Pradeep S.

I have been a Costco member for the past 20 years and spend around 5000-7000 $$ per year in Costco stores. In addition for the past 5 years I have been spending on vacation packages through Costco Travel anywhere from 3000-******* $$ per vacation. Was very happy with Costco till I touched Costco Online furniture this January 2019.

We saw a nice looking book shelf in Costco for $ 400. But Costco store said they won't deliver it home. So, I bought the 2 book shelves from Costco online and paid extra $ 150 per book shelf for home delivery. Costco online website clearly said they will deliver it inside the house and not in the garage or block any front entrance or inside doorways. Each book shelf weighed about 300 pounds and the box measured about 4x6.5x2 feet deep. So, I paid extra $ 300 thinking it would be delivered inside my house and placed the order with Costco Online.

Surprise, surprise, 3 weeks later a truck shows up in my driveway with one driver/mover. The guy says I am going to put in your garage. I told him I paid extra $ 300 for inside home delivery but the guy would have none of it and flat out said and I quote " I don't work for Costco". You paid Costco, I deliver in your garage. After much arguing, finally the driver agreed to move it to my study which was immediately after my garage provided I help him to move. My first instinct was to turn him back and say F-off. But, I had waited for the shelves for 3 weeks and took time off from work to receive them. So, I reluctantly agreed to help him unload and then put it on a buggy and move it inside my house.

While helping to stand up the shelf in my study, I was lifting the box only with my left hand as I was in a corner and in the process tore my left arm bicep. I knew right away once I heard a snapping noise and the pain shot through my left arm. I yelled and told the mover I had injured my left arm and ran to my refrigerator to ice it hoping it was just a sprain. By then 1 book shelf was in place and now the mover calls me out to move the 2nd book shelf. I told him my left arm was already injured and the chap goes " well use your right Arm". So again I reluctantly stepped out helped him load the 2nd shelf on the buggy and moved it to our study barely helping with my right hand. We got the 2nd shelf in place finally.
By then it was close to 6 PM and decided to head to ER to see how bad was my injury on my left arm. Reston, VA ER X-ray showed no broken bones. But the ER doc looked at my left arm and the internal bleeding and swelling and said it maybe a bicep tear and asked me get it checked with a Orthopedic doctor. 4 days later Orthopedic and MRI confirmed it was a left arm bicep tear due to furniture move incident. I had to go through surgery, take 2 week off work and 4 months of physio therapy and still has not healed.
I narrated the whole incident to Costco customer service or legal and they recorded my statement and conveniently said we did not deliver the furniture. Issue happened during CEVA logistics delivery company's work. So they convinced me to file a claim with this cheesy delivery company 'CEVA logistics" and told me they would follow up.

Basically, Costco washed their hands-off at that point even though I bought the furniture from website and nowhere did they say there will be a delivery company and we are not responsible. Moreover, Costco website will promise delivery inside the house but delivery company came and said nothing doing we deliver outside, deal with it!. Costco basically sells the furniture with all kinds of promises charges extra for home delivery and quietly retreats from the scene.

I narrated the whole incident again to this delivery company, they recorded my statement and promised an investigation. After 6 months, got back me to with a investigation result that stated
1. They were not negligent, they were not supposed to move the furniture inside the house,
2. I volunteered to help the mover and got injured in the process!.,
3. Also implied I already had an earlier injury that I was reporting. Even though I had told them I had no previous arm injuries.
4. And much cheesy investigation results that are not worth reporting here.

Costco was copied on this investigation response from the delivery company but does not want to get involved and do the right thing.

It has been 6 months since left arm bicep tear happened during Costco furniture delivery, I went through left arm surgery, physio therapy and my left arm has still not recovered fully. Now it turns out, this will have long term implications on my left arm strength. I am talking to lawyers, doctors to understand what this means and looks like a long drawn out legal fight. So be it.

Buyer beware, just because you are buying from Costco does not mean they will take responsibility. Costco will wash their hands off and abandon you at the earliest opportunity whether you are right or completely truthful simply does not matter.

Regards
Pradeep Somayaji
Old Costco member.