Many shoppers are still confused how Costco coupons and promotional codes work. Do you need to cut them out? Do you need the coupon booklet to get the actual discount? Are there other coupons or rebates you can use to save even more at Costco? Let’s dive right into this meaty topic and set the record straight once and for all when it comes to coupons at Costco.

Here’s Where You Find Costco Coupons

If you’ve been a Costco member for a while, you probably get the monthly coupon booklet in the mail already.

Back in 2013, they came out with the coupon booklet and it was designed to make the process of finding and clipping coupons easier every month.

If you’re not receiving their coupon booklet, which has about 115 separate product coupons per month, ask for one the next time you visit the warehouse.

Better yet, visit the customer service desk and make sure you’re mailing address is set-up to receive the coupons.

You can also go online to the Costco site and visit this page to get access to all of their current coupon offers.

PRO TIP: GET A PRICE ADJUSMENT WITHOUT TRACKING COUPONS

If an item you purchased at Costco goes on sale within 30 days, ask customer service for a price adjustment.

The best way to make it happen is to use the Costco app to check if any past purchases now has a coupon or instant savings automatically applied.

The best part? No need to save your receipt to make it happen.

See Also: How to Essentially Get a $55 Costco Membership for Free

How Their Coupons Work

When Costco first came out with the monthly coupon booklet, they required you to have the actual coupon in-hand when you checked out.

Then a couple years later, Costco made their coupon policy even easier to use. The monthly Costco coupons were automatically added to your membership card every month and your discount was automatically given to you when you purchased the discounted item.

The coolest thing about this change was that you’d get the coupon discount on a product even if you didn’t know a coupon was available.

This is the policy they still currently use, and it’s pretty darn awesome.

PRO TIP: NEW COUPON BOOKLETS COME OUT ON WEDNESDAYS

New coupon booklets almost always come out on the last Wednesday of the month and last for 26 days before a new booklet comes out.

Use this information to your advantage and hit Costco on the Wednesday the coupon is first valid, especially if you know it’s going to be a hot item and probably sell out quickly.

Best Way to Organize Their Coupons

Here are a couple practical ways to organize your coupons to Costco:

• Clip the Old-Fashioned Way – You can simply cut out the coupons you want to use and stick them in your wallet or purse. Then when you’re shopping, you can pull them out and make sure to take advantage of the savings opportunities.
• Use the Costco App – Free on iOS and Android, the Costco app is a must use as it allows shoppers to peruse their monthly coupons and “clip” the ones that interest them. A “clipped” coupon automatically gets added to your shopping list within the app so you don’t forget about it when you’re in the warehouse.

Now on to some bonus hacks to help you save even more.

PRO TIP: DOUBLE STACK DEALS IN THE COSTCO APP

Hidden in the Costco app are regional deals that aren’t in the monthly coupon book.

Scan barcodes in the app to see if extra savings apply, and combine these with your cashback credit card to maximize savings.

If you’re on the road, use the app to see nearby store-specific deals—some deals vary by location.

BONUS: Costco Coupon “Hacks”

Like any smart couponing strategy, there are always a couple hacks to help you save even more.

• Can Costco Coupons Be Used Online? – Absolutely. It’s a smart technique to shop via the Costco website as you’ll not only get the coupon discount, but in many cases, free shipping too.
• Does Costco Take Manufacturer Coupons? – No, they don’t accept them. But if they did, you probably couldn’t use them anyways because Costco sizing is typically different than at grocery stores, which would make the coupons unusable.
• Use the Ibotta App to Stack Your Savings – A cool workaround to manufacturer coupons is the free Ibotta app. The app is super cool and instead of coupons, has a bunch of instant rebates at dozens of stores, including Costco. For example, right now they have a $5 rebate on Shock Top beer, $1 back on any Dunkin’ Donuts coffee product, and even $0.25 back on milk. You can easily use the Ibotta app at Costco and make it pay for your annual membership.

