Privacy policy

This Privacy Notice explains our collection, use, and disclosure of personal information. This Privacy Notice applies to Costco Wholesale Corporation’s United States (US) and Puerto Rico subsidiaries ("Costco," "we," “our” or "us").

This Privacy Notice applies when you: access or use our websites or mobile applications (including the Costco App) that link to this Privacy Notice; become a Costco member; shop at our warehouses or services centers; or contact or otherwise interact with us (collectively, the “Services”). This Privacy Notice does not apply to content or sites operated by other companies that are linked to or from the Services, or to any products, mobile applications, or services provided by third parties.

The personal information we collect depends on how you interact with us, the Services you use, and the choices you make.

Information you provide directly. We collect personal information you provide to us. For example:
Contact information. We collect name, username, email address, postal address, and phone number.
Photograph or digital image. We collect a photograph of you when you become a member.
Identification information. If you are a member or sign up to be a member, we may collect membership card photo, date of birth, identity document information (e.g., driver’s license, passport, or tax information), employer name (if you sign up for membership via your employer), and your Costco membership number.
Demographic information. In some cases, we request that you provide age or gender. We may request information regarding veteran status, or membership in associations or organizations that offer discounted Costco memberships.
Payment information. If you make a purchase or other financial transaction, we collect payment card numbers, financial account information, billing address, and other payment details.
Feedback or response information. If you provide feedback through the Services, or if you respond to a survey or other communication from Costco or its vendors, we collect your response information, including the content of your feedback or response message.
Content and files. We collect the photos or other files you provide to us (e.g., Costco Photo Center or photos submitted to Costco Travel). We also collect travel documents in order to arrange travel through Costco Travel. If you send us email messages or other communications such as requests for customer support, fill out a form, or participate in a promotion, we will collect and retain those communications.
Chat Features. When you use the virtual assistant or chat features on our Services, you provide consent for us and our third party service providers to collect, monitor, and process the content of your chat (that is, the words you type into the chat feature and the responses you receive).
Information we collect automatically. When you access or use our Services, we collect some information automatically. For example:
Transaction and purchase information. When you make a purchase or return, or another financial transaction, we collect information about the transaction. This may include, among other things, product details, purchase price, date, tender type, location of the transaction, shipping/delivery details, and payment type and payment authorization. It may also include account notes about the transaction, including information that helps us prevent fraud, misuse of the Services, or illegal activity.
Identifiers and device information. When you visit our internet-based Services or use our apps, our web servers automatically log your Internet Protocol (IP) address and information about your device, including unique device identifiers (such as MAC address); device type; your device’s operating system and version; browser type and language;  other software settings and configurations; and mobile network information. As further described in the Cookies, Mobile IDs, and Similar Technologies section below, our websites, apps, and other online services store and retrieve digital tracking information through cookies, mobile IDs, and other means .
Geolocation information. We may collect or infer information about your approximate or precise location when you access or use the Services, visit our warehouses or services centers, or turn on Bluetooth, Wi-Fi or other geolocation functionality on your device.
Guest Wireless Access. When you connect to guest wireless internet service provided at our locations, we automatically log your activity on that connection, including time, date, and duration of your connection and information that identifies your device. We use this information to protect our networks and to detect potential unauthorized activities.
Usage and session information. We automatically log your activity on our websites, apps and other Services, including the URL of the website from which you came to our sites, pages you viewed, how long you spent on a page, access times, and other details about your use of and actions on our Services. We capture the screen images that you view and collect information about how you interact with particular screens with your keyboard, mouse, or other input device. We also collect information about what products and services you browse, search for, or otherwise express an interest in, and we track your activity on our Services where our advertising is served.
Call recordings and chat transcripts. We record and store telephone calls and chat transcripts for a period of time when you interact with us by phone or chat, or if you provide us feedback about our Services.
Video and other images. We use cameras in and around our warehouses and facilities to capture video and images. These may include images of persons inside or around our facilities and parking lots, and photographs of your face taken when checking out or retrieving products from lockers or at member service locations. This also may include facial images and measurements captured when you use the virtual eyeglasses feature on our website.
Automated License Plate Readers. We may collect images of your license plate and other vehicle information if you drive or park on or near our facilities. For more information about our use and capture of license plate numbers, please see the Automated License Plate Recognition section of this Privacy Notice.
Information we obtain from other sources. We may collect information about you from other sources that we may combine or link with information we have about you. We may combine information that we have collected offline with information we collect online. Information also may be collected by vendors acting on our behalf. These other sources include, for example:
Primary member or account holder. When a primary Costco member or account holder adds additional members to the membership account (including household members and business affiliate members), we obtain contact, identification and demographic information for these members from the primary Costco member or account holder.
Commercial data brokers/sources. Commercial data brokers and aggregators provide us with information about you to supplement the information we collect. This includes marketing information and inferences, as well as information that assists us in preventing fraud or other illegal activities.
Other companies with which you engage. We obtain information from companies that offer their products and services to Costco members, including Costco co-branded and joint venture relationships, Costco Services suppliers, vendors, and product suppliers. These products and services may include auto services, insurance, installed home improvement products and services, wireless devices and services, travel services, and order and delivery services. These companies may disclose some information to us about your experience with them, such as the items or services you purchased and your contact information.
Content you post online. Any information you post or disclose on message boards, chat, profile pages, blogs, and other services, including through social media outlets, may be collected, used, and disclosed by Costco or its vendors as described in this Privacy Notice. Such information also is viewable by other users.
Service providers. We may use vendors and service providers to collect or provide information to Costco in connection with work they do on our behalf.
In some cases, California requires that we use different names to describe the categories of information that we collect. For more information about these categories, please see the California Privacy Rights section of this Privacy Notice.

Information we create or generate.We generate new information relating to you by analyzing data we collect, including using automated means and third-party sources, to create inferences about your likely preferences or other characteristics (“inferences”). For example, we may use information about your previous purchases to infer the types of products and services that may interest you in the future. We use such information to measure and improve our marketing efforts, including providing targeted advertising and other promotional materials to you.