Shopping Smart: How to Use Gift Cards to Browse Costco Without a Membership
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Costco Takes Steps to Prevent Nonmembers from Entering Stores
Costco is taking new steps to prevent nonmembers from entering its stores, but there are still several ways to shop at Costco without paying an annual fee.
New Measures to Enforce Membership Requirements
In a notice on Costco’s website, the wholesale retailer announced it’s adding membership scanning devices at store entrances.
Costco also said it will enforce photo identification requirements, meaning you’ll need to present a Costco card with a photo or a valid photo ID like a driver’s license.
How to Shop at Costco with a Gift Card
Under Costco’s policies, anyone can shop at warehouse locations if they present a Shop Card, which is just a gift card.
These cards can be purchased in-store, and electronic versions are available online. The catch is that Costco Shop Cards can only be purchased by members, so for this trick, you’ll still need to rely on a family member or a friend with a membership to buy a gift card for you.
Other Ways to Shop at Costco Without Membership
If the gift card method is too much hassle, there are several other ways to shop at Costco without a membership.
Much of Costco’s inventory is available online, and the company has free shipping on many items. Unfortunately, online prices are sometimes higher to offset shipping costs — and nonmembers pay a 5% surcharge over what members pay for online orders.
Costco Membership Options
Costco has two main membership options:
- The standard Gold Star membership is $60 per year (increasing to $65 on Sept. 1) and it includes a “household” card that can be used by a second person who lives at the same address as the account holder.
- The Executive membership ($120) gets you 2% back on all purchases, which pays for itself when you spend $3,000. The price of this membership will increase to $130 on Sept. 1.