See Also: Ibotta Review: Insider Tips on Using the App to Save Money

Ask the Reader: What’s your Costco coupon strategy for maximizing your savings?

By Kyle James

Photo credit to m01229.

While I’ve talked about the power of cashback websites in the past, I figured it was time for a stand-alone Rakuten review (formerly Ebates). After all, they are the granddaddy of all cashback sites and have been around the longest. So in this review I talk about how Rakuten works, how you get paid, along with some insider tips to help you get the most out of using Rakuten when shopping online as well as in-store.

Exactly How Does Rakuten Work?

In a nutshell, Rakuten is a cashback website that pays you whenever you shop online.

The cashback rate varies from 1% all the way up to 40% depending on the retailer. Expect somewhere between 4%-8% as that seems to be about the average.

They literally offer cashback at thousands of stores and the best part is they’ll actually pay you a $10 bonus when you sign-up and spend $25 or more at any store on their site.

Click Here to Try Rakuten and Get Your $10 Sign-Up Bonus

Is Rakuten Legit? How Do They Make Money?

Raktuen is absolutely legit and has been writing checks to shoppers since 1998.

Founded in San Francisco, Rakuten currently has close to 3 million registered users.

So how does Rakuten make money? Whenever a user goes through their website or app to make a purchase at one the retailers they list, Rakuten gets paid a referral fee by the retailer.

The fee could be 8%, 12%, or 2% of your order total. Depends solely on the affiliate contract in place. Rakuten then uses this fee to give their users “cashback”.

Based on some of the cashback percentages they offer, it appears they keep somewhere between 1/3 to 1/2 of their referral fee as profit and gives the rest to their users in the form of cashback.

See Also: The 11 Best Cashback Sites Worth Your Time

Popular Store Cashback Examples

To give you can idea, here are some current cashback rates at these popular retailers:

• Amazon (up to 10% back)
• Dell Consumer (8% back)
• Kohl’s (3% back)
• Nike (8% back)
• Petco (4% back in-store)
• Expedia (up to 10% back)
• Target (2% back)
• Macys.com (3% back)
• American Eagle (2% back)
• Lowes.com (2.5% back)
• Lancome (8% back)
• Sears (8% back)
• Walmart (1% back)
• Barnes & Noble (up to 3% back)

I’ll be sure to keep this list updated.

How Often Does Rakuten Pay Me?

Rakuten pays out your cashback on the above payment schedule.

So basically Rakuten will pay you once per quarter, 45 days after your earning period ends.

Not the best system as it would be nice to get paid immediately after you request a payout, but we can live with it.

Look for Rakuten to improve this in the future.

How Do I Get Paid?

Rakuten currently has three forms of payment available to its users:

1. Big Fat Check – When it comes to my cashback earnings, I’ve always opted for the direct mailing of a Big Fat Check. Rakuten will pay for the stamp so make sure you have the correct mailing address in your account settings.
2. PayPal – You can also opt to be paid directly to your verified PayPal account with Rakuten picking up the sender fees.
3. Charity/Organization/Family Member – If you’d rather donate your cashback to a deserving charity, organization, or even a family member in need, Rakuten gives you the option to do so.

Is Rakuten Only For Online Shopping?

While most cashback websites focus only on online shopping, Rakuten has reached out to those who prefer to shop in-store via their In-Store cashback program.

They’ve done this through their In-Store Cashback Program.

It works by adding your credit or debit card to your Rakuten account. Then you simply peruse the in-store cashback offers currently available and when you find one you like you just link it one of your cards.

Next, just pay with your linked card when in-store and the cashback will automatically head your way.

How Do You Make Sure You’re Earning Cashback?

Once you go through Rakuten and place an order, your cashback should show up in your account within 2-3 business days.

If for some reason you don’t get your cashback within that time window, you can can file a ticket with Rakuten and they’ll investigate the issue for you.

What Popular Stores is Rakuten Missing?

