OK, Maybe we are talking about the same thing in different ways or about two different things, I'm confused.
There is a busy thread on this forum about purchases at Costco where a Wireless Advocates employee is fielding questions.
Below is a post From this tread
From a Wireless Advocates Employee
"
Ok, looks like I need to clear some things up about the return policy. You have 14 days to get used to the phone. If you're not satisfied with it, return your phone, and we'll be happy to exchange it. Or you can just get your money back and keep your upgrade and wait till the next best thing comes out. After 14 days are up, your upgrade is officially gone and not coming back.
After 14, you have up until 90 days from purchase to return the phone for the same exact phone. This is if you have a lemon. Is this the same as the manufacturer's warranty? Essentially, yes. One huge diff though. We guarantee you a new phone. Motorola won't.
If you cause damage to your phone you can NOT return it to us. We're not inviting you to damage your phone and we'll happily give you an new one for free. Doesn't work like that. You can return the phone if there's a defect in the phone. If you want protection from your own potential destruction, get insurance. I highly recommend putting insurance on a $600 device."
Verizon's policy is that you can return a phone for a diff model up to 14 days after your purchase. After that, you have until up to 30 days to return the phone for the same exact phone in the case that you got a lemon. After 30 days, you fall under the manufacturer's warranty for a year.
Costco's policy differs in that instead of 30 days, you have 90 days. It's one of the benefits of being a Costco member.