topic Re: Costco Savings share in Kitchen

Costco Savings share

DiamondGirly — Thu, 06 Nov 2014 20:47:33 GMT

I wasn't sure how many people know that it's possible to shop at Costco without being a member! You just ask someone with a Costco membership to purchase you Cash Cards! (Like a gift certificate/card) This is a great gift, also...and also great if the kids are away at college, etc...to allow them access to Costco deals.

At Costco.com, it says:

"You must be a Costco member to purchase or reload Costco Cash Cards. Members and 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. Costco Cash balances may be used toward membership or merchandise."

Re: Costco Savings share

JeanLouiseFinch — Thu, 06 Nov 2014 20:57:31 GMT

It's one thing if a Costco member voluntarily gives someone a Costco gift card or buys them for their OWN children to use if they live away from home, but for a non-member to ask the member to repeatedly buy them gift cards for them to be able to shop w/o purchasing their own membership makes the non-member an opportunist and a user. You want to avail yourself of the special pricing and products at Costco, buy yourself a membership.

Re: Costco Savings share

jaxs mom — Thu, 06 Nov 2014 21:01:23 GMT

Well it's basically free anyway if you shop there regularly. I get more back in my yearly rebate than my membership costs. Personally I wouldn't want to be dealing with customer service and standing in line on a regular basis to purchase someone gift cards because they are too lazy to just get a membership.

Re: Costco Savings share

JeanLouiseFinch — Thu, 06 Nov 2014 21:04:40 GMT

On 11/6/2014 jaxs mom said:
Well it's basically free anyway if you shop there regularly. I get more back in my yearly rebate than my membership costs. Personally I wouldn't want to be dealing with customer service and standing in line on a regular basis to purchase someone gift cards because they are too lazy to just get a membership.

Exactly. I get every bit of my renewal covered, and then some, via the Costco Rebate.

Re: Costco Savings share

cece5231 — Thu, 06 Nov 2014 21:04:47 GMT

Wow, A little touchy...and judgemental? I didn't read in the post that DiamondGirly was asking for comment. Just sharing a practice which others might not be aware and might be able to take advantage of. That's what this forum does....shares. Wow!

Re: Costco Savings share

DiamondGirly — Thu, 06 Nov 2014 21:11:29 GMT

LOL.....I love the people on this thread - I just came back to say that some people may think this is not a good idea.... Costco allows it - I am thinking that people may not be able to get the coupon/discount deals with just a cash card. I notice they don't call it a GIFT CARD..?

I thought it might also be a good way to "test" out Costco to see if one wants to become a member - I read further to see that they CAN get a one-time pass...but have to use cash, so that might be better. There can be a 5% surcharge added, too!

*Thanks, cece5231 - I don't blame people for being defensive, especially if they've PAID for their membership!! I guess it's tough to police continual casual visits with cash cards...

Re: Costco Savings share

HonnyBrown — Thu, 06 Nov 2014 21:11:42 GMT

On 11/6/2014 JeanLouiseFinch said:
It's one thing if a Costco member voluntarily gives someone a Costco gift card or buys them for their OWN children to use if they live away from home, but for a non-member to ask the member to repeatedly buy them gift cards for them to be able to shop w/o purchasing their own membership makes the non-member an opportunist and a user. You want to avail yourself of the special pricing and products at Costco, buy yourself a membership.

I agree with you, JLF!

Just buy the membership. It pays for itself in savings alone!

Re: Costco Savings share

millieshops — Thu, 06 Nov 2014 21:13:54 GMT

If all a person were really going to buy at Costco were very small, this "cheat" may save money. However, if you pay with a gift card, you get no discount.

I'm not even a big Costco buyer and my 1% cash back plus the fact that my AmEx via Costco pays me 3% back on gas purchases (anywhere that takes AmEx) and 25 back on restaurants and travel, my card is more than paid for by my cash back.

Re: Costco Savings share

jackthebear — Thu, 06 Nov 2014 21:15:17 GMT

On 11/6/2014 HonnyBrown said:
On 11/6/2014 JeanLouiseFinch said:
It's one thing if a Costco member voluntarily gives someone a Costco gift card or buys them for their OWN children to use if they live away from home, but for a non-member to ask the member to repeatedly buy them gift cards for them to be able to shop w/o purchasing their own membership makes the non-member an opportunist and a user. You want to avail yourself of the special pricing and products at Costco, buy yourself a membership.

I agree with you, JLF!

Just buy the membership. It pays for itself in savings alone!

I used to know someone who wanted me to take her there but didn't want to buy the membership. I think I did it once. If you want to shop there join

Re: Costco Savings share

GloriBee — Thu, 06 Nov 2014 21:17:37 GMT

Thanks! That is good to know! I had no idea!

ETA, after seeing some were not happy about this (people not paying for a membership and shopping there) that I would not buy a membership there simply because I do not have one very close to me. I might go there once a year, if that. I have a BJ's Warehouse only a few minutes away and have a membership there.