As of this writing, Rakuten doesn’t provide cashback at these stores:

• Home Depot
• Williams-Sonoma
• Pottery Barn
• American Apparel

Rakuten is always working on new affiliate contracts so hopefully these stores will start earning cashback in the near future.

BONUS: Rakuten Tips for Success

Here are some insider tips and hacks to get the most of your Rakuten membership.

Beware of “Up To” Wording – Some retailers offer a tiered cashback schedule. So when you see Amazon offering “up to 10%cashback”,  it doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll get 10% back, or anything close to that. As a matter of fact, the only thing that actually pays 10% is “Home Services”.

The Power of Being a “Giant” – Because Rakuten is such a large player in the cashback field, with over $15 million in annual profits, they have a fat cash-roll which they can use to give you cashback even when your purchases do NOT track properly. This is a big plus when comparing Ebates to their competition.

Look for Double Cashback Stores – On a recurring basis, Rakuten offers approximately 20 retailers with double-cashback. Makes for a great way to double your cashback at popular stores like Nike, Sephora, Ulta Beauty, and Neiman Marcus.

Don’t Forget the Cashback Button – If your browser of choice is Chrome, Firefox, or Safari you’d be wise to add the free “Rakuten Button” browser extension. It’ll allow you to automatically activate cash back at store sites without visiting Rakuten.com first.

It will also allow you to “double dip” your savings by adding any available coupon codes to your purchase for even more savings. The button is a great tool for those, like me, who’d often forget to go through the Rakuten site before shopping online.

Check Out the Rakuten Visa – Apply for their Visa and if you get approved you’ll earn an extra 3% cashback with Rakuten and 1% everywhere else.

They Have a Handy Smartphone App Too – It’s also worth mentioning that they have a clever smartphone app for Android and iOS. It’s free to download and allows you to shop via you phone and still collect your cashback.

Did I Convince Ya?

The bottom-line is that Rakuten is free money on shopping you’ll be doing anyways. You might as well take advantage as the cashback you’ll earn will go a long way towards paying for your Christmas shopping every year.

If this review convinced you to give it a try, remember that they’ll pay you a $10 bonus when you sign-up and spend $25 or more at any retailer they list. You have exactly 1 year to spend $25 in order to collect your $10. Gotta love free money.

Happy savings.

By Kyle James

Disclaimer: While I didn’t get paid a cent to write this Rakuten review, and all opinions are my own, I do get a small kickback (referral fee) if you give Rakuten a try and create an account. Money I use to keep this blog running and feed my Krispy Kreme addiction.

I’m not gonna lie, the Best Buy measly 15-day return policy is very confusing and has gotten WAY worse in recent years. Different lengths of time to return stuff, different ways to return items, and ridiculous restocking fees on some products. Because of these factors, I figured it was time to officially figure out their return policy by talking directly to Best Buy employees who actually deal with it, and angry customers, on a daily basis.

You Only Have 15 Days to Return Most Items

“Regular” Best Buy customers get a paltry 15-day return window.

If you’re a My Best Buy Plus, or a My Best Buy Total member, you get a 60 day return policy.

In case you were wondering, and who wasn’t, the My Best Buy Plus membership costs $49.99/year, and the My Best Buy Total runs $179.99/year, and they both also come with free 2-day shipping. Details HERE.

Cell Phones and Devices with a Carrier Contract – 14 days for everyone.

Wedding Registry Items – 60 days from date of purchase.

Litter Boxes – For some reason beyond my knowledge, cat litter boxes sold by Best Buy come with a 90-day return window for everyone.

Also, when it comes to returning refurbished, open-box, and pre-owned products, the regular 15-day return policy applies.

PRO TIP: AFTER 15 DAYS RETURN HACK

If you have your receipt, and it’s only been a few days past 15 (up to 7 days), you stand a good chance of scoring an even exchange if your polite and you have a legitimate issue with the product.

It really comes down to the manager on shift, but often times they’re willing to work with you. If not, then you’ll have to contact the manufacturer and file a warranty claim.

