Costco Membership Crackdown or All Things Costco 😀

[MsChristy12]

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.

Do you know how many people were shocked to hear about Costco Travel and that members can book vacation packages? I was like....you serious?!? How do you not know? There were only a thousand of those travel brochures at the exits (before smart phones days) all in your face!

We got a $235 Costco cash card for our DCL cruise, $265 Disney gift card for Disneyland package and will be getting a $600 Costco cash card for our next cruise. We have an executive membership too, worth every penny!

 

[mjkacmom]

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.

Yes, I got back over $130 for stuff I bought as a member, and over $800 using my Costco credit card.

 

[easyas123]

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).

That is correct, but if I want to add a family member or employee then at least I get the yearly $$$ back!

 

[tetera]

In addition to the Buc-ees they're building on I64 in VA, I *heard* they may build on I95 between Northern VA and Richmond for all you Yankees coming down

I need to know more about this....

 

[tvguy]

or you're getting really low-quality stuff.

Sometimes yes, sometimes no. Last week's frozen fruit recall kind of was eye opening for some when you look at basically every brand of frozen fruit was the same, only the name on the bag was different. It was sold at Walmart, Aldi, Trader Joes.
My dad worked at a now defunct cannery. Loved watching the ketchup bottling line. One huge vat of ketchup fed bottles with Heinz, Hunts, Libbys, Del Monte and various store brand labels. Exact same ketchup.

 

[nw6675]

I need to know more about this....

So I KNOW I read this in one of the news articles about the New Kent I64 location being built. That they were also eyeing I95 for the future closer to DC.

But POOF! Now I can't find any more on it. Maybe a bus driver told me

 

[hrhdhd]

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!!

I live near Disney and at the Costco near the Mall at Millenia, I once watched a couple return 15-20 half-eaten food items. I said something to the clerk, and she said a lot of visitors do that--eat what they want and return the rest before they go home. Outrageous that they allow that.

 

[gmi3804]

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.

Sometimes yes, sometimes no. Last week's frozen fruit recall kind of was eye opening for some when you look at basically every brand of frozen fruit was the same, only the name on the bag was different. It was sold at Walmart, Aldi, Trader Joes.
My dad worked at a now defunct cannery. Loved watching the ketchup bottling line. One huge vat of ketchup fed bottles with Heinz, Hunts, Libbys, Del Monte and various store brand labels. Exact same ketchup.

That's what "or" means.

 

[Lilsia]

I experienced this a few weeks ago. As I approached a self-checkout, the staff person there said he had to verify my card. First time in decades I've ever encountered that. It didn't bother me, since I figured they would not expend effort on that unless they had a reason. Like many other members, my Costco "card" is the same as my Costco Visa card so nobody's going to borrow it anyway.

Same thing happened to us a couple of weeks ago. We were in the self checkout and an employee was asking to see everyone's membership card, showing your picture. I don't have a problem with it. Probably because I am not trying to game the system. As a side note, they just broke ground on a new Costco that is going to be about 4 blocks away from my house, right across the main road.

 

[fla4fun]

So I KNOW I read this in one of the news articles about the New Kent I64 location being built. That they were also eyeing I95 for the future closer to DC.

But POOF! Now I can't find any more on it. Maybe a bus driver told me

No, I saw a mention of it as well. It was kind of a throwaway comment in the article, that they were looking to build a new location north of Richmond on I-95 and another somewhere in the I-81 corridor, but no real details on either location. It didn’t sound like they had even purchased the land yet, but were doing research into where the best locations would be.

 

[MsChristy12]

I live near Disney and at the Costco near the Mall at Millenia, I once watched a couple return 15-20 half-eaten food items. I said something to the clerk, and she said a lot of visitors do that--eat what they want and return the rest before they go home. Outrageous that they allow that.

So wrong!! What the hell is wrong with people?! This is why business enforce policies and such...because people like this ruin it for everyone.

 

[nw6675]

I live near Disney and at the Costco near the Mall at Millenia, I once watched a couple return 15-20 half-eaten food items. I said something to the clerk, and she said a lot of visitors do that--eat what they want and return the rest before they go home. Outrageous that they allow that.

Thankfully my ham comment was in jest. That is horrible!!

 

[princesscinderella]

I had to google life straws. Cool!

I got them to add to my hurricane supplies figuring if I never need them great but I’d rather have them on hand just in case.

 

[hrhdhd]

Thankfully my ham comment was in jest. That is horrible!!

I can see returning one food item that was defective, out of date, or something similar. I can't see having other customers pay higher prices because you shopped for a week but didn't eat everything.

 

[mjkacmom]

I got them to add to my hurricane supplies figuring if I never need them great but I’d rather have them on hand just in case.

I googled it too, pretty pathetic since I actually purchased these for my hiker/kayaking son at his request a couple of years ago.

 

[RedAngie]

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

Same here. Also pharmacy, optical, and third party vendors like a cell phone kiosk don’t require membership.

 

[JulieBeeRN]

Do you know how many people were shocked to hear about Costco Travel and that members can book vacation packages? I was like....you serious?!? How do you not know? There were only a thousand of those travel brochures at the exits (before smart phones days) all in your face!

We got a $235 Costco cash card for our DCL cruise, $265 Disney gift card for Disneyland package and will be getting a $600 Costco cash card for our next cruise. We have an executive membership too, worth every penny!

Costco Travel has the cheapest rental cars too.

We’ve also used their vacation packages for Hawaii, DCL, and Disneyland. Always receiving a gift card, Costco cash card or other perks (like free breakfast, upgraded room).

 

[kymom99]

I don't even understand how people were getting away with this. At all out local warehouses, they are STRICT at the entrances, making you show your membership card with the photo showing. It's so strict that my 2 boys have been yelled at more than once when they attempted to enter with the cart (that I asked them to grab) and they are more than like 2 feet away from me. The lady at the door is always like "who are you coming in with???" And I have to be like, "they are my kids."

Then at the checkout, even the self one, there is an employee there who asks to see your card before you can approach the self checkout.

It's always been like this. How have people been sharing memberships?

It’s not like that here

 

[Christine]

I wish that we


Costco Travel has the cheapest rental cars too.

We’ve also used their vacation packages for Hawaii, DCL, and Disneyland. Always receiving a gift card, Costco cash card or other perks (like free breakfast, upgraded room).

Yes, I just booked an intermediate SUV last week through Costco. It was $80 cheaper for the whole period then every other site/coupon I could find. Plus the extra driver was no charge.

 

[JulieBeeRN]

Yes, I just booked an intermediate SUV last week through Costco. It was $80 cheaper for the whole period then every other site/coupon I could find. Plus the extra driver was no charge.

I will periodically check back and re-book when/if the cost drops. And keep track of the amount to show my husband how much money I saved.