【Epoch Times News May 4, 2024】(Reported comprehensively by Xia Yu)
The American warehouse-style retail store Costco has always been known for selling high-quality products at affordable prices, with more than 100 million members worldwide. In addition to food and clothing, this retailer also offers great deals on electronic products such as TVs, laptops, and smartphones.
Costco has taken the concept of one-stop shopping to a new level. Members can purchase the latest technology products at prices far lower than most major stores.
When shopping at Costco, the first step is to pay $60 or $120 to become a member, which allows you to purchase electronic products such as smartphones, home security systems, and earbuds at discounted prices at their stores. Prices of electronic products may vary in different regions.
While you can buy electronic products from many places, including Amazon, there are several reasons why choosing to buy electronic products at Costco is advantageous when considering all factors.
One of the most obvious reasons to choose Costco for electronic products is pricing. Typically, members can find most electronic devices at much lower prices at Costco.
Costco sells brand-name products such as LG and Sony TVs, as well as Apple AirPods. For example, you can purchase a TP-Link multi-gigabit WiFi 6 router at Costco for $149.99. When purchasing the same product at competitors like Best Buy, you may end up paying an extra $50.
Even for products like iPhones that rarely see price reductions, purchasing an iPhone 15 (128GB) at Costco in Toronto, Canada is $10 cheaper than buying it from an Apple store in Toronto.
Regarding electronic products, Julie Ramhold, a consumer analyst at DealNews.com, told gobankingrates.com, “You can find great deals at Costco all year round.”
“This store hosts in-store and online savings events almost every month, so you can find promotions for different electronic products approximately every 30 days. The best part is that Costco sends out these promotional emails in advance,” she said.
Apart from price advantages, here are four other rare benefits of buying electronic products at Costco.
One of the most unique and beneficial advantages of purchasing electronic products at Costco is the extended warranty period you can obtain for the product. In general, the store extends the manufacturer’s warranty for certain products to start from the date of purchase or delivery (if purchased online) for two years.
Most TVs, projectors, and computers (excluding touchscreens) are eligible for a second-year warranty. This benefit also applies to most major appliances.
Reading the warranty details is essential. If you file a warranty claim, Costco may choose whether to repair, replace, or provide a refund.
For more information on Costco’s warranty program, you can call Costco’s technical and warranty service at 1-866-861-0450.
Regardless of what you purchase, as an Executive member, you can receive a 2% cashback. Although the annual fee for the Executive card is twice that of the regular membership card, it may be worth it for those who shop frequently.
If you want to buy a new TV, you can save money by bundling it with furniture and purchasing through Costco Direct. There are over 100 items to choose from. Selecting two can save you $100, while choosing five or more can save you $400.
Many Costco shoppers appreciate another reason for shopping at Costco, which is its generous return policy. The return policy extends to electronic products as well.
Costco allows buyers 90 days to return most electronic products without any additional fees. Costco has stated, “The price you see is the price you pay.”
The 90-day period begins from the date of receipt of the item and applies to most electronic products such as TVs, projectors, and major home appliances.
The return time for appliances offered by many of Costco’s competitors is relatively shorter. In some cases, they may only provide a return window of 15 or 30 days for unused items. During the holiday season’s shopping frenzy, a brief return window can be frustrating.
“For electronic products, many retailers may offer around 14 days for returns; Costco accepts returns for certain categories of electronic products within 90 days, including TVs, projectors, computers, touchscreen tablets, smartwatches, cameras, etc.,” Ramhold said.
Even for tech-savvy individuals, new electronic products can be perplexing. Costco offers free technical support for many items to its members. The store’s technical and warranty service, also known as Costco Concierge Service, can provide guidance to members on product setup and troubleshooting technical issues.
Free technical support means saving hundreds of dollars without having to call in a technician. Costco even provides user-friendly guides and FAQs for many of its products. Members can access answers to specific product questions or general support for various issues.
(This article was referenced from a report on gobankingrates.com)