Q about entering and buying from Costco

[mingcourt]

I dont have a membership from Costco but I am interested in seeing some of the things inside to see whether or not I'd like to buy one.

However, if i am only going to make 1 purchase, can i just borrow someone else's pass or something?

How much does it cost for a membership? Is it possible to just pay a fee for just 1 purchase and, would it be worth it?

Do they even check for membership when you enter? or only when you make a purchase?

Thanks all.

[rafiki]

They check membership when entering.

I think you can do this...

Get a someone who has a membership to buy you a gift card. You can use the gift card to enter the store and to purchase. Any difference in price (between items bought and the gift card is paid by you with cash or credit)

[1226]

I dont have a membership from Costco but I am interested in seeing some of the things inside to see whether or not I'd like to buy one.

However, if i am only going to make 1 purchase, can i just borrow someone else's pass or something?

That would get you in, but unless that person's with you, you wouldn't be able to buy anything.

How much does it cost for a membership?

$50/yr I think?

Is it possible to just pay a fee for just 1 purchase and, would it be worth it?

No, but you can get a member to buy you a gift card. You can then use it to enter and buy something.

Do they even check for membership when you enter? or only when you make a purchase?

Both. You flash your card at the door (could be anybody's) but they make sure it's yours when you're at the cashier.

[mingcourt]

Thanks for the reply guys.

Can I go into Costco saying I am going in to get a membership but just look around at the prices? (I want to know how much I am going to save on this 1 purchase before possibly buying a membership)

If I DO get a gift card, i can just show them that when entering right?

[cil254]

Can I go into Costco saying I am going in to get a membership but just look around at the prices? (I want to know how much I am going to save on this 1 purchase before possibly buying a membership)



Yes, just tell them you're going to customer service.

[intx]

Thanks for the reply guys.

Can I go into Costco saying I am going in to get a membership but just look around at the prices? (I want to know how much I am going to save on this 1 purchase before possibly buying a membership)

If I DO get a gift card, i can just show them that when entering right?

I've tried this gift card method, basically you have to show your gift card at the registration desk, and they'll assign you a temporary pass/membership.

Kind of annoying, but I think that's the point. So people who go there often have a need to purchase a membership.

[Rosico]

to my knowledge, Costco has a 100% money back membership offer. Buy a membership, buy the stuff you want, and then if you decide you don't want/nede the membership - tell them you want your money back. Though, once you take a look around and start getting 4% back on purchases there (2% AMEX + 2 Exec Membership) you might want to make it your store of choice :)

[GYR8]

Hello Everyone :)

< Begin Sales Pitch>

I will say the same thing I have said before:
$50 @ 1 / month = $4.16 per visit. And believe me, you will visit there more than once per month, however I am just painting a worst-case scenario.

If there is anyone who believes they *Can't* recoup this amount over the course of one year, then everytime there is a hot deal (and it's not gonna happen all the time... but you never know), you will say "I wish I could shop there".

And if you believe that you just can't come to terms to "pay to shop there", then fine... Drive all over hell's half acre to save $.25 on those bags of milk or that special on Tropicana, only to get POUNDED on the other groceries you buy while you are there.

And as mentioned, if you think you aren't getting your $4.16 worth in savings, get a refund on the membership. And then next time you see that hot deal on something, you can sign up again and drive yourself bonkers knowing that, maybe, $50 wasn't really that bad after all :cheesygri

< end of sales pitch>

And yes the Cash Card idea works... usually once or twice. But I am pretty certain they wrangle you up to try and get you to sign up for a membership or at least have information on you on file that allows them to pester you for all eternity :P

GYR8

[Kevin T]

I don't get it... sign up for AMEX Platinum Costco Cash-Rebate, you get back 0.5-1% on all purchases toward Costco, and you get free membership as a valid cardholder.

Or you can just go through the Exit... walk towards the Cashier and enter. Or what I always do, just walk in, no need to show anything.

[GYR8]

I don't get it... sign up for AMEX Platinum Costco Cash-Rebate, you get back 0.5-1% on all purchases toward Costco, and you get free membership as a valid cardholder.

Or you can just go through the Exit... walk towards the Cashier and enter. Or what I always do, just walk in, no need to show anything.

And what happens when you get to the cashier with your cart load of goodies? "Oh it's *you*! Go right ahead and purchase your groceries... nevermind that pesky membership!"

RRRRRRRRight.

GYR8

[intx]

Hello Everyone :)

< Begin Sales Pitch>

I will say the same thing I have said before:
$50 @ 1 / month = $4.16 per visit. And believe me, you will visit there more than once per month, however I am just painting a worst-case scenario.

