My opinion is the Costco return policy is a corporate policy not based on the individual stores managers interpretation or modification. They have looked up past sales by me on their computer and once a sale of a product by my sister 2 years ago under her married name. They refund the purchase (to my AMEX of give me a separate Costco cc with that amount). You are then free to buy a replacement item or any other item. Sure some people rip them off but I aint one of them. I love their liberal return policy and it definitely is another nice reason to shop at a Costco..

MisterNice