Costco Customer Returns 'Dead' Christmas Tree In January For Full Refund

A California woman who had bought a Christmas tree from Costco went back to return it on Jan. 4, demanding a refund because she claimed that the tree was "dead."

Another customer, Scott Bentley, who witnessed the entire exchange and posted an account of the incident on Facebook, said the woman got a full refund for the tree, without much push-back from the store staff. Bentley also posted a photo of the customer, which quickly went viral on social media.

It is not sure whether the original post was deleted by the user. Here is a screenshot of the post:

"I can’t make this stuff up," Bentley’s post began. "Woman in line at Costco, totally nonchalant, to return her Christmas tree 'because it is dead.'"

Bentley’s post went on to take a more critical tone, rebuking the woman for her "little moral values or lack of conscience" that allowed her to return a Christmas tree nearly 10 days after Dec. 25.

"Heartbreaking to think she may have needed that money so much, she lost all self respect and dignity for it," Bentley wrote. "She did get a refund — not happily though. It was questioned, verified purchase on her account and she was shamed to a small degree… But I don’t think it fazed her because she has no conscience."

Bentley said that the woman didn't mind that he had taken a photo of her, even as she asked him "are you serious?"

Costco is famously known for their generous return policy — where people have got refunds for items like an empty wine bottle, old fish and a used chicken coop and photo prints, according to a Reddit post.

"We will cancel and refund your membership fee in full at any time if you are dissatisfied," says Costco’s return policy on membership. The only items that have complicated or restricted return policies are electronics, diamonds, cigarettes and alcohol, products with a specific life expectancy, such as tires and batteries, and custom-made products manufactured to the customer’s personal and unique specifications.

The woman who received the refund for the old Christmas tree faced backlash from Facebook users. "People like this are miserable. Seriously, how cheap can you be?" wrote one user.

Another wrote: "Sister works for Costco, can confirm. People do this all the time. They will even demand a refund without bringing back the tree."