While the technical answer is, “No, Costco doesn’t offer free trial memberships or membership coupons,” the truth is they sort of do if you’re willing to look at it from a different perspective.
If you’re wondering whether Costco offers free or discounted membership, the answer is NO. But that doesn’t mean you can’t get it at a cheaper price. In fact, there are a variety of ways you can save on the Costco membership.
If you shop at Costco and spend about $230 a month, your membership will be completely free. Just apply for the Costco Anywhere Visa card by Citi to make it happen. Not only will you get 2% cash back at Costco, but you’ll also score 4% back on gas including Costco gas, 3% back at eligible restaurants and hotels, and 1% back on everything else.
Unlike Sam’s Club, Costco does not offer a free 1-day pass to check out the warehouse. Well, actually they kinda do. To make it happen, just sign-up for a 1-year Costco membership and at any point, if you’re not completely satisfied, they’ll refund you the entire cost of the annual membership, no questions asked.
There is no free Costco membership, shopping pass, day pass, trial pass, guest pass, trial membership, or other trial period where you can walk up to the door, walk in, and buy whatever you’d like. However, if you’d simply like to see what the store has to offer, you are welcome to enter and walk around and look.
But there are plenty of ways to save at Costco to help you offset the cost of your membership and maximize your investment. A Costco Gold Star membership costs $60 a year, and a Costco Gold Star Executive membership costs $120 a year. Here are some Costco shopping tips to help you recoup that cost. 11. Buy Gasoline
How much does Costco membership cost?
The reason Costco can offer these low prices is that you need to have a membership to shop there. A Costco membership starts at $60 per year. If you’re not used to having to pay to shop, you may be a little hesitant to start a membership.
Executive Members earn an annual 2% Reward (up to $1,000) on qualified Costco, Costco.com, and Costco Travel purchases. This means that if you spend $6,000 at Costco in a year ($500/month), you’ll completely pay for the cost of your Executive Membership through Rewards.
And there’s good news for people who live in certain states: local laws may prevent Costco and other membership clubs from only selling alcohol to members. That means that if you live in one of the following states, you’re allowed to purchase alcohol without a membership: Arizona. California. Colorado.
Costco has discounted gift cards and movie tickets available both in-store and online. You can use these yourself to save a little extra at other retailers or unbundle them and give them as gifts.
As mentioned before, there’s really no such thing as a free Costco membership. But there are plenty of ways to save at Costco to help you offset the cost of your membership and maximize your investment.
Costco’s prices on alcohol are deeply discounted compared to normal retailers. Their Kirkland store brand offers the best deals and may be manufactured by your favorite well-known companies. They also offer a very impressive selection of wine, with a lower markup than you’ll find elsewhere.
There are lots of different coupon apps out there that will help you save money. Costco doesn’t accept manufacturers’ coupons, but you can get cashback when you purchase certain items.
Can you use cash back at Costco?
Maximize Your Cash Back Rewards. That’s right, you can buy a card that offers you cash rewards. The cash can only be used at Costco, but it can help to completely offset your annual membership fee. This cash back program is for the executive level membership only.
The exception is prescription drugs, you will not have to pay a surcharge if you are ordering those. If you are looking to buy a few specific things from Costco, then this could be a good option for you. Even with the surcharge, there may be some good deals. Skip the Membership and Keep the Savings.
Anyone can purchase gas at Costco gas stations. If you do not have a Costco membership card, the gas pump card reader will accept American Express Cards. Jess Nardini. On Costco’s site, it says the fuel stations are only available to Costco members.
Unlike other warehouse stores, like Sam’s Club, Costco does not offer a free trial experience. However, there is a grey area that will allow some of you some wiggle room.
Costco is a great place to shop if you are budget conscious. You can save money on food, alcohol and more. And some articles say there are ways to get a Costco membership for free. Because although Costco is great for saving money, the catch is in the membership fee. That fee can range from $60 for a basic membership to $120 for an executive plan.
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