Drawbacks Of Installing A Home Water Softener Through Costco

Costco provides a solution for everything. Well, that might be an exaggeration, but they really do offer just about anything you could possibly need for your home, including water softeners. The retailer partners with EcoWater to provide water softener installations, and the partnership with a trusted brand like Costco may seem more appealing and convenient, with no need to do your own research or make multiple phone calls to schedule consultations. But there are some drawbacks to installing a home water softener through Costco, including high prices and a lack in customer care.

Before we begin, you may be reading this and thinking, "What do water softeners even do?" That's a great question. A water softener removes heavy minerals like iron, magnesium, and calcium from your water supply, helping to soften light to heavy hard water. This will help reduce problems like clogged pipes, scale buildup, and mineral deposits. And, if you are dealing with hard water, you may be considering installing a water softener through Costco. 

As mentioned above, Costco works with EcoWater to provide home water softener installation services. EcoWater offers only two types of water softener systems -– a single-tank and a dual-tank option. This can feel very limiting to those who want to make a well-informed decision that is right for their home and needs. If you are the type of person who likes to compare the various models offered from different brands or are seeking specific features, the limited selection may not meet your needs.

In addition, although Costco is known for offering goods and services at a discounted rate, installing a water softener through the retailer may not end up being the most budget-friendly option. While EcoWater offers complimentary in-home consultation, many have voiced similar complaints of having the company come out only to be quoted a steep price tag for installation of their water softener. One redditor even shared that they did go through with the in-home consultation, but was shocked at the more than $3,000 estimate they were quoted. The user ended up doing it as a DIY project and purchased the necessary materials from Home Depot and installed it for a fraction of EcoWater's installation quote.

Costco is known for its satisfactory top-notch customer service. It explains why studies have shown Costco has the most loyal customers of any major retailer. And, it's easy to think that since you're going through Costco for the installation of your water softener, you'll receive that same exceptional customer service. But, you might want to think again. In layman's terms, Costco is the middle man, connecting you to EcoWater, so that you can schedule a free in-home consultation with one of the company's sales representative. You are not purchasing anything directly from Costco, which means Costco's customer service policy and warranty does not apply to an EcoWater water softener.

Instead, you will need to solely rely on EcoWater's customer support and warranty policy. And, the reviews on Yelp paint a concerning picture, with customers leaving one-star reviews as they expressed dissatisfaction with the company's after-service care. To make matters worse, the company's official website doesn't offer much insight into their customer service post-installation either. The last thing anyone would want is to go through with such a big purchase only to be met with little to no customer care when they run into issues post-purchase.