It's frustrating to buy an item and later see it selling for significantly less. Fortunately, Costco offers a price adjustment policy that may allow you to receive a refund for the difference—if you know how it works.
Many shoppers aren't aware that price drops, including manufacturer discounts and in-store markdowns, can qualify for price adjustments within 30 days. Costco doesn't automatically issue refunds, so it's up to the customer to request one.
This guide explains when price adjustments apply, how clearance pricing is handled, and why online and warehouse prices are treated differently—so you can take advantage of savings when they become available.
Quick answer
Costco's price adjustment policy refunds you the difference if the price drops within 30 days of your purchase. Take your item number to Member Services for warehouse purchases (no receipt needed—they look it up by membership), or use the Price Adjustment form on Costco.com for online orders. In-store and online prices are tracked separately and don't match each other.
The Rule: The 30-Day Window
The Verdict: If the price drops, you get paid.
Costco's policy is simple: If you purchase an item and the price drops within 30 days of your purchase, you are entitled to a refund of the difference.
It doesn't matter if you bought it at the standard .99 price and it went on sale, or if you bought it on sale and it went on clearance. If the price is lower today than it was when you swiped your card, that money belongs to you.
Wondering exactly when the clock starts, what happens the moment it expires, and whether there are any exceptions? Our complete guide to the 30-day price adjustment window breaks the timing down day by day.
The Two Types of Price Drops
Most people know about standard sales, but there are actually two kinds of price adjustments.
1. The Manufacturer Discount (Instant Rebate)
This is the standard "coupon book" savings. You bought a blender for $399.99. Ten days later, the new monthly coupon book comes out and that blender is now $329.99 thanks to a manufacturer discount.
- •Can you adjust? Yes.
- •The savings: Usually $5 to $20.
2. The Clearance Markdown (.97)
As we covered in our Price Tag Guide, when Costco wants an item gone, they slash the price and end it in .97.
If you bought a patio set for $999.99 on July 1st, and on July 20th the manager marks it down to $699.97 to clear floor space, you can walk in and get $300 back.
- •Can you adjust? Yes.
- •The savings: Massive.
How to Get Your Money
The process is slightly different depending on where you shopped.
In-Warehouse Purchases
If you bought it physically in the store, you must go back to the store.
- •Go to Member Services: Do not go to the regular checkout line.
- •Request a Price Adjustment: Simply tell them, "I'd like a price adjustment please. Item number 1234567." They'll look it up and verify.
- •Get Paid: If you are still within 30 days, they will refund the difference to your original payment method or give you a Shop Card with the balance.
Online Purchases (Costco.com)
Costco.com and the Warehouse are treated as two separate entities.
If you bought it online, you cannot go to the store for an adjustment. Instead, there is a simple Price Adjustment form on their website. Fill it out, and the credit usually appears on your card in 3–5 business days.
The "Gotchas"
Before you run to the service desk, keep these rules in mind:
- •In-Store vs. Online: Costco does not price match between the warehouse and the website. If you bought it in the store, the lower price must be in the store. If you bought it online, the lower price must be online.
- •Clearance Stock: For clearance (.97) adjustments, you must be at the warehouse you purchased it from, and the item needs to still be in stock. You can even get price adjustments on clearance items if they dropped in price (ie. $9.97 to $4.97).
Common Price Adjustment Questions
How long does Costco price adjust?
Costco price adjusts for 30 days from the date of purchase. The window is measured from when you bought the item, not from when the price dropped, so the clock is already running the moment you check out.
Does Costco price adjust online orders?
Yes. For Costco.com orders, submit the Price Adjustment form on Costco.com within 30 days—you don't visit a warehouse for online purchases. The credit typically posts to your original payment method in 3–5 business days. Warehouse and online prices are separate, so an online order can only be adjusted against the online price.
Can you get a price adjustment after 30 days?
No. After 30 days you're no longer eligible, and Costco does not make exceptions to the window. This is exactly why so many shoppers miss refunds—they never realize the price dropped before the window closed.
Do you need a receipt for a Costco price adjustment?
No. For warehouse purchases you just need the item number—Costco looks up your purchase history with your membership card. A receipt makes it faster but isn't required.
Will Costco price adjust if an item goes on sale or clearance?
Yes. Regular price drops, sales, manufacturer (instant rebate) discounts, and .97 clearance markdowns all qualify within 30 days. For clearance adjustments specifically, you must return to the same warehouse and the item generally needs to still be in stock.
The Problem: You Can't Track Everything
Here is the reality: The system is designed for you to forget.
To take advantage of this policy manually, you would need to:
- •Keep every receipt.
- •Memorize the price you paid for every item.
- •Walk the aisles of Costco every few days to check for price drops.
