Are Costco iPhone 13 Deals Better Than Apple?

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You love Costco for your bulk buys and rotisserie chicken deal, so naturally, when it comes time to upgrade your iPhone, Costco should have the best deal, right? Costco sells iPhones through Wireless Advocates, a third-party company that runs in-store kiosks and online purchasing. Buying an iPhone at Costco through a special promotion can save you a lot of money, but here’s what you need to know about the process.

How to Buy an iPhone at Costco

The first thing you need to know is that you cannot buy an iPhone straight off the shelf at Costco. All iPhone purchases are tied to a new or current plan with carriers Verizon, AT&T or T-Mobile. This means your iPhone will also come locked, so if you want an unlocked iPhone, it is best to stick with the Apple store.

If you have another carrier, such as Cricket Wireless or even Metro by T-Mobile, you will not be able to purchase an iPhone with your current cell phone provider. If you need to switch providers to unlock an iPhone deal, it is wise to check with your carrier first for any fees or penalties.

You can purchase Costco iPhone deals at your local in warehouse kiosk or online. Your Costco’s kiosk will be limited to in-stock iPhones, though. For the most popular iPhone deals, you might have to go to a couple of different Costco kiosks to find an in-stock phone to complete the deal.

Does Costco Have Any Deals on iPhones?

Each month, Costco offers deals on the most popular phones, including Apple iPhones and the Galaxy S21. If you miss a deal and can wait a few weeks, a new promotion should appear when Costco’s sale cycle refreshes.
Right now, Costco has two iPhone 13 deals for January:

• Buy A Select iPhone, Save Up to $720 on Another: Through T-Mobile from January 13 – 19. Must add a line and rebate is given on a virtual prepaid MasterCard, which takes 6-8 weeks to receive and expires within 6 months. See deal now.
• Save up to $925 on iPhone 13 or 13 Pro: Through AT&T from January 14 – 20. Valid with new or upgraded plan and eligible trade-in. See deal now.

Is Apple Cheaper at Costco? Past Costco iPhone Deals

As with all iPhone deals, it is best to compare prices at your local Costco, carrier’s store and Apple. It is also good to know what is required of you to get the advertised Costco deal price; do you need to trade-in a high-end phone and upgrade to a more expensive plan or do you need to just add on an additional line that can be canceled in a month?

This is where the power of 12M+ Slickdeal users comes in handy. Our community of deal-saving ninjas will dissect any and every iPhone deal, so you don’t have to second guess if you are getting the best price. Past iPhone 13 deals have included:

• Buy One Select iPhone, Save Up to $720 + Free $100 Costco Cash Card through T-Mobile
• Apple iPhone 12 64GB $599.99 with new or upgraded T-Mobile line

Costco iPhone FAQs: What to Know Before Buying

Can I return my phone from Costco?
Costco has an amazing return policy, but that doesn’t exactly transfer to the phone sales without a few catches. Technically, Costco will give customers 90 days to return their phone purchases, but if you are outside of your 14-day carrier trial, you can face some hefty early termination fees.

• AT&T charges $150-325 in early termination fees
• T-Mobile charges $50-200 in early termination fees
• Verizon charges $175-350 in early termination fees

According to Wireless Advocates, “All phone(s) must be returned in a complete, like-new condition with all accessories, box, and instructions. Costco does not sell replacements for broken or damaged phones.” The company also made it sound as if you need to call or email to authorize your refund; no walking up to the Costco return line. Here’s how to contact them:

• Phone: 1-888-369-5931
• Email: [email protected]

Can I keep my grandfather plan?
If you have an amazing deal with your current carrier and are grandfathered into this rate, you have to be careful when shopping iPhone deals at Costco. Many of the promotions are for upgraded plans, not just added lines. Be sure to read all of the small print and don’t take the kiosk seller’s word for it.
Can I get a refund if a better iPhone deal pops up?
Unfortunately, your purchase cannot be adjusted or refunded if a better iPhone deal happens right after your purchase.
Miss the iPhone deal you wanted, set a Deal Alert for iPhone 13 promotions so you never miss one. We will let you know when an offer is posted in the Slickdeals community, and you can weigh the deal against the advice of deal seekers around the world.

How to Save No Matter Where You Shop or What You Buy

Navigate multiple sales at once by setting Deal Alerts on Slickdeals for items you need and are already shopping for, and by checking our coupon pages for current promo codes for your favorite stores.

You can also download the Slickdeals app for iOS or for Andriod to your phone to save you money when you shop online. See all active deals our community of over 12 million active deal hunters have found and uploaded and easily search and browse items to make sure you’re getting the lowest price on the internet. You can also set Deal Alerts using the app to get notified on your phone whenever the item you want is on sale at the price you want to pay.

UP NEXT:

• See Costco Coupon Book 2022 Current In-Store Ad Scans
• 37 of the Best Things You Should Absolutely Buy at Costco
• Costco Anywhere Visa Card: 4% Back on Gas and No Annual Fee (January 2022)