How To Become A Costco Member In 2023 | Full Step Guide

Costco is one of the country’s most popular membership warehouse companies; there are even Facebook fan groups for it, and some loyal customers have even married there.

Costco is one of the world’s largest membership warehouse corporations, with over 830 locations in eight countries and about 117 million subscribers.

But, how does everything work? Is it a grocery store? Do they sell couches there? Can I have my tires rotated there? “Yes” is the answer to each of these questions.

Stay with us as we discuss how to become a Costco member.

What Exactly Is Costco?
Is A Costco Membership Required To Shop There?
How Can I Become A Member Of Costco?
How can I sign up for a Costco.com membership?
How Many People Can I Include In My Costco Membership?
What Is The Cost Of A Costco Membership?
What are the Advantages I get when I become a Costco Member?
How to Get a Free Costco Membership
FAQS on How To Become A Costco Member
Conclusion
References

What Exactly Is Costco?

Costco sells things in big quantities at lower prices because it is a warehouse club. It sells clothing, toys, gadgets, and other items in addition to groceries.

Costco initially catered only to small businesses when it first opened its doors in the 1970s, but by the 1980s, it had expanded to include consumers.

Below, we will discuss how to become a Costco member.

Is A Costco Membership Required To Shop There?

Yes, a Costco membership is required to shop there. You can go to the store with someone who has a membership, but they must use their primary card to make all purchases.

It is possible to shop on the Costco website without a membership. However, non-members can only access a limited number of discounts, and online pricing is frequently higher than in-store rates.

How Can I Become A Member Of Costco?

It is simple to obtain a Costco membership. There are three ways to join:

Go to a Costco store.
Visit Costco.com.
Call 1-800-774-2678 to talk with a membership specialist.

The following are the steps to take in order to purchase your membership online:

There are two types of membership available: personal and business. You can then select an Executive Membership for either category.
Fill out the Membership Application on the next page. Personal information for the Primary Cardholder and any optional Household Cardholders must be entered into the application.
To proceed and pay for your subscription, click Save & Continue.
After you complete your purchase, you will receive an email with your new membership number. Please be advised that Costco will not mail your membership cards to you.

You can acquire your new membership cards by going to the membership counter at your local Costco.

Please remember that signing up for Costco.com online shopping does not constitute a membership application. Orders can be placed on our website by both members and non-members.

How Many People Can I Include In My Costco Membership?

A Gold Star Membership (either regular or executive) is limited to two people. One Primary Member and one free household member over the age of 18 live at the same address.

You can choose who gets the second card if you are the Primary Member. You can change your mind anytime by visiting your Account Details or the membership counter at your local Costco.

A notable difference between gold star membership and business membership is that the primary member on a business membership can add more than one person for a fee.

If you’re considering joining Costco, here’s some information about annual dues, benefits, and more.

Costco has very low prices on groceries, gasoline, insurance, and many other products.

What Is The Cost Of A Costco Membership?

Costco memberships come in three varieties, each of which permits you to visit any Costco location on the globe.

Gold Star Membership

The Gold Star Membership is the most affordable option for clients who are not affiliated with a corporation. Each year, two adults over 18 who live at the same address can use the membership for a total of $60.

Business Membership

Only with the $60 per year Business Membership aid business owners purchase products for use in their businesses, homes, and for resale. The membership includes two cards, with additional cardholders costing $60 per year each.

This is the only membership kind that allows you to add more members.

To be qualified for the Business Membership, you must bring three different forms of business identification, such as a business license.

Executive Membership

The Executive Membership is $120 per year and includes two Household Cards. This tier offers greater savings on Costco services and specific Costco Travel packages and a 2% yearly return on qualified Costco purchases.

With some diligent shopping, it may justify the higher price. For example, if you spend $3,000 on qualified things like food, furniture, and gadgets each year, you’ll get $60 back (the cost of the tier upgrade).

Before upgrading your account to an Executive Membership, you must first acquire a Gold Star Membership.

These are the mediums to become a Costco member.

What are the Advantages I get when I become a Costco Member?

Every Costco member receives benefits such as reduced contact lenses, vacation packages, and more, with Executive members receiving even greater discounts on Costco services and specific packages.

You get the following incentives when you become a Costco member.

Grocery and food discounts

Costco’s most notable feature is its bulk savings on household products and consumables, with deals ranging from a two-pack of Listerine 1 12-liter bottles to a 30-pack of Lorna Doone Shortbread Cookies.

Kirkland Signature, another popular internal Costco brand, is also available. Costco has some of the best deals on Kirkland Signature products.

