5, 2026 08:00 pm