- •Catch the price drop before the 30-day window expires.
Nobody has time for that. You aren't going to drive to Costco just to check if your laundry detergent dropped by $3.00.
Because of this, hundreds of dollars in potential refunds are left on the table every year.
The Solution: Automate Your Refund
You don't need to memorize prices. You just need CostLow.
We built the CostLow app to handle the "detective work" for you. Instead of manually tracking prices, you let our the app do the heavy lifting.
How CostLow Gets You Cash Back:
- •Snap Your Receipt: As soon as you get your receipt, open the CostLow app and take a picture of your receipt. (do this before the door checkers draw a giant line through the receipt)
- •We Digitize It: The app reads every item, the price you paid, and the date of purchase. The app allows you to edit, add, or delete automatic receipt scanning errors.
- •We Watch the Prices: We monitor the database. If a manufacturer discount kicks in, or if other users report a .97 clearance drop for that item at your store, we know.
- •You Get Alerted: You get a notification: "Price Drop Alert: The Dyson Vacuum you bought 12 days ago just dropped by $60."
- •You Collect: Next time you go to Costco, you walk up to the counter, show the alert (or your receipt), and collect your money.
Real Savings
We aren't talking about pennies. CostLow users frequently see adjustments on:
- •Electronics: TVs often drop $100–$300 shortly after release.
- •Seasonal Items: Furniture and holiday decor plummet in price as the season ends.
- •Clothing: That jacket you bought for $24.99 often hits $14.97 a few weeks later.
Stop Leaving Money at the Warehouse
Costco's price adjustment policy is one of the best perks of your membership—but only if you use it.
You've already paid for the membership. You've already bought the items. Don't let the savings slip away just because you didn't know the price changed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a price adjustment?
A refund for the difference between what you paid and a lower current price. Cash back.
How long do I have to request a price adjustment?
30 days from your purchase date. After 30 days, you're no longer eligible for an adjustment.
Do I need my receipt for a Costco price adjustment?
No, you just need the item number. Costco can look up your purchase history using your membership card.
Can you get a price adjustment on clearance items?
Yes. Clearance items (.97) qualify for price adjustments. You can even get adjustments if a clearance item drops further in price (e.g., $9.97 to $4.97).
What qualifies for a price adjustment?
Regular price drops, sales, clearance markdowns (.97), and manufacturer discounts. Not eligible: Costco Cash, Executive member rewards, or mail-in rebates.
Can you get a price adjustment on online purchases?
Yes, but you must use Costco.com's Price Adjustment form. In-store and online are treated as separate entities—no price matching between channels.
How do I request a price adjustment in-store?
Go to Member Services (not checkout) with your item number or receipt. They'll verify the price drop and refund the difference to your original payment method or issue a shop cash gift card.
How long does a Costco price adjustment take?
In-store adjustments are immediate. Online adjustments typically appear on your card in 3–5 business days.
Can you get multiple price adjustments from one receipt?
Yes. Each item is evaluated separately within the 30-day window. If multiple items drop in price, you can request adjustments for all of them.
Do you need to be at the same warehouse for a clearance price adjustment?
Yes. For clearance (.97) adjustments, you must go to the warehouse where you made the purchase, and the item must still be in stock.
If I buy something at Costco and it goes on sale, do I get a refund?
Yes—if the price drops within 30 days of your purchase, Costco refunds the difference. You have to request it (Member Services for warehouse purchases, or the Costco.com Price Adjustment form for online orders); Costco won't refund it automatically.
Does Costco price adjust after purchase?
Yes. Costco adjusts the price after purchase as long as you're within the 30-day window and the lower price is in the same channel (warehouse drops match warehouse purchases; online drops match online orders).
Will Costco refund the difference if an item goes on sale?
Yes. A regular sale, a manufacturer (instant rebate) discount, or a .97 clearance markdown all qualify for a refund of the difference within 30 days of purchase.
What happens if a Costco price drops right after I buy it?
You're entitled to the difference back. Bring the item number to Member Services (no receipt needed—they look it up by membership) within 30 days, and they'll refund it to your original payment method or a Costco Shop Card.
Explore More Guides
Learn how to maximize your Costco savings:
- →Costco Price Tags Explained
Learn how to read price tags and decode .97, .99, and asterisks to find hidden deals.
- →What Does .97 Mean at Costco?
Understand Costco's .97 clearance pricing and how to spot the best deals before they're gone.
- →The Best Costco Price Trackers & Clearance Websites
Compare price tracking tools and discover why warehouse-specific alerts are the only reliable way to catch deals.
- →Best Time to Find Costco Clearance Deals
Discover when clearance deals appear and how to time your shopping for maximum savings.