I also see now that it may not be that great if you have to pay a surcharge and do not get the discounts.

Re: Costco Savings share

jaxs mom — Thu, 06 Nov 2014 21:22:52 GMT

On 11/6/2014 DiamondGirly said:
LOL.....I love the people on this thread - I just came back to say that some people may think this is not a good idea.... Costco allows it - I am thinking that people may not be able to get the coupon/discount deals with just a cash card. I notice they don't call it a GIFT CARD..?

I thought it might also be a good way to "test" out Costco to see if one wants to become a member - I read further to see that they CAN get a one-time pass...but have to use cash, so that might be better. There can be a 5% surcharge added, too!

*Thanks, cece5231 - I don't blame people for being defensive, especially if they've PAID for their membership!! I guess it's tough to police continual casual visits with cash cards...

Costco allows you to go in and browse without a membership. And I have no problem taking a friend in with me and even doing the gift card thing one time for them to try it. I just wouldn't be willing to do it all the time for the same person.

Re: Costco Savings share

DiAnne — Thu, 06 Nov 2014 21:26:54 GMT

On 11/6/2014 JeanLouiseFinch said:
It's one thing if a Costco member voluntarily gives someone a Costco gift card or buys them for their OWN children to use if they live away from home, but for a non-member to ask the member to repeatedly buy them gift cards for them to be able to shop w/o purchasing their own membership makes the non-member an opportunist and a user. You want to avail yourself of the special pricing and products at Costco, buy yourself a membership.

ITA! -

Re: Costco Savings share

JeanLouiseFinch — Fri, 07 Nov 2014 01:18:23 GMT

On 11/6/2014 cece5231 said: Wow, A little touchy...and judgemental? I didn't read in the post that DiamondGirly was asking for comment. Just sharing a practice which others might not be aware and might be able to take advantage of. That's what this forum does....shares. Wow!

Darn tootin', I'm going to speak up when someone posts in a way that sounds like she's advocating trying to get away with something. Bolding "without being a member" and then proceeding to tell how to get away with it is offensive to every person that shops at Costco honestly by purchasing an annual membership.

Re: Costco Savings share

cece5231 — Fri, 07 Nov 2014 02:18:30 GMT

Jean Louise Finch. Different interpretation. I guess. I thought she was sharing, you thought she was advocating. Guess I don't judge what people post. Enjoy your evening.

Re: Costco Savings share

HonnyBrown — Fri, 07 Nov 2014 16:21:17 GMT

No one is being judgmental.

My Mom and I were going to trade BJ's and Costco cards. Since my Dad shops separately from my Mom (as opposed to my husband, who shops with me), I told Mom that I would do the trial to see if it was a place where I would shop.

When I went to print out the pass, I noticed the 15% surcharge. I ended up getting the membership.

Re: Costco Savings share

Soushi24 — Fri, 07 Nov 2014 18:22:29 GMT

On 11/6/2014 JeanLouiseFinch said:
It's one thing if a Costco member voluntarily gives someone a Costco gift card or buys them for their OWN children to use if they live away from home, but for a non-member to ask the member to repeatedly buy them gift cards for them to be able to shop w/o purchasing their own membership makes the non-member an opportunist and a user. You want to avail yourself of the special pricing and products at Costco, buy yourself a membership.

That was my first thought exactly. It is riding on the backs of us who do have memberships. That would make our membership cost go up.

Re: Costco Savings share

HonnyBrown — Fri, 07 Nov 2014 18:26:55 GMT

Soushi, that's interesting. How would our membership cost increase? Don't forget, the nonmembers would pay a surcharge.

Re: Costco Savings share

jaxs mom — Fri, 07 Nov 2014 19:52:55 GMT

On 11/7/2014 Soushi24 said:
On 11/6/2014 JeanLouiseFinch said:
It's one thing if a Costco member voluntarily gives someone a Costco gift card or buys them for their OWN children to use if they live away from home, but for a non-member to ask the member to repeatedly buy them gift cards for them to be able to shop w/o purchasing their own membership makes the non-member an opportunist and a user. You want to avail yourself of the special pricing and products at Costco, buy yourself a membership.

That was my first thought exactly. It is riding on the backs of us who do have memberships. That would make our membership cost go up.

How is it going to raise our membership rates? Most people who are smart get the executive which gives you a rebate anyway. So Costco isn't even keeping my membership money, I get it back at the end of the year and then some. We had a business membership for many years until they introduced the executive membership.

Re: Costco Savings share

Soushi24 — Sat, 08 Nov 2014 19:44:37 GMT

less members would cause the rest of us to pay more, that is my guess

Re: Costco Savings share

lovesrecess — Sun, 09 Nov 2014 02:51:06 GMT

if you are looking for a robe, Costco just got in the Carole Hochman fluffy full-length robe again...I bought one last year and it is the best robe I have ever worn; warm, soft, but lightweight. Just $19.99 and free shipping; I am going to pick up another one for myself tomorrow...the sizing info on the website is all wrong so don't go by that info.