Anyone can shop at a Costco if you have their version of a gift card — the Costco Cash Card. Gift them their very own Costco adventure. ‘Tis the season to ditch your all-white palette in favor of something a little bolder and brighter. In an awesome loophole to their "members-only" shopping policy, those who use a Costco Cash Card can shop at any Costco location in the United States, Puerto Rico, and Canada. Gift card holders can apparently shop without paying the annual membership fee 2:19 comments Intrepid shoppers have found a loophole to skirt Costco's membership fees. You can also use the gift card online at Costco.com but non-members get charged a 5% surcharge fee on everything but prescription drugs. In addition, "non-members may only be issued a one-day pass twice per calendar year." Costco Shop Cards are excellent stocking stuffers or a festive inclusion in holiday cards sent to fellow Costco fans. But those of us who haven’t decided to commit to the $60-a-year membership yet can still take advantage of those unbeatable deals. If you do your shopping Monday mornings but your friend can only go on the weekends—when you’re totally booked—you’re out of luck. If you plan on shopping there often, the cost of a membership is probably worth it. We recommend our users to update the browser. To add someone, sign in and head to "My Account." The most convenient way to get into Costco without a membership is to have a gift card. © Copyright 2021 Meredith Corporation. Please be advised that registering to shop online at Costco.com is not an application for membership. This is especially helpful for big-ticket purchases such as a TV, so you don't have to pay a membership fee for just one item. Or otherwise known as a gift card, simply purchase any amount online. The "Costco Cash Card" is a gift card that members can give to non-members. Related Answers. The trendy haircuts you’ll be seeing everywhere next year. These gift cards allow both members and nonmembers to shop at Costco. The card can only be purchased by a Costco member, but they can be loaded with up to $1,000, so if you have a good friend or family member with a Costco membership, you can take advantage of their membership and have them purchase the card for you. Gold Star Membership allows you to purchase products for personal use at any Costco warehouse throughout the world and on Costco.ca. You can check to see which screenings are available near you with Costco’s health and wellness schedule. (Note: Only members can purchase or reload the cards.) Credit: Free Household Card available. As a bonus for those who fill up their tank frequently, it also works for all of the Costco gas stations. Yep, that's right. Are gift cards cheaper at Costco? Your Costco membership card can be used at any Costco Warehouse worldwide. Thankfully, there’s another sneaky way to get into the store without a membership and without being a guest. Another option is to buy Costco cash card denominations up to $1,000 while at Costco with a member. If you have a card in hand you can shop to your hearts content. Score! Still, even members shouldn’t waste their money on these things you should never buy at Costco. Nonmembers may order products from our website as well as members. Just ask a friend to pick up a card for you (using your money, of course) and you can get anywhere from $25 to $1,000 in store credit to spend at Costco. The Costco Shop Card Can be Used by Non-Members. You can purchase gas at their stations even if you don’t have a membership if you have a Costco Cash card (their version of the gift card). Perhaps you live far away from one and know you'd only go once or twice a year. Remember the perks of Costco services? Going this route, however, does have some drawbacks. You can load a Costco Cash gift card with any amount up to $1,000, and the card can be reloaded by a Costco member when you run out. Costco offers free health care screenings for a number of issues including diabetes, osteoporosis and heart health, all without a Costco membership. For all the benefits you're afforded by being a card-carrying Costco member, there is still that annual membership fee to contend with. Of course, that leaves the obvious problem of relying on that friend to get you in. The Gold Star Gift of Membership is not an actual Costco membership card, but is a voucher worth $60 toward a Costco membership. The thing is, it can’t control who those cards go to. Costco. But if you just need to stock up for a one-time event, a cash card could save some major moolah—especially if you pair it with these tips for saving money at Costco. Ah, the happy, hallowed walls of Costco. With your Costco Cash Card in hand, you can get into the store and do your shopping just like any other shopper, without tagging along with another member. The superstore touts the cards as a “convenient way for members to pay,” but the small print allows non-members to use them, too. For orders of 2 or more cards, please activate all cards prior to distributing to recipients. You can refill as often as you'd like, and purchase a wide selection of products at Costco.com. Want to buy a membership for someone else? Southern Living is part of the Meredith Home Group. The problem is that we must figure out is where to buy a Costco gift card. Learn how to season this Southern kitchen staple in five easy steps. Once purchased by a member, it can be used in stores by non-members without a … A Costco membership is required to get in the door and into the food court at many Costco locations. Southern Living is a registered trademark of, These Haircuts Are Going To Be Huge in 2021, 70 Wedding Vow Examples That Will Melt Your Heart, 7 Paint Colors We’re Loving for Kitchen Cabinets in 2020, 50 Books Everyone Should Read in Their Lifetime, other neat ways to shop at Costco if you're not a member. You Can Use a Costco Gift Card. Costco's gift card, known as the Costco Cash Card, is a free ticket into the store (cue happy dance). One caveat here: If you choose to use a Costco Cash Card online and you’re aren’t a member, you’ll be charged 5% more than the … The store now offers a gift card for a one-year membership for private jet service. You can also use the cards for shopping online. Fight writer's block and find ways to express your love with these romantic, funny, and short wedding vow examples. “Non-members may use the cash cards to shop at any Costco location in the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico and online at Costco.com or on Costco.ca,” says Costco’s website. Her work has also appeared in Business Insider, Parents magazine, CreakyJoints, and the Baltimore Sun. Like most stores, Costco offers gift certificates in the form of its Costco Cash Cards. Please refer … Similar to gift cards, Costco Shop Cards are available in denominations ranging from $10 to $100, ... (which you can buy without a membership), you should probably take a pass. In an awesome loophole to their "members-only" shopping policy, those who use a Costco Cash Card can shop at any Costco location in the United States, Puerto Rico, and Canada. $25 to $1,000 can be added to the gift card. Perhaps you don't need massive tubs of peanut butter lining your pantry. It's not the easiest way of essentially scamming the membership-only retailer, but it's a tried-and-true method for the casual Costco shopper who wants to see what exactly all the hooplah is about . Use a Costco Gift Card: As long as the gift card (which can go up to $1000) is bought by someone with a membership, you can buy anything in the store. Well, here is a big one that should make anyone want the Gold Star Executive membership — if you can afford it. 1. And the store totally condones it. A Costco membership sure has its benefits (like these hidden Costco perks, just to name a few). We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer), 50+ Black Businesses to Support This Month (and Every Month), Why You Probably Shouldn’t Buy Your Milk from Costco, Here’s How Costco Keeps Their Gas So Cheap, Do Not Sell My Personal Information – CA Residents. You can also use the gift card online at Costco.com but non-members get charged a 5% surcharge fee on everything but prescription drugs. Use a gift card. 1. In addition to this savvy gift card method of shopping at Costco without a membership, here are some other neat ways to shop at Costco if you're not a member. Sign up Valid at all Costco locations worldwide. Sure, you could stock up on items costco.com, but non-members pay an extra 5 percent and don’t have access to the members-only sales. Marissa Laliberte-Simonian is a London-based associate editor with the global promotions team at WebMD’s Medscape.com and was previously a staff writer for Reader's Digest.