For this reason, I suggest window shopping at Best Buy but make your actual purchase on Amazon where you get a 30 day return policy and they’re pretty lenient if you have issues with a consumer electronic product.

You Can Return Opened and Used Items

While Best Buy is trying hard to not become a “test it at home” store, they will still take back items you’ve opened and used.

Gotta have your receipt and be within 15 days from purchase, of course.

Also, bring back all packaging, accessories, and manuals.

When I verified this with Best Buy, the CSR told me I’d also need a valid I.D. – which of course I questioned. Why would they need to see your I.D. if you have your receipt and are still within the 15-day return window?

There response was “The I.D. is our proof of purchase about your item as we will need the person who bought the item return it to us. This would be our primary basis to proceed with your return.”

So there you go. Can anyone verify this for me? Is Best Buy really making everyone show their I.D. now?

They Give You Several Return Options

Here’s the skinny so you can actually make their return policy work for you.

In-Store Return – You can return an item bought at Best Buy or BestBuy.com directly to any brick & mortar location.

To make the return go smoothly bring in your receipt or packing slip, the credit card used, and a valid photo ID.

Return by Mail:

Do-It-Yourself – You pick the carrier, use the included Return Form on your packing slip, and pay for the shipping yourself.

No packing slip? Print this blank one and fill it out. Refund will be processed with 2-3 business days of receiving your item.

Use the Prepaid Return Label – Print a prepaid return label, pay nothing upfront, and send your item back to Best Buy for a refund via UPS.

Expect the cost of the return shipping to be deducted from your refund unless the return is a result of a Best Buy error.

PRO TIP: ALWAYS OPT FOR IN-STORE RETURN IF POSSIBLE

When returning an item bought from BestBuy.com, always return it to your local store if you can.

Not only will you avoid any return shipping charges, but you can also take advantage of an instant exchange or a much quicker refund to your original form of payment.

See Also: The Best Buy Price Match Policy: Tips To Help You Save BIG

Returning a Gift Is Fairly Straight Forward

If you return a gift bought at Best Buy by walking into a physical store, you’ll get store credit for the purchase price.

For gifts returned via mail, they’ll credit the gift purchaser and notify them via e-mail.

PRO TIP: EXTENDED HOLIDAY RETURNS

Best Buy has extended their return policy for items purchased between November 1, 2024 – December 31, 2024.

You now have until January 14, 2025 to return or exchange these items.

Best Buy Doesn’t Allow You to Return Everything

There are some products you flat out can’t return to Best Buy.

They include the following:

Final Sale Items – These are clearance products marked as “Final Sale”. If you’re not sure if item is Final Sale, ask an employee before you purchase it.

Special Orders – You’ll only get 85% of the original price refunded. These are items that are typically ordered directly from the manufacturer and not stocked by Best Buy.

Digital Content – This includes games and software that can be downloaded.

Prepaid Cards – This includes prepaid cards from Nintendo, AT&T, Verizon, eBay, and Disney.

Gift Packaging – Pretty obvious. This would be really hard to return.

Membership Costs – This includes the annual Geek Squad membership. Update: Thanks to employee Kristy who says Geek Squad memberships can be returned within 14 days of purchase. After that they will pro-rate it.

Completed Services – This refers to services that Geek Squad has completed for you.

Opened consumable items – This includes batteries, ink and 3D printer filament, and items returned that are damaged, unsanitary or missing major parts.

PRO TIP: SQUEAKY WHEEL GETS THE GREASE…SORT OF

A buddy of mine recently splurged on a high-end gaming laptop from Best Buy during a Black Friday sale. He set it up immediately and started doing his thing but noticed within a couple weeks that the laptop started overheating and shutting down randomly. Convinced it was defective, he decided to try and return it.

Here’s where his trouble began as he had missed the deadline by just two days. To make matters worse, he had discarded the box and all the extra packaging, thinking he wouldn’t need it again.

