Everything about Costco seem to be perks: the price of a hot dog with a soda, the tasty and affordable rotisserie chicken that people have ended up fighting over, and the affordable prices of bulk items. However, many people are put off by the annual membership fee, as not everyone can afford (or at least wants to pay) $65 or $130, depending on the membership you want.
However, there is a kind of loophole where you can add a supplementary card. But be careful, the holder of this second card must be over 18 and live at exactly the same address as the primary cardholder who pays for the membership. Most people use this so that their spouse can go shopping if they themselves are unable to. However, there are parents who cheat the system by registering their independent children, pretending that they still live with them. Whether you think this is ethical or not is up to you.
Other ways to shop at Costco without a card
To enter Costco, you must show your valid card at the scanner at the entrance, but members are still allowed to bring in up to two guests. These two people can accompany you while you shop, but they cannot pay directly at the checkout. Only the member or the person with the supplementary card can swipe the card and pay.
If you want to invite someone to shop at Costco, you must trust them completely, as you will have to pay for whatever they choose and then settle up outside the store. This is a very appealing strategy for groups of close friends who have already proven themselves to be trustworthy.
On social media, we have seen groups of friends (mostly of Korean descent) who buy large quantities of meat, go to one person’s house, and divide it up to take back to their own apartments. Everyone wins: they spend the day together doing an activity that saves them money, strengthens their bonds, and ends up being better food than if they went to a restaurant or ordered DoorDash.
How to get a Costco card at a discount
You don’t need to rely on a third party to shop at Costco. There are multiple ways, such as social hostage groups, that often offer welcome promotions at very low prices. This type of offer works by paying the full membership fee ($65), but then returning part of the money in digital gift cards worth $20 to $40. In other words, with this offer, a membership would only cost you $25 per year.
It should be noted that these offers are usually for new members or people whose membership expired more than a year and a half ago. There are also many offers for active students. To take advantage of these, university students must verify their status on the UNiDAYS platform, and they will receive a Shop Card when they sign up.
Costco Membership Perks
If, on the other hand, you are a person with a large family or business and you estimate that you would spend more than $3,250 per year, you may be interested in executive membership. For only $130 per year, you receive an annual cashback reward, which would make the membership profitable for you starting at $3,000. Costco members who have an executive membership have access to exclusive stores for one hour Monday through Friday. On Saturdays, they have 30 minutes of early access compared to other members with a Gold Star card.
If you are an early riser who likes to run errands first thing in the morning and also loves to avoid crowds, a Costco executive membership may be your dream come true. For only $135 per year, you can do your bulk shopping first thing in the morning and get the rest of your chores out of the way.
In addition to early access, all Costco members have access to pharmacies and optical centers. One interesting thing about Costco is that its food court, where you can find the famous pizza and other affordable items, is located outside the main entrance, and you can eat there even if you don’t have a membership.