Toilet paper. Rotisserie chicken. Trash bags and cleaning supplies and paper towels. We all have our list of Costco must-haves. But when it comes to saving the most money, Costco isn’t just a one-stop shop for groceries and household items. It can be the best place to buy your electronics too.
True, true, its electronics section isn’t vast, and you might not find the exact product you’re looking for. But if you’re in the market for new electronics (like a laptop or TV), here are five perks to buying them at Costco.
1. Sales, sales, and more sales
Costco loves to run sales on its electronics. And when I say “love,” I mean at least once a quarter (if not twice), Costco is selling new electronics at reduced prices.
Take, for example, the August Tech Days sale. In this sale, you can find deals on a swath of electronics, including printers, laptops, speakers, security cameras, desktop computers, televisions, and more. For example, a 13-inch MacBook Air is currently selling for $849.99 after a $200 discount. Meanwhile, Best Buy is selling the same laptop for $899.
Now, if you prefer to buy your electronics at Best Buy (whether because it’s closer to you or you’re a part of its Plus program), it will price match Costco. So long as the item is identical, Best Buy will usually match the lower price. This might not work for every Costco promotion — for example, Costco might offer a Shop Card with a purchase — but it could give you another option if you’re not in the mood to shop at Costco.
2. Extended warranties
Costco offers a free extended warranty on most of its electronics. The extended warranty can last up to two years from the purchase or delivery date. Extended warranties apply to most electronics, including televisions, projectors, computers (excluding touchscreen tablets), and major appliances. If your electronics come with defects, this essentially gives you more time to suss them out and get them fixed at no extra cost.
3. A 90-day return window
Costco has one of the most generous return policies of any electronics seller. You get 90 days to return electronics for a full refund. For perspective, Best Buy gives you 14 to 15 days without a Plus membership (14 to 60 days with one) and Amazon gives you 30 days after delivery.
4. Executive members can earn cash back
If you have an Executive membership ($130 a year starting Sept. 1, 2024), you’ll earn 2% cash back on most purchases in Costco stores or online. Yes, that includes electronics. So, if you purchase a $800 laptop, $1,000 television, and $200 printer in the same year, you would earn $40 collectively.
But depending on your credit card, you could earn even more than this. The best credit cards for Costco earn 2% to 3% back. If you get 3% back on your credit card alongside that 2% back, you would effectively earn 5% total on your purchases. For the above example, 4% to 5% back would net you $80 to $100 in cash back.
5. Free tech support
Finally, if you, like me, are not tech savvy, Costco’s got you covered. Costco members get unlimited free tech support over the phone and in-person at your local warehouse. And if you don’t want to talk to someone, you can always read its user-friendly guides online to see if they answer your questions.
All these perks combine to make Costco one of the best places to shop for electronics. It might not have the largest selection of electronics, but for the products that it sells, few places can beat Costco’s combination of price, customer care, and cash back potential.
