‘Why does it look like this?’: Woman buys ‘brand-new’ Blackstone from Costco. Then she unboxes it
When you’re unboxing something brand new, you usually expect it to feel that way. One Costco customer says that the moment turned confusing when the “new” Blackstone she bought from Costco didn’t look new at all.
Woman Says Her New Blackstone Looks Used
TikTok creator Bethany (@itslifewithbeth) shows off what she expects to be a brand-new Blackstone griddle in a recent video that quickly racked up more than 597,700 views. Instead of a perfectly black surface, an untouched surface, she reveals what looks like wear and tear.
“We just bought this Blackstone from Costco, but why does it look like somebody else already used it?!?” she says at the start of the clip.
As she moves the camera over the griddle’s surface, visible marks and discoloration show up across the cooking top. “Has this been used already? We haven’t used this. This is brand new Blackstone,” she says.
She repeats the same question as she angles the camera across the damage. “Why does it look like this?” she says. “It looks like somebody else already used it.”
What Could Have Happened Here?
One likely explanation is that a customer previously returned the item, and workers mistakenly placed it back into regular inventory without a proper inspection. Big-box retailers often rely on returns departments to confirm whether items remain in “new” condition, and mistakes can happen when the packaging looks intact.
Another possibility is that a customer could have swapped out parts before returning the item. If someone removed a used griddle top and replaced it with an older one, the box could still appear unopened at a glance.
There is also the chance of long-term storage damage. If a unit sits in a warehouse for an extended period in poor conditions, moisture, pressure, or friction during shipping could affect the cooking surface.
At this point, there is no confirmed explanation for why Bethany’s “new” Blackstone appears worn straight out of the box. We’ve reached out to both companies for comment.
What Steps Can She Take Now?
She can contact Costco directly, which is known for its flexible return policy and customer service response. Costco typically refunds or replaces defective or misrepresented items with little resistance once proof is provided.
She can also reach out to Blackstone, which may investigate whether the issue occurred during manufacturing, shipping, or resale. Both companies generally resolve situations like this quickly once documentation is submitted.
Because her video shows visible damage immediately after unboxing, she has strong evidence to support a replacement or full refund.
Commenters Share Their Theories
Many viewers immediately began speculating about how the mix-up may have happened.
“Someone wanted a new top and bought a brand new one, took the top out of box and boxed back in the old top and returned it,” one commenter wrote.
“Definitely used! We have one and it’s in perfect condition out the box,” another said.
@itslifewithbeth @Blackstone Griddles help #blackstone @Costco Wholesale ♬ original sound – Bethany ?
“It has to have been a return. Our didn’t look like that,” one person added.
“I worked Costco returns for a while, my guess is someone bought a new one just to swap out their old griddle piece for the new one and then return it as if it was unopened, they’ll refund you without a doubt,” another wrote.
The Mary Sue has reached out to Costco via its contact form, Blackstone via email, and Bethany via TikTok messages for additional comment.
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