In addition to food and groceries, Costco distributes clothes, vitamins, cosmetics, pet food, kitchenware, and other items under the Kirkland label.

Costco customers in some areas can get same-day delivery of perishables to their front door via Instacart.

Gas discounts

Costco is well-known for its low gas prices. According to the company, Kirkland Signature Gasoline is blended with deposit management agents to help clean your car’s engine and keep it running smoothly.

The Costco website allows you to search for nearby gas stations.

Clothing and household items are on sale.

Whether you need a couch, an air fryer, a TV, or running shoes, Costco has a huge selection of apparel, furniture, and other household items from well-known companies like Adidas, Casper, and LG.

A Costco membership also includes major appliance in-home delivery and installation and a two-year Costco extended warranty.

Always check the Costco website for further discounts, as it frequently runs additional markdowns on specific brands and products.

Travel cost savings

Costco Travel members can book hotels, cruises, car rentals, vacation packages, but only through Costco’s travel partners. For example, you can only select among Alamo, Avis, Budget, and Enterprise when reserving a car.

Furthermore, Costco’s rates are only sometimes the most economical options, so compare prices on many booking sites before making reservations.

Automatic Price Cuts

A Costco membership entitles you to discounts on new and used cars. The Costco Auto Program will connect members with nearby, pre-screened used automobile dealerships that offer Costco members exceptional discounts.

If you own a vehicle, Costco offers discounts on batteries, rotations, checks, nitrogen tire inflation, and other services. A five-year Road Hazard Warranty also backs these tires.

Costco customers may get low home and car insurance through CONNECT, which American Family Insurance powers. CONNECT, like other insurance carriers, provides additional savings for students, conscientious drivers, and others.

In addition, Costco provides insurance products such as life, health, and pet insurance. Some of these programs are also available to small company owners.

Medicine And Pharmacy Discounts

Anyone can fill their prescriptions at a Costco Pharmacy, often at a competitive price with other pharmacies.

The Costco Membership Prescription Program, which provides members with prescription savings but cannot be utilized with health insurance, is also offered at no additional cost.

Get some medical insurance here.

Installation discounts on home products

Members can reserve these and other home services through Costco, such as reconstructing their homes, repairing the floors, and installing new shelving.

When you work with one of Costco’s partners, you will receive a Costco Shop Card worth 10% of the service cost.

Low-cost photo printing

Costco’s Photo Center allows you to print posters, photo books, calendars, cards, and other items.

Costco Visa Anywhere card

Costco members can only get the Costco Anywhere Visa card, a Citi credit card with a strong rewards program.

Cardholders also receive 4% cash back on approved gas expenditures up to $7,000 per year, 3% cash back on approved dining and travel expenses, and 1% cash back on all other transactions, in addition to 2% cash back on approved Costco purchases. These awards are given out on an annual basis.

Remember that your Costco membership must be active to redeem the benefits.

They can also be exchanged for cash at a warehouse. Consider the Chase Freedom Unlimited card and the Wells Fargo Active Cash Card, which offer high rewards for Costco purchases.

How to Get a Free Costco Membership

If you’re wondering if Costco offers free or discounted memberships, the answer is NO. However, this does not preclude you from finding it at a lower price. There are numerous ways to save money on a Costco membership.

Use Costco Coupons And Discounts.

If you want to use a valid Costco coupon or promo code when you order online but are tired of searching for and validating those codes all over the place, give Coupert a try.

Earn Cashback

Although a Costco membership coupon code is uncommon, you can get a few dollars back when you purchase the membership. There are several return options available online.

Extrabux is our advice if you’re undecided about which one to choose. You’ll get $1.5 back for your first Gold Star Membership purchase and $3 back for the Executive level.

Apply For A Costco Anywhere Credit Card

To maximize your Costco savings as a member, apply for the Costco Anywhere Visa card to earn fantastic bonus benefits on gasoline, dining, and travel. The card has no annual fee for users who must pay for a Costco membership.

The advantages are as follows:

4% cash back on gas for the first $7,000 spent each year, then 1%;

3% cash back at restaurants and on select international travel;
2% cash back on all other Costco and Costco.com purchases;
1% cash back on all other purchases.

FAQS on How To Become A Costco Member

Can I buy a membership for someone else?

Do you want to buy a subscription for someone else? Send them a Gift of Membership card right now.

Can I join and become Costco member for free?

Conclusion

While getting a Costco membership for free is unlikely, you can save a lot of money by using the abovementioned strategies.

It’s also worth noting that Costco does not provide a free membership trial or a one-day visitor pass, but you can use its risk-free return policy to get your money back at any time.

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