I shop at Costco without paying for a membership

[toocheap?]

I shop at Costco on a regular basis without paying the $50 membership fee that most people pay. All I need to shop there is a gift card which I get from friends or online. If I spend more than what the gift card is worth, I can pay the rest in cash. The gift card acts as my membership card to get into Costco so I can shop there without ever paying the yearly membership fee. Am I too cheap?

[disneysteve]

That's actually an interesting tip. So you don't need to be a member to use a gift card. If that's the case, I don't see anything wrong with that. You aren't breaking any rules if their policy permits that.

I looked this up and you do need to be a member to buy a card.

Another tip is that you don't need to be a member to use their pharmacy.

As always, remember that just because it is Costco doesn't mean the price is good. Don't buy anything there unless you are sure it is a good deal.

[bjl584]

Costco doesn't impress me. My dad is a member, and I've been in there with him. It seems that most of the items for sales aren't really much better priced than anywhere else unless they happen to be on sale. My dad did get a good deal on a tv there, but it was on sale and was clearanced out.

[GREENBACK]

Originally Posted by toocheap?

I shop at Costco on a regular basis without paying the $50 membership fee that most people pay. All I need to shop there is a gift card which I get from friends or online. If I spend more than what the gift card is worth, I can pay the rest in cash. The gift card acts as my membership card to get into Costco so I can shop there without ever paying the yearly membership fee. Am I too cheap?

I question some of your other moves from your previous threads but this is legit. If Costco cared about people doing this they would not make those gift cards so accesible. They want you in the store buying things and I'm sure they pick up a few members along the way. In this case, you have my endorsement.

[photo]

Originally Posted by toocheap?

I shop at Costco on a regular basis without paying the $50 membership fee that most people pay.

I pay the fee.....and then receive close to $1,000 annually in a rebate check.

Yeah, you're the smart one.

[thefrugallery]

That is a great tip--thank you for sharing!

[FrugalTexan75]

This actually interests me ... I live nearly two hours from a Costco, so getting a membership would make no sense whatsoever. However, both my mom and dad have memberships ... so if I had them purchase a couple of giftcards for me, then whenever I'm in the Costco city, I could go in there and get the bulk items which *do* pay off. (oatmeal, kitty litter, etc.)

I will definitely be giving this some thought.

[gogirlanime]

Originally Posted by disneysteve

As always, remember that just because it is Costco doesn't mean the price is good. Don't buy anything there unless you are sure it is a good deal.

Very true, I coupon and watch for sales and buy in bulk and almost always beat Costco's price.

[madworld25]

Originally Posted by toocheap?

I shop at Costco on a regular basis without paying the $50 membership fee that most people pay. All I need to shop there is a gift card which I get from friends or online. If I spend more than what the gift card is worth, I can pay the rest in cash. The gift card acts as my membership card to get into Costco so I can shop there without ever paying the yearly membership fee. Am I too cheap?

This is such a great idea! Because we are currently just a family of two, it is hard to justify shopping at costco on a regular basis. We just don't go through stuff that quickly. But then there are the times when it is worth while to buy costco toilet paper, hand soups, Gatorade, etc. This a great way to not have to pay for the membership but still make use of the great buys.

Thanks for the tip!

[MKKShah]

We have a Costco membership. Last year I got about $500 back on my Costco Amex card (that includes purchases from elsewhere as well, but mostly Costco).

One more thing to consider. My Wife and I have our weekly dining out experience at Costco. This past weekened, we had smoked salmon, steak, sausage, + whole bunch of other items as samplers, plus rounded out the shopping with a $1.50 hot dog and a drink each. The rebate checks are a bonus, as are the wholesale prices (granted, as posted earlier, you sometime end up buying at just less than retail, but in wholesale quantities).

This about it for a moment. Dining out 30 times a year (even at McD's) for under $200? Priceless...

Our new years resolution is to reduce out dining out expenses. One way we are going to do this is by going to Costco during weekend afternoons, and try the samplers and then hit their food bar.

[pank]

I tried buying the Costco cash card online but it said that I need a membership number to buy cash cards online or in-store. How did you buy costco cash card without the membership?

[jeffrey]

You either have to have someone buy it for you who has a Costco card or buy it through a third party like ebay.

[dawnwes]

I am not sure how the OP is doing it as checkout always asks you for your membership card first.

But there are a lot of things the OP starts threads on that don't seem to be what most people can do.

I have a membership that gives 2% back. It essentially pays for my membership every year.

Dawn

Originally Posted by pank

I tried buying the Costco cash card online but it said that I need a membership number to buy cash cards online or in-store. How did you buy costco cash card without the membership?

[FrugalTexan75]

Originally Posted by pank

I tried buying the Costco cash card online but it said that I need a membership number to buy cash cards online or in-store. How did you buy costco cash card without the membership?

My dad has a Costco membership and has bought me gift cards several times. When I went to the register, I just told them that I didn't have a membership but I did have the gift card. My total came to more than what was on the gift card, so I paid in cash (debit card) for the remainder. No problem whatsoever. (I used it first to purchase gas, again, no problem.)

[rennigade]

For anyone who has a costco membership and has glasses, use their eye center. My wife uses it and it easily pays for the memebership plus some. We havent found anyone who can compare to their optical prices, contacts, glasses, etc. Insurance covers some but contacts and such she has to pay.

Also, their milk is $1.30 cheaper than at grocery stores. And we usually buy at least 20 gallons a year from costco, so right there covers $20ish of the $50 membership fee. Eggs are also really cheap.