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Costco Executive Membership 2% reward can't be cashed out anymore

1 month ago

A couple days ago I received a 200+ reward, and after shopping today I asked the cashier to cash it out. Just like in previous years, I was ready to buy a hot dog or chicken bake and then take the remaining 200+ in cash, but the cashier said it could only be exchanged for a shop card (or used to pay for purchases), and pointed to the small print under "check" that said "not redeemable for cash." I didn't think it through carefully in the moment and just went along with the shop card. I should have saved it and tried another cashier next time—just like that, I lost 10+ dollars. Am I just late to the party, or did I get played?

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Comments (6)

YYDSS1 month ago

"Check the fine print on the next line" — that's actually a key point. Who ever bothers to read that line normally?

陆志仁1 month ago

It's not necessarily that you got played. It could just be that the register has a cash limit or the system permissions are restricted. If you'd dealt with a different clerk or come at a different time, the outcome might not have been the same. The fact that you could cash out before might just mean they were being lenient.

雾中山岚1 month ago

Next time, you can ask customer service or a manager first instead of rushing to switch to a shop card on the spot; if the policy really has changed, at least the shop card can still be used for purchases as usual.

就起这个名字1 month ago

Enforcement really does vary from state to state and store to store—I've gotten different answers about the same card in different places.

wvtrnhtnop1 month ago

If that check explicitly says "not redeemable for cash," then strictly speaking, swapping it for a shop card isn't necessarily a loss. What you're really losing is the expectation of being able to get cash, not two hundred–plus dollars off the card—assuming you'd eventually spend that money at Costco anyway.

王小青青1 month ago

The key is not to assume that past experience will always hold. Once policies or in-store practices change, it's hard to argue your case on the spot. Confirm the terms first before deciding whether to switch, so your losses stay manageable.