Costco shoppers in Washington state may soon receive a check from a $14 million settlement. The retailer agreed to pay the sum to resolve a class action lawsuit accusing it of sending misleading promotional emails. The lawsuit, filed as Aaland v. Costco Wholesale Corp., alleged violations of Washington’s Commercial Electronic Mail Act.
The emails in question? They touted limited-time offers. Subject lines like “Today is the last day to access Member-Only Savings” and “Hot Buys available for 5 Days Only” created urgency. But plaintiffs claimed the promotions continued beyond the advertised deadlines. That deception, they argued, violated state anti-spam laws.
Costco, while denying wrongdoing, opted to settle. The $14 million fund will be distributed equally among eligible class members—after deductions for attorneys’ fees, litigation costs, and service awards. Exactly how much each person gets depends on the number of valid claims filed. Washington residents whose email addresses are in Costco’s records and who received such promotions between June 2, 2021, and July 7, 2026, can file a claim.
Under Washington’s Commercial Electronic Mail Act, penalties originally reached up to $500 per violative email. But lawmakers recently reduced that to $100. Still, the final payment per person remains unknown. Each class member may submit only one claim form, regardless of how many misleading emails they received.
The deadline to file a claim is August 30. Those who do nothing by then will receive nothing and lose the right to sue separately. Alternatively, class members can opt out to preserve their own legal options or object to the settlement terms. A federal judge in Seattle will weigh final approval on October 9.
Payments, if approved, may be issued by paper check, Venmo, PayPal, or other electronic methods. The settlement stems from a lawsuit that highlighted a broader crackdown on deceptive email marketing in Washington. Critics say such practices erode consumer trust. Costco, for its part, maintains it acted lawfully. But the settlement offers a tangible remedy for shoppers who felt misled.
