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I had heard this from many people so I decided to go into Costco yesterday to verify it, sure enough it’s true! I asked at the customer service desk if this was true and the lady said absolutely and began to tell me the ins & outs. It was verified by several people behind the counter as she asked them for a few specific details.
Here is how you do it:
Purchase a Costco Cash Card (gift card) at the Customer Service desk, must be a minimum of $10.00. Use that gift card as your “member’s card” to get into the store. Shop as you normally would. When you go to pay, you pay first with your gift card but any remaining balance must be paid with cash or debit (no American Express). That’s it! You’ve just shopped at Costco for free and saved the $50 a year membership fees. Of course you don’t get the Costco Member benefits, cheap gas, etc but your items are still protected under Costco’s very generous return policy.
UPDATE: It’s been brought to my attention that you must be a Costco member to purchase a cash card, but the rest of the shopping trip remains the same. So give a friend or family member some cash and you’re set! You could consider asking them to purchase (4) $10 cash cards to use on separate shopping trips. Then buy them lunch for being so kind.
Of course my latest experience at Costco was shocking. The prices most assuredly did NOT make great deals. There were a few excepti0ns but for the most part shopping the sales with coupons and stocking up when the prices are rock bottom was a far better deal. Just remember Bulk is NOT always Better. I realize America has become ingrained in that myth, but it’s not true. Take for example the small package of cat litter I bought for $0.77 with coupon my other option was a much larger container for $8.99 after coupon – case in point. I hope you find this helpful!
ANOTHER UPDATE: This is exactly why I love my readers! Reading through the comments I’ve learned that you CAN buy gas with a cash card and you can also purchase liquor and use the pharmacy to fill prescriptions, all without a membership! We will absolutely be buying gas there again! You DO NOT need any type of card to enter the store if you’re using the pharmacy or purchasing liquor, it’s prohibited by law to require membership for those services.
Our family DOES have a membership and this is why we bought one. With that said you need to know how to use it wisely. Here are a few tips…
- Items I would NEVER buy at Costco
- Items I WILL buy at Costco
- Items I WILL buy at Costco: Gift Cards
Have you tried this? I’d love to hear your experiences!
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For many of the items/brands we use, my other choice besides Costco would NOT be a regular store or Wal-Mart, but would more likely have to be Whole Paycheck. I LOVE Costco. For the past 2 years, I have lived where there was Costco, but no Sam’s Club. Now that I am back where both are available to me, I’ve been comparing the two–and Sam’s comes up WAY, WAY short. For example: if Sam’s Club has, say, a 5-pound bag of frozen corn, the 5-pound bag of frozen corn at Costco will be organic frozen corn, and the price will be the same or nearly so. Sam’s is less than a mile from me, and Costco is 25 miles, and the Costco trip is still much more worthwhile. Quality is lots, lots better.
Don’t knock Trader Joe’s, though, either. There are quite a few things on which they are cheaper than just about anyone. One that we buy is brown rice pasta–which costs at least twice as much as anywhere else. And the TJ’s pasta still comes in 16 oz bags, where I’ve noticed that all the regular grocery store pastas (rice or otherwise) have been raising their prices by shrinking the amount in the package.
I actually don’t do much with food coupons because I find it cheaper to shop Costco, Trader Joe’s, a bulk buying co-op (such as Azure Standard), and a farmer’s market than it is to buy the things we use with coupons at a regular grocery store. It’s also less time-consuming than still going to those places (as all have things that I would never find as cheap in a regular store) & including regular grocery stores in my shopping. I do sometimes hit a regular store if the loss leader sales are really good, but that’s about all I buy.
Some issues have been brought to your attention except for the major parts….. If a supervisor/manager keeps coming over and keyin’ in a misc account so you can buy items (with a cash card/no membership) they will soon deny your shopping and ask that you get a membership card…. Costco doesnt make money off of their products, only on membership cards…
Also about the return policy, they do not garuntee the same policy for non memebers. You are not a member so technically they dont have to take anything back from you… The satisfaction is for current costco members.
FYI… Also non members can not redeem coupons since the coupons are only for current costco members… The coupon part even says it on the back of the actual coupon….
Not all Regions are the same, not ALL costcos take ebt cards, wherever you are calls yours. Some Regions do and some do not.
Not all Regions take this “one day pass”. Or even have it offered, i have heard some midwest stores have them…
I know all this because I work for the company…
To some people talking about prices. Look at the unit price, thats what really counts.
It is not true that “Costco doesnt make money off of their products, only on membership cards…” Costco’s average gross margins are 30%. The membership card serves a few purposes: first, it is a profit center. Secondly, and more importantly, it is way to get people to buy-in and shop there more often. The members want to “get their money’s worth” and thus go out of their way to go to Costco more than they would if there was no membership. The third major benefit has to deal with Costco dealing with suppliers. Because the store is not open to the general public, they can convince some suppliers to take lower margins on specially-package (large quantity) items that make their regular-store offerings look embarrassingly overpriced.
Wrong. No department makes 30% gmi except maybe the fresh food departments. Get your facts correct.
