How to Get a Costco Membership
Seeing all the positive Costco member reviews? Want to take part in bulk buying to save? Join the millions of other savvy shoppers at Costco and try a wholesale club near you.
Whether in-store or online, this is how to get Costco memberships for yourself and others. Read on to learn everything there is to know about purchasing and using your membership.
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Related: Things Every First-Time Costco Shopper Should Buy
How to Get a Costco Membership In-Store?
Want to know how to get Costco memberships in-store? Just head to your local Costco. Tell the Costco employee at the entrance that you’re looking to purchase a membership and they’ll let you in. From there, you can head over to the customer service section at the front of the store.
You’ll be asked which membership you want — Gold Star, Business, or Executive — and pay for the yearly membership fees. They’ll take your photo and print out your membership card. The card will show your expiration date as well as your member ID number.
How to Get a Costco Membership Online?
Signing up online is even easier! Follow this link to choose which membership works best for you, and then follow the prompts on-screen to sign up.
The application will ask for your full name, date of birth, address, email address, and phone number. For business memberships, it will ask for your company name and business address.
Once payment is processed, you will receive your membership ID. The next time you go to Costco, you can head to the customer service desk to get a physical card.
How to Get Costco Memberships for Someone Else
Gifting a Costco membership to loved ones is a great present! You can head here to gift someone a Gold Star membership. The recipient will have to go in-store to redeem their certificates and official membership card.
Want to gift an Executive membership instead? Purchase two of these certificates for a total of $130 to pay for the upgraded membership. This certificate can also be gifted once to someone who is already a member to help them upgrade.
Also Read: What Is Costco Next and How Can You Use It?
Digital Membership Card
Make sure you always have your membership card by downloading the Costco Mobile App. This can allow you to present your card should you forget the physical copy on the go.
The mobile app is not just for housing your card, it can help you keep track of your membership, too. The app will allow you to renew your membership and view your 2% reward balance, which you earn by spending money (only applicable to an executive membership). You can keep track of upcoming sales, find receipts, make shopping lists, check membership expiration, and cancel your membership.
Are There Free or Discounted Memberships?
Costco does not offer any free or discounted memberships. Rest assured, buying a membership in full helps you save in the long run. The biggest reason Costco doesn’t offer any discounts is to make sure that they’re always selling products at the lowest price possible.
Not only is a membership worth the price, but Costco has amazing perks for members. From their amazingly low gas prices to their helpful Tire Center, you can find great deals at Costco without stressing out about discounts. And let’s not forget about their fantastic return policy — if you’re ever dissatisfied with a product or with your membership, you can request a refund. Costco is known to be flexible with its policies to ensure members are getting the best store experience. After all, how many membership programs will refund you the money at any time?
If you want to try to save even more, opt for an Executive membership. While it’s a bigger upfront cost, you are eligible for 2% rewards when you purchase at Costco, Costco online, or Costco Travel. You also receive discounts on Pharmacy, Vision Center, and more.
How Many People Can Be on One Membership?
A Gold Star or Executive Costco membership includes two adults living at the same address, plus any children under the age of 18.
For Business memberships, you’re only allotted one free card. To add more than one person to your membership, you’ll have to pay an annual cost of $65 per card, which can be assigned to anyone over 16 years of age.
To change out primary members one one account, you can head online to your account details and swap out card holders.
Do I Need a Membership Card to Enter?
This depends on where you shop and your purpose for entering the store. If you want to purchase items from your local Costco, then you’ll need a membership card to enter (at most locations). Additionally, if you want to shop from Costco.com, then you need a membership to take advantage of the deals without any extra fees.
On the other hand, if you visit Costco to see customer service regarding memberships, you can enter without a card. The same concept goes for Costco shop cards; If you have a shop card, you can enter the store without a membership.
Read More: What Is the Best Time to Shop at Costco?