He visited the store, laptop in hand, hoping for leniency. The employee at the return counter explained the return policy, and my friend politely argued that a malfunctioning product should qualify for an exception. The employee suggested using the manufacturer’s warranty but the thought of dealing with the manufacturer and waiting weeks for a fix seemed like a nightmare.

Thinking he had nothing to lose, my friend decided to escalate the issue to the store manager and he managed to negotiate a solution: rather than a return, Best Buy offered an exchange for the same model. However, they insisted on charging a 15% restocking fee due to the missing packaging.

While he was relieved to walk away with a working laptop, the experience serves as a great reminder to know the return policy, especially on electronics. I know for a fact that he’ll never buy a computer from Best Buy again.

See Also: Newegg Return Policy: A Very Complicated Policy That We Make Sense Of

Best Buy is Notorious for Re-Stocking Fee

Unfortunately you’ll have to pay a re-stocking fee on these items.

DSLR Cameras and Lenses – 15% re-stocking fee.

Smartphones – $45 flat re-stocking fee.

Drones – 15% re-stocking fee.

Projectors – 15% re-stocking fee.

Rideables – 15% re-stocking fee.

Special Order Products – 15% re-stocking fee.

Sans Receipt? Be Prepared to Show Your ID

If you don’t have a receipt, be prepared to show a valid ID when returning something to Best Buy.

They do this to try and cut down on return fraud in their stores.

They reserve the right to refuse any return without a receipt if they feel it’s fraudulent.

See Also: 7 Insider Tips to Save Money at Best Buy

It’s Okay If You Opened the Item

No worries, just pack everything back up as well as you can and get a full refund as long as your still within the 15 day return window.

Make sure you don’t forget any manuals or instructions that can with the item.

PRO TIP: DID BEST BUY MAKE AN ERROR?

If you’re returning something to Best Buy via mail, and the reason for the return is an error on Best Buy’s part, they’re on the hook for the return shipping charges.

Do not let them charge you for return shipping as they sometimes will try and slip those charges in if you’re not paying attention.

Still Make the Return If You’re Missing Parts

Don’t let missing parts or accessories stop you from returning something to Best Buy.

From their site, “If you do not have all the original packaging or accessories, that’s okay too. We can process a return with a nonrefundable deduction on your refund for what is missing.”

Consider NOT Using Cash On Big Purchases

Keep in mind that if you pay with cash, and your order is over $800, you’ll have to settle for a corporate check as a refund.

You’ll get the check in the mail within 7-10 days which is a pain in the butt.

Stores don’t keep a lot of cash on hand and so they won’t be able to refund you with cash.

The same applies when you spend $250 by check or by a debit card without a major credit card logo.

Be Careful Returning an Item That You Got a Price Match On

Interestingly, I got a comment on this issue from J.Cole stating that he had to settle for store credit on an item that he got a price match on because a competitor had a lower price.

I personally asked a Best Buy manager about this the last time I was shopping and she said that’s only the case when doing an online return and selecting “Found a better price” as the reason for your return.

She said when returning in-store, you’ll get a full refund for what you paid, to your original form of payment, and it doesn’t matter if you got a price match on the item or not.

You CAN Return Unopened Video Games

I had someone in the comments ask if they could return an unopened video game they bought 2 months ago.

I wasn’t sure of the answer so I hit up Best Buy Live Chat and was told YES, it’s returnable for store credit since it is unopened.

I then asked if the original purchase of 2 months ago would be a problem and was surprisingly told…NOT a problem.

Gift Card Purchases Get Refunded Back to the Same Card

If you bought the item with a Best Buy gift card, you’ll get a full refund back to that same gift card.

If you don’t have the gift card anymore, no worries, just call Best Buy at 1-888-237-8289 with your order number and they’ll re-issue you a new gift card.

Ask the Reader: Have you had success taking advantage of Best Buy’s return policy? Any issues I need to add to this post that I may have overlooked?

By Kyle James