Costco Wholesale — Local services in Farragut

Extremely Disappointing Customer Service Experience at Costco Farragut. If I'm giving 1 star, it simply means there is no 0 or negative star!

Two days in a row, I experienced the worst customer service I’ve ever had at Costco Farragut — once from the store manager and once from an associate at the return counter.

Yesterday, between 10:30 and 11:00 am, on the way out of the store I was walking past the customer service desk and saw a sign that said: "Get a bag for free with a new Costco Citi credit card membership OR renewal of membership." I politely asked an associate at the Membership desk if I could get a bag, since I am about to renew my membership. She couldn’t answer and referred me to her supervisor.

This supervisor told me they were running low on bags and were prioritizing new members. I pointed out that the sign also mentioned membership renewals, but she repeated that her priority was for new members only. Fine — I didn’t need the bag, but I walked away feeling dismissed and disrespected. I told my wife about it, and she said I shouldn’t take it personally — but I felt like the manager clearly didn’t value long-time members like myself, or didn’t even bother to read the sign posted in her own department.

I was so frustrated that I went to my car and immediately canceled my membership — after 8 years of being a loyal customer. I’ve always liked Costco and what it offers, but I couldn’t understand how someone so short-sighted and inconsiderate could be trusted to manage an entire store.

But it didn’t end there.

When I got home and started meal prep for the week, I noticed the organic whole chicken I had just bought was spoiled — it stank up the whole fridge. So this morning, I returned to the same Costco to get a refund. Around 10:00 am, I went to the return counter, but I didn’t have my receipt. The associate couldn’t locate my purchase. I tried to pull it up on my Costco account, as I’ve done before, but for some reason, that particular purchase didn’t show up.

She asked, “Did you use someone else’s Costco card?” I was shocked and offended. I told her I hold an Executive Membership — why would you assume I was using someone else’s card? Instead of answering or apologizing, she called a supervisor for help.

And guess who came over? The same manager I dealt with yesterday.

I mentioned, “Oh, I was talking to you yesterday,” trying to be helpful. She didn’t acknowledge me at all. She acted as if I didn’t exist. Eventually, she helped the associate find the purchase and issue a refund — but neither of them offered so much as a basic apology. I walked away disappointed for the second time in two days.

I honestly don’t understand how Costco could allow such toxic, unprofessional, and unqualified individuals to be the face of their brand. I’ve loved shopping at Costco for years, but I won’t go back unless there’s a real effort to educate employees — especially managers — on how to treat customers with basic respect.

I know I’m just one person and my feedback might not matter, but I’ve canceled my membership and will stay away until...

I have enjoyed having a Costco membership for 10 years. When we go, we can always grab a cheap lunch although since Covid the selections are much more limited. But you can feed your entire family for $10-$15 or enjoy a drink or ice cream for $1-2.

They have a ton of discounts on various things like travel, tire, service, appliances, and so on. Obviously a good price on gas at their fuel center as well.

I love the food quality, the selection, and the price. I had toured Sam's Club and previous years multiple times and never liked it well enough to purchase a membership. I am a big fan of Costco.

They have a great selection for when you need to buy something for a large party or holiday meal, they offer ready to warm or bake food in the back. They have an extensive selection of bakery and dessert items. They sell everything from jewelry, electronics, large appliances, small appliances, utility/garage, type items, full span of items, and an extensive over-the-counter and prescription pharmacy selection, and an optical shop in addition to the automotive shop.

They have an excellent return policy-very flexible. I have never abused it like I read about some people doing, but when I have something defective, I never have an issue making a return.

I have an executive membership and I spend around two to $3000 per year at Costco and always receive enough rewards every February, when they are issued annually, to pay for my executive membership.

Some things to consider in which Costco may not be a good fit:

You are buying in large quantity so this isn't always a good fit for one or two people or if you have space limitations to store items.

When you buy large quantity, you have a LARGE bill at checkout.

They only accept cash or Visa. (I don't think that has changed ). I ended up getting a Costco Citibank Visa card because my debit card was not Visa at the time I enrolled as a member.

I go to the Costco in Farragut Tennessee. It is a zoo particularly, on the weekends. I would recommend avoiding weekends if it all possible. Parking is difficult and navigating your cart through the store is difficult. They are extremely efficient with the checkout lines so even with the crowd, the checkout process is not bad at all maneuvering from aisle to aisle while you...

Terrible experience. I signed up for an account online so did not have a picture on my account yet. I came to the warehouse and the employee up front was very rude about me not having a picture. It seems like the employees would be aware of how their own company’s system works and that making an account online results in not having a picture until you come in warehouse. He told me it would take 3 seconds to remedy this and even told me that I was not allowed to shop without a picture. He tried to make me leave the warehouse when I went to walk around the registers to the membership desk to get my picture taken and told me that I was not allowed in. The cashier was even rude because I asked if he could scan a container of berries that my toddler was crying for first stating that he needed my membership card before he could scan any item and that I should have it ready before I get to checkout when I had my phone in my hand with the QR code and was asking a simple question first. Will definitely not be returning and will not be renewing my membership. Employees need better training. When I told an employee about my experience while getting my photo taken at the membership desk the response given was “They don’t like it when you don’t have a picture.” I don’t like rude, minimally trained, adult employees with the attitude of a teenager. Why people work in jobs that require them to have interpersonal skills when they have zero is unfathomable to me. If it makes it any better, a manager wanted to call me to chat about my experience like it would fix anything.

To sum it up: Sam’s club doesn’t have the same organic options, but you do not get harassed upon entry or exit and they don’t freak out when I ask them to scan my raspberries...