Before the update was posted about needing to be a member to purchase a gift card, I went over to Costco and told the girl at the entrance I needed to purchase a gift card. She told me to go into the store and go to a register. I stood in line for 20 minutes only to be told you indeed need to be a member to purchase gift cards. The cashier also spoke to me like I was a little naive to think I could do that without being a member “If everyone could do that no one would be buying memberships: that is what we do. Sell memberships.” I did think it was too good to be true though! But I thought when I read that Julia was told the “ins and outs” something like that would have been asked or told to her. It was a mistake is all. Then I thought about having a friend buy me a gift card once in a while but now after reading a couple comments, afraid they will tell via computer that I am doing that over and over and stop me. Probably not worth it for me to spend more useless time. Maybe some day I will get a membership.
Buy your contact lenses at Costco. They are much cheaper there!!!!
I have always been able to beat Costco’s CL prices by buying online. Costco’s prices are not even close.
Milk is cheaper at Aldi’s than at Costco, but the meat and cheese prices and quality are generally superior at Costco. The fruit is usually top notch, especially strawberries and most apples. We love their rotisserie chickens and whole grain artisan bread (in the paper bags). Bulk dried yeast for bread making is sold at our local Costco for about $4 a 2-lb bag-the price of a few quarter ounce envelopes at other stores. You can store dried yeast in the freezer for at least a year. For most other groceries I shop around.
You should also know that there is a 5% surcharge added when non-members use the gift cards.
As for what to buy at Costco, I can’t say enough about the beef. Most markets sell Select grade beef for more than Costco sells their Choice grade beef. It may not seem that the steaks are that much cheaper based on price alone, but the quality is so much better.
There is no surcharge
Interesting! I find it amusing when I drive by Costco and see cars lined up 15 deep when the gas is only 2 cents a gallon cheaper than a couple other nearby stations. Wonder how much these people spend idling their car in line for 15 minutes? I do agree the prices aren’t that great especially since you can’t use coupons. Another tip for saving $$. For those of you who have a large Oriental Market near you (we have MANY), check their prices for staples like eggs and produce. I pay between 99 cents and $1.19 for JUMBO eggs there. Produce is way cheaper. And most of the meat is cheaper and of better quality, too.
Not only is Costco gas often only 2-3 cents cheaper, you can only pay with AMEX, for which I get 2% cash back. But, I have a MasterCard that gives me 5% cash back on gas. At $3.50/gal the extra 3% cash back I get on my MC saves me 10.5 cents per gallon. Thus Costco gas is never a good deal.
Note that Costco produce is a great deal when the produce is not in season, or when dealing with pre-packaged items, such as organic spring greens and organic baby spinach. But, when produce is in season, it’s on sale at the local grocery stores, and the same price year-round at Costco. When blueberries are in season, for example, they can be significantly less expensive at the regular grocery store.
I wish Costco or Sams Club had house brand soy formula available! It really is a TON cheaper there. Well worth a yearly membership. But both only carry regular formula. We get our olive oil from Sams Club, it is a lot cheaper. Not worth getting a membership for, but it is worth having someone you know pick it up for you.
Does anyone know what you can get for $50.00 at Costco? I have been lookng online, as the store in my town is rather a long drive. I have a gift certificate from Christmas 2009 and still haven’t used it. It seems to me that their prices are rather steep. I don’t need to buy in bulk as my immediate family is really small. Any suggestions?
While you can purchase prescriptions without a membership, you will not be able to purchase any over the counter items in the pharmacy without membership or the cash card. You can also check their prescription charges at their website and they are usually less expensive than other stores. We have found that some maintenance drugs are free for a 30 day supply when you would usually have a co-pay with insurance. We sometimes pay cash rather than a co-pay because it will be less.
If you run into a rude employee, ask for a manager, it works wonders.
You can also access the tire center if that is available at your Costco without a card, and you can further shop there as long as you have the booklet with your tire information.
and you can have pizza and dogs at the snack bar without a membership card!
My Costco bill has definitely decreased since couponing, but I still know that when I plan a trip to Costco, I need to be prepared to spend about $100-150 (less if I leave the husband at home). I just took a trip to Grocery Outlet last week and thought I got a great deal on cheese (both of my kids LOVE cheese). Costco was still cheeper. There are definitely items that I will buy at Costco still. Cheese being one of them. We also love their croissants for breakfast sandwiches. Their cakes, while maybe not the best, are unbeatable when it comes to price.
I try to wait for coupons to come out on items before buying. I recently stocked up on Pullups and wipes with a recent coupon for both at Costco. I never seem to be able to buy enough of these to get me through to the next sale due to limitations. Bottom line, I still love Costco, but I definitely walk through now with more knowledge on pricing and what I could “realistically” buy things for using coupons instead thank to The Frugal Find!
I used to think the same as you that it is better to shop at costco than to use coupons. If you really do the coupling like she shares here on this site-most items will be way cheaper at other stores than costco.
All depends on how much free time you have, and how you want to balance that free time between pinching pennies and other activities…
There is no 5% surcharge for using the giftcard. I work there and tou may be able to enter the store without a membership card to get an rx or buy liquor but that is all you will be able to buy.
link does not work
Denise, give it a bit, Facebook is in the middle of some maintenance and no links work.
