Costco Membership Crackdown or All Things Costco 😀

[georgina]

At least around here, the liquor stores are open to the public. You don't need a membership to shop there.

The liquor in DC is just in the store with everything else, not a separate store. I am a fan of Kirkland gin and vodka! And their wine prices can't be beat, I can get that in VA but not liquor.

Good rental car prices. DH gets glasses there. I wasn't sure once the kids had moved out if we would spend enough to recoup the cost of the executive membership, but we do. I don't get produce there generally because we are only 2 people, but I love only having to buy some things like TP and laundry detergent once a year.

i have never been asked to show my card at the self checkout lines. I flash it on the way in and scan it at the register. You have to give them your card to scan at regular checkouts too (I guess the shop card loophole may be in play?)

 

[Christine]

As others have stated, not everything at such stores is a bargain. But sometimes only a few items you regularly purchase can more than cover the membership fee. I have family members who can do so with just allergy relief medication purchases each year. I have done so with just travel and restaurant gift card purchases. The gas price there is currently 7-20 cents less per gallon than other stations in the area. So some people may be able to cover the membership fee that way too.

Yeah, I *think* between gas, travel, and Rao's marinara, lol, I cover the cost. I also buy the card for variety of options. Many things can be bought locally, but they also carry other brands that just aren't sold in my region so that's a "nice to have." The savings on allergy meds are very good. I've started price checking at their pharmacy and they have very good prices on many prescription medications if you don't happen to have a good insurance plan. Not everything is great, but I found out my thyroid medication is cheaper paying cash at Costco pharmacy then running through my insurance at a retail pharmacy. I also think Costco Optical is probably the cheapest place to have glasses made where you can go in and try on frames. Online retains have them beat though.

 

[nw6675]

Lest we forget the Costco generous return policy. DH says my mother would return a half eaten baked ham to Costco lol. I still wonder if they truly have the frequent flyer list of returns. She's on it if so! Don't get me wrong. She's a prim and proper well to do lady, but she'll return something in a heartbeat!!

 

[MsChristy12]

Yeah, I *think* between gas, travel, and Rao's marinara, lol, I cover the cost. I also buy the card for variety of options. Many things can be bought locally, but they also carry other brands that just aren't sold in my region so that's a "nice to have." The savings on allergy meds are very good. I've started price checking at their pharmacy and they have very good prices on many prescription medications if you don't happen to have a good insurance plan. Not everything is great, but I found out my thyroid medication is cheaper paying cash at Costco pharmacy then running through my insurance at a retail pharmacy. I also think Costco Optical is probably the cheapest place to have glasses made where you can go in and try on frames. Online retains have them beat though.

While I'm not a fan of their sauce, but seriously no one else can be cheaper! Not even when they are on sale at grocery stores.

I have 3 pairs of glasses from them. All of them are about half the price from other optical retailers. On top of that, we can use our HSA!!

 

[disneydreamer1980]

Costco isn’t interested in having the cheapest prices on low quality products. They are interested in having the cheapest prices on the highest quality products

They literally have the same stuff as every other store lol

 

[gmi3804]

Costco isn’t interested in having the cheapest prices on low quality products. They are interested in having the cheapest prices on the highest quality products

Their target demographic is the upper to upper-middle classes, those who typically more money to spend on bulk items, instead of just buying them as you need them. They know the market demands good quality and bulk pricing to hopefully get these items for a good deal. It's the opposite of a Dollar Store. If you analyze dollar store prices you're either not saving much because you're getting such small quantities, or you're getting really low-quality stuff. Sometimes both.

 

[MsChristy12]

Costco isn’t interested in having the cheapest prices on low quality products. They are interested in having the cheapest prices on the highest quality products

They literally have the same stuff as every other store lol

They aren't saying they don't have the same stuff at other stores, that statement is saying their pricing is lower than average stores if you want the higher quality products, which is true. If you want the cheapest price and don't care for the brand or quality, Costco won't be for you.