If there is anyone who believes they *Can't* recoup this amount over the course of one year, then everytime there is a hot deal (and it's not gonna happen all the time... but you never know), you will say "I wish I could shop there".

And if you believe that you just can't come to terms to "pay to shop there", then fine... Drive all over hell's half acre to save $.25 on those bags of milk or that special on Tropicana, only to get POUNDED on the other groceries you buy while you are there.

And as mentioned, if you think you aren't getting your $4.16 worth in savings, get a refund on the membership. And then next time you see that hot deal on something, you can sign up again and drive yourself bonkers knowing that, maybe, $50 wasn't really that bad after all :cheesygri

< end of sales pitch>

And yes the Cash Card idea works... usually once or twice. But I am pretty certain they wrangle you up to try and get you to sign up for a membership or at least have information on you on file that allows them to pester you for all eternity :P

GYR8

I think Costco makes more sense depending on the area you live in. For my area, compared to the grocery stores, you don't get much savings in average. It is only the occasional sale item in Costco (which isn't that often for me) that makes me want a membership. And $4.16 a visit isn't exactly pocket change.

However, my aunt finds it's decent to shop there, not everything is the lowest price, but everything is competitively priced and it reduces the need to shop around. She does live out in an area where it's less populated, though, and the only grocery stories there aren't very competitive.

So the bottom line in my opinion is YMMV. If you can use a membership to save your time (and therefore money), get one, otherwise don't.

For those that asked, I believe regular membership is $50, there was a promotion a long while ago where you'd get a $25 gift card (no longer valid, search RFD if you want to see it). And I'm not sure about this, but I think business membership is $40, which you can use for personal purchases.

[Keelie]

at the costco here you dont have to show anything when you go in through the exit, which is how you get to membership/returns. after i'm done, instead of going out and back in the entrance, i just slip through the cashiers... so this is a way to go in if you really are only trying to check on some prices.

a month or so ago when i was shopping i didnt have my card with me, i didnt realise this until i was at the checkout.... the cashier said it was fine and used ???? cant recall what she called it, but it allowed me to purchase and i showed nothing.

but i do believe if you went to the membership desk and explained that you would like to look around first to see if it will be worth it to purchase a membership, they will give you a day pass for that day. they used to do this anyways.

BUT, why would anyone NOT want a membership? :D

[Agent_J]

Don't forget, to be an executive member, it's $100/year for the 2% reward up to a maximum of $500 per year.

[sfu_lifer]

Costco makes sense for families (or if you got lots of roommates).
If you want a quick snack, their hot dog + pop deal can't be beat or if you are really cheap, hang around the demos :cheesygri

[tmpz]

I was think about this and I was wondering how long it takes for the registration setup. If you show up @ CS, do you get the card right away and start using or something?

[Keelie]

I was think about this and I was wondering how long it takes for the registration setup. If you show up @ CS, do you get the card right away and start using or something?

yep

[gh05t]

Didn't they have a guest memebership without a gift card so that you can go in to look around to see if you want a membership?
Haven't been there in years so no sure if the temp membership with a gift card is the same thing.

I guess since they have so many members now they don't need to do that anymore and instead just push the Membership on you from the start before you have had a chance to check out if it's worth it for you or to compare with SAM's clubs etc.

Does Sam's club allow you to go in and look around before getting a membership?

I know people used to go into costco before without the guest membership even and then at the cashier they would just ask someone with a membership to get the stuff for them saying they forgot their card at home or something and often people would oblige.

[lqd_ice]

For some reason I thought you can only get a costco membership through the company you work for. Can an average joe like me get one, and if so, how? Thanks

[peterbrowne]

For some reason I thought you can only get a costco membership through the company you work for. Can an average joe like me get one, and if so, how? Thanks
yes you can! the goldstar membership is perfect for people like you.

[HughG]

I dont know why, but their hotdogs always always make me sick.


::runs to the toilet with 4 rolls of toilet paper in hand:::

[lqd_ice]

yes you can! the goldstar membership is perfect for people like you.

I just checked out their gold star membership, what do they mean by "qualification", paycheque stub or other id? Is that just my driver's license?

[coldWater]

i walked into costco without a membership, they didn't ask, so i didn't even know till my friend told me that i need a membership when i ENTER too....

also, i just borrowed my friend's membership to bought something, although the membership has a picture, but it is not clear at all, so no problem for me.........

[Jono]

Be aware that if you use someone else's membership to make a purchase, you cannot use your Amex or interac card - they will only accept those forms of payments from the member him/herself. You will have to pay with cash, or offer to pay your member friend back. Just be aware of this in case you rely on the kindness of strangers in line to get you through with their membership.

