Why do you need costco membership

Members are allowed to bring up to two guests whenever they go to Costco. Use Costco Shop Cards. If you have your eye on something specific or need to stock up for an upcoming party, ask someone with a membership to grab you a handful of Shop Cards so you can go on your own. How much is a Costco membership?

What are the different Costco membership levels? What credit cards can you use to pay for purchases at Costco? US Costco warehouses and gas stations accept only Visa cards. Costco stopped accepting American Express cards in You can also take advantage of health services like flu shots and ear exams. In some places, though, the club is permitted to sell only beer and wine, and certain states ban the sale of alcohol there completely. Here are your options for shopping at Costco without an active membership card: Shop with a friend: Costco typically allows members to bring up to two guests with them per visit.

Only members can make purchases, but they can flash their card and pay for you at checkout and you can hash out how to pay them back later. Ask someone you know with a membership to purchase one for you.

You can use it to gain entrance and pay at the register. The store also has unique items that shoppers aren't able to find elsewhere. We looked unwell, but we didn't care, because the product is terrific. Though that product has since disappeared, her other Costco favorites are Kirkland-brand seltzer water, clothes, and decaf coffee.

The store can also be a good deal for people who split their memberships with others or have large households. Mary Meisenzahl, a retail reporter with Insider who splits Costco purchases between herself, her boyfriend, and her parents, buys bulk-sizes of frequently used items, like oat milk and dog treats. Costco is known for bulk sizes, which translate to higher prices, so you can rack up a long and pricey receipt if you have a tendency to impulse shop.

If you're far away from one of Costco's locations , you might be wasting more money on gas driving to the store than you're saving. Plus, if you have to make a long drive to get there, you might not be shopping there enough to make the cost of a membership worth it. Costco's whole appeal is bulk buying, so unless you're shopping for a lot of people or if you know you're going to be using it up fast, buying produce or meat in bulk won't save you money unless you can eat it before it expires.

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Log out. US Markets Loading H M S In the news. It's generally available in cities around the country, but you can check out the full list of available metros online. Again, prices through Instacart are higher than those found in the store, according to Costco. And you also will have to pay service and delivery fees, which vary depending on your location. But you can choose from about 2, available grocery items, and same-day delivery, sometimes in as little as two hours, is available.

Because of state and local laws, you can buy alcohol and prescriptions at Costco without a membership, according to the Krazy Coupon Lady.

That includes immunizations such as flu shots: Costco is among the cheapest places to get those done if you don't have insurance. If your local Costco has an optical department , you also can book a cost-effective eye exam with an on-site optometrist without a membership.

And if you're hungry afterwards, you can swing by Costco's in-store food court. Depending on your circumstances, even something that's well-priced at Costco may not make sense for you. Because Costco often sells products in bulk, you need to be able to eat any perishable food before it goes bad, for example.