 

[bcla]

The liquor in DC is just in the store with everything else, not a separate store. I am a fan of Kirkland gin and vodka! And their wine prices can't be beat, I can get that in VA but not liquor.

i have never been asked to show my card at the self checkout lines. I flash it on the way in and scan it at the register. You have to give them your card to scan at regular checkouts too (I guess the shop card loophole may be in play?)

They have certain "codes" for how to handle anything other than a regular membership or a Costco credit card. A member can use the Costco Cash card for payment without the cashier entering a special code, and quite a few members receive those as gifts.

I've heard of the codes to enter for paying just with Costco Cash cards or for those purchases that can't be restricted to members by state law.

 

[bcla]

Their target demographic is the upper to upper-middle classes, those who typically more money to spend on bulk items, instead of just buying them as you need them. They know the market demands good quality and bulk pricing to hopefully get these items for a good deal. It's the opposite of a Dollar Store. If you analyze dollar store prices you're either not saving much because you're getting such small quantities, or you're getting really low-quality stuff. Sometimes both.

A lot of dollar stores do it with competitive buying. Some of what I've gotten at Dollar Tree is name brand but considerably less expensive.

However, dollar stores also sell a lot of shoddy stuff.

 

[Christine]

They literally have the same stuff as every other store lol

Some of it is the same; however, there are lots of brands there that I *never* see anywhere else. It might have a lot to do with where you live and availability of products (for instance, populus cities in California seem to have EVERYTHING your heart could desire) while my busy suburb is lacking in variety of brands and products. I can go into Costco and always find something that I've never seen before.

 

[mjkacmom]

If you need a membeship to shop there, I don't have a problem with how they choose to verify that. Those who are trying to 'game' the system are probably the ones doing the complaining. A relative has a Costco membership and have shopped there with them on occasion. They check your membership when you walk in the door. Frankly, I think people get fooled into buying those gigantic packgaes of some things. You have to know your unit prices to see if what they are selling is actually a bargain. If 10 rolls of paper towels cost $10 but at the local grocery store the same items is $1/roll then you really haven't saved anything. Gigantic containers of herbs/spices are no bargain regardless of the price if they go stale before you ever use them up.

I hate getting toilet paper and paper towels from the supermarket, the rolls are so tiny! We are a family of 7 and go through a lot. I wouldn’t buy spices but for us, bigger is better.

 

[mjkacmom]

Stores I have gone to have always required a card to enter, but you just hold it up and they don’t do anything but glance at it from a distance. My daughter went a couple of weeks ago and said at checkout they did check to make sure she was the card was hers. I haven’t gone to one recently.

In my state you didn’t need to be a member to get gasoline. Supposedly it was not allowed here. Hence not all warehouse club stores had gas pumps. Not long ago that changed and cards are now required. And some BJ’s recently added pumps, I assume as a result of the change. Though someone I know who is not a member says the Costco closest to them does not require the card. Maybe there is a town ban on the card requirement?

As others have stated, not everything at such stores is a bargain. But sometimes only a few items you regularly purchase can more than cover the membership fee. I have family members who can do so with just allergy relief medication purchases each year. I have done so with just travel and restaurant gift card purchases. The gas price there is currently 7-20 cents less per gallon than other stations in the area. So some people may be able to cover the membership fee that way too.

With my gold membership, I always get more cash back than I spent on the membership.

 

[MsChristy12]

Some of it is the same; however, there are lots of brands there that I *never* see anywhere else. It might have a lot to do with where you live and availability of products (for instance, populus cities in California seem to have EVERYTHING your heart could desire) while my busy suburb is lacking in variety of brands and products. I can go into Costco and always find something that I've never seen before.

This is also true!
What's annoying is (for us at least), when you find something you love, it might be a one-time deal! Or it comes and goes. Once you give up on looking out for it, 6 months later they can resurface! My husband is always like, don't get too attached you might never see that again!