[simms]

Be aware that if you use someone else's membership to make a purchase, you cannot use your Amex or interac card - they will only accept those forms of payments from the member him/herself. You will have to pay with cash, or offer to pay your member friend back. Just be aware of this in case you rely on the kindness of strangers in line to get you through with their membership.

I don't know what you're on, but I used Interac to pay for stuff that I bought at Costco and I used a relative's card.

I paid part cash and part Interac, maybe that's why.

[Jono]

I don't know what you're on, but I used Interac to pay for stuff that I bought at Costco and I used a relative's card.

I paid part cash and part Interac, maybe that's why.

Thanks for questioning my sobriety - other, less insulting ways of replying could include:

"I belive you are wrong, since..."
"You may wish to verify this with the store, since ..."

Nevertheless, I have seen this to happen to people in the past. Perhaps with interac it isn't obvious to them whose card it is if no name is printed on it, so they would not know if it is not the members card. But they would probably not accept a cheque or amex card if it has a name on it other than the members.

[coldWater]

Thanks for questioning my sobriety - other, less insulting ways of replying could include:

"I belive you are wrong, since..."
"You may wish to verify this with the store, since ..."

Nevertheless, I have seen this to happen to people in the past. Perhaps with interac it isn't obvious to them whose card it is if no name is printed on it, so they would not know if it is not the members card. But they would probably not accept a cheque or amex card if it has a name on it other than the members.

i used interact and the card has my name on it..........i think the cashier didn't check that's why....phew....

[simms]

Thanks for questioning my sobriety - other, less insulting ways of replying could include:

"I belive you are wrong, since..."
"You may wish to verify this with the store, since ..."

Nevertheless, I have seen this to happen to people in the past. Perhaps with interac it isn't obvious to them whose card it is if no name is printed on it, so they would not know if it is not the members card. But they would probably not accept a cheque or amex card if it has a name on it other than the members.

I apologize. That was a bit harsh. Just FYI, "what you're on" can also include items that are non-alcoholic.

I guess depending on who you get on the cashiers you might be able to pull it off. I actually just ended up buying too much, and just paid the extra at the checkout.

[Jono]

I apologize. That was a bit harsh. Just FYI, "what you're on" can also include items that are non-alcoholic.

Accepted graciously.

I guess depending on who you get on the cashiers you might be able to pull it off.

You are right, but it might be good to know that it might not work when using someone else's membership so that an unsuspecting non-member doesn't get stuck at the cashier unable to pay for his/her purchases.

[Arrow]

If the cashier doesn't check, then you'll get by. But beware, if they find that you're not the cardholder, they will take away your card and call the cardholder to come in and pick it up (happened to a friend once).

[mingcourt]

Ok. So... does anyone have personal experiences with the Ridgeway/Laird Costco location in Mississauga? Do they check whether or not you have a membership to go in?

Are you supposed to show your membership card just to get in?

[GYR8]

Oh for the love of Pete, just BUY A FREAKING MEMBERSHIP. And if you don't like shopping there or feel it ain't worth it, GET YOUR $$$ BACK.

Can we change this topic to "How to beat the system at Costco and wind up looking like an assclown if you get caught"?

GYR8

[mingcourt]

Oh for the love of Pete, just BUY A FREAKING MEMBERSHIP. And if you don't like shopping there or feel it ain't worth it, GET YOUR $$$ BACK.

Can we change this topic to "How to beat the system at Costco and wind up looking like an assclown if you get caught"?

GYR8

Welcome to RFD. Is this your first time?

[GYR8]

Welcome to RFD. Is this your first time?

You would think so eh?

Its just that I see people all the time trying to sneak into my building and funny enough, those are the people that I usually get the security people to go after them and make sure that they are legit members.

The thing is that people entering the building without a membership are usually the ones that wind up having a bad experience because the have to deal with either getting hoofed out of the store, or getting their friends membership card taken away. I especially like the situations where someone will sneak in... go shopping... and then try to pay for their stuff WITHOUT a membership card. GOOD TIMES seeing the looks on their faces! 1 hour of shopping down the tubes...

GYR8

[peterbrowne]

Ok. So... does anyone have personal experiences with the Ridgeway/Laird Costco location in Mississauga? Do they check whether or not you have a membership to go in?

Are you supposed to show your membership card just to get in?You must show the card and they check for it. You must give it to them when you pay. To verify that your membership is legit when you pay, they do scan that nifty little barcode. I recommend that you get a giftcard from a friend for $25 and then buy a membership while you're there.