Facebook, GRR. It should be working now…
Facebook, GRR. It should be working now…
yep it is
yep it is
We have the executive membership where we get cash back on purchases Costco has saved us over and beyond the cost of membership many times over. Well worth the investment IMHO.
This did not work for me in Vacaville, CA.
This did not work for me in Vacaville, CA.
Nicole, it’s definitely gotten mixed results.
Nicole, it’s definitely gotten mixed results.
their return policy is very nice, i returned a lunchbox that ripped and they had no issues i also returned a 3 year old printer that i had nothing but problems with, they asked if i wanted cash or store credit! I took store credit and bought a different printer
their return policy is very nice, i returned a lunchbox that ripped and they had no issues i also returned a 3 year old printer that i had nothing but problems with, they asked if i wanted cash or store credit! I took store credit and bought a different printer
Facebook has just issued a statement saying that the known issues of slowness or timeouts while using the site should be resolved shortly.
Facebook has just issued a statement saying that the known issues of slowness or timeouts while using the site should be resolved shortly.
Thanks Dale!
Thanks Dale!
Sara – their return policy can’t be beat!
Sara – their return policy can’t be beat!
After the last time I read this, I called our local Costco and they told me that I can use giftcards without a membership withoout having to pay an extra fee. We sell their giftcards thru my school’s script program so I need to try this soon!
We’ve spent tons of $$ at Costco for so many years. Since I started couponing a few months back, we don’t buy everything there like we use to. We are getting smarter to what is a good price for a product and what is not. We did purchase a big TV a couple of years ago that was having a slight discoloration screen problem. I couldn’t see it, but my better than 20/20 vision husband can. Since we couldn’t return it because it was over their time frame, we called their concierge line and they were able to send somebody out to our house to look at it. They ended up taking away the TV to their shop to duplicate the problem and gave us a temporary replacement. When they brought back the TV, it still wasn’t corrected, so they ended up gaving us a new one. This was all done in less than a few weeks. Now that is worth the price for a membership. I don’t believe you can get service like that anywhere else! We are highy satisfied, we just wouldn’t buy their razors!!!
Bought a printer back in March from Costco. It goes through ink like CRAZY (not a good buy) went back to costco yesterday (without a receipt) and they refunded my money no questions asked. I have returned Bacon (because we didn’t like the taste) no questions asked either. They really do have the best return policy and customer service.
And you can always refund your membership fee in full for any reason.
We always buy the Executive Membership and we buy enough there all year that when they send us the rebate check it has covered the membership.
Just to chime back in… With the Exec. Membership if you ever book travel sometimes you get a better deal and sometimes if a Costo Cash Card.
Why would you NOT want the membership….especially executive….
I’m a diehard Costco shopper but I gotta say- the last couple years the renewal fee has hit at JUST the wrong time and right now I cannot afford the membership. I’ll get it again when I can work it into the budget but things are just too squeaky tight right now.
To update- I recently had a very thoughtful friend give me a couple of Costco cash cards because she knew I had to let my membership go. Turns out you can only get a minimum $25 card, not $10, which might be a new rule- BUT, it does work to shop with just the cash card and no membership! It was no problem at all. When I’m able to afford the membership again I will renew, but until then, this is a great option for me to still be able to buy those items that are just unbeatable deals at Costco!
While it’s always nice to pick up tricks to save money, please keep in mind that “gaming” the system just makes the system more expensive for others. Costco can offer the kind of discount they do because of the membership numbers and the associated fee.
I fail to find any kind of “discounts” at Costco on most of their products. If there happens to be a coupon for an item, the price still stings. just a little less.
I would love to see the Costco posts updated w/new pictures–for some reason they’re not pulling up.
It should also be noted that while you don’t need a membership to fill your prescription at Costco if you do have one, your prescription will be even cheaper! You just have to fill out a card at the pharmacy and it’s on file…no extra card to carry around.
You can order a cash card online. Select the cash card amount of your choice. Click add to cart.
Go to checkout. You will be asked to register. You do not have to join. In small writing is the following sentence:
Note: Non-members pay an additional surcharge.
You will be charged the surcharge which is about 5%. So a $25 cash card will cost you $26.25. Still a bargain over the $55 membership fee.
What I find amusing is to drive by Costco and see cars lined up 10 deep for gas — I had checked the price of gas when I was in Costco so I know what the Arco down the street was only 2 cents more a gallon. Ok you save 25-50 cents if you do that, but how much have you spent sitting in line letting your car run for 10 minutes or more?
I don’t really find Costco a big saver either, especially with just the two of us. But they do have some things I like so maybe I should consider the gift card option — I found about that myself when I asked if my husband could use my card to shop with (I gave my second card to my daughter.) She said, No, that I had to be there to pay since the card was in my name, but explained the gift card thing then. He also ordered glasses there and saved quite a bit and never had to show my card.
I will never purchase a membership (a.k.a. “the right to shop here”) so that I can spend my own money in their store. Costco’s products are not superior and most everything has been frozen for shipping. As far as electronics go, they do not carry high end models.
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