 

[princesscinderella]

The other day I got a $10 cash card in the mail with a letter from Costco stating they were able to negotiate a better price on the pack of life straws I ordered and were passing the savings on to me. I was shocked and it was a nice surprise. I too get a check for more than my membership cost because I have the executive membership. One DCL trip booked through Costco is all it takes

 

[nw6675]

The other day I got a $10 cash card in the mail with a letter from Costco stating they were able to negotiate a better price on the pack of life straws I ordered and were passing the savings on to me. I was shocked and it was a nice surprise. I too get a check for more than my membership cost because I have the executive membership. One DCL trip booked through Costco is all it takes

I had to google life straws. Cool!

 

[tzolkin]

My mom has a membership (I think she shares with her sister). I do not. I just tag along with my mom sometimes when I want stuff. Mom pays at the register, I pay her back later.

I think they are cracking down on this as well. Last month, I went up to the self-check out register with my items and wanted to do two separate orders (one business, one personal so I needed two receipts and to use two different credit cards). The employee told me I could not do that. When I asked why, she was very nasty and was insistent that "you can't buy things for other people; they have to have their own membership". I tried to explain that it was not for someone else, that it was all for me but I just wanted to use two separate cards to pay. (I had my son with me so she must have been convinced that my teenager was trying to buy cleaning supplies without his own membership.) She reluctantly let me make the purchases after looking at my credit cards to make sure both had my name on them, but there was lots of eye rolling and I know that she still believed I was lying.

I agree with most here that it’s fine for Costco to enforce their policies—that’s what the member signed up for. I will admit though that I hope they don’t look at the pictures too closely. I have 3 children—2 are now actually adults—all driving and sometimes I like to send them to get things I need—particularly when we are hosting something and I’m busy. So far no issues. They all have the same permanent address as me, so I guess would be part of our household if they checked.

It does not matter that they are part of your household. If the card has your name and photo, they will not allow them to use it (if they are checking at the register).

In terms of memberships & how many in your household....we have a business membership. Currently it's just my Mother (in FL) and I (in MD but I shop in DE) but we can add additional people to it if we wanted, think it's $60 a person.

The regular membership costs $60 though, so this would really be no savings over them buying their own (in which case they would receive two cards for the $60 fee).

 

[gmi3804]

With my gold membership, I always get more cash back than I spent on the membership.

I’m getting almost $800 back (2%) and an extra $200 shipboard credit from an expensive cruise booking we made through Costco Travel using my Executive membership. They also threw in a $675 Costco Cash card, which even regular members would get.

 

[slo]

I don’t go to Costco, I do Sam’s Club, and when I needed to replace a card this year they didn’t take my picture. I was very surprised - the employee said they did away with that. I wonder if they’ll reinstate it now that Costco is going to be checking cards.

 

[Moliphino]

I think they are cracking down on this as well. Last month, I went up to the self-check out register with my items and wanted to do two separate orders (one business, one personal so I needed two receipts and to use two different credit cards). The employee told me I could not do that. When I asked why, she was very nasty and was insistent that "you can't buy things for other people; they have to have their own membership". I tried to explain that it was not for someone else, that it was all for me but I just wanted to use two separate cards to pay. (I had my son with me so she must have been convinced that my teenager was trying to buy cleaning supplies without his own membership.) She reluctantly let me make the purchases after looking at my credit cards to make sure both had my name on them, but there was lots of eye rolling and I know that she still believed I was lying.

We don't split anything at the register. My mom pays all in one transaction and we reimburse her later.

 

[nw6675]

I don’t go to Costco, I do Sam’s Club, and when I needed to replace a card this year they didn’t take my picture. I was very surprised - the employee said they did away with that. I wonder if they’ll reinstate it now that Costco is going to be checking cards.

If they did, they'd have to stop their Scan/Pay while you shop or check really well when entering.