how does Costco membership work??

[earthman]

Say a friend's friend has the membership and I would like to make purchase with his membership pay with my credit card. Would they allow that?

Thanks,

[gman]

Say a friend's friend has the membership and I would like to make purchase with his membership pay with my credit card. Would they allow that?

Thanks,

No. At least, officially, no.
And, officially, they do not allow you to separate what you buy into 2 transactions. That is your friend can't even pay cash twice (one for his and one for yours). They can give you a subtotal on the receipt though.

And, they will only accept American Express and no other credit card.

[earthman]

No. At least, officially, no.
And, officially, they do not allow you to separate what you buy into 2 transactions. That is your friend can't even pay cash twice (one for his and one for yours). They can give you a subtotal on the receipt though.

And, they will only accept American Express and no other credit card.

do they accept.. cash? debit card?

[gman]

do they accept.. cash? debit card?

Yes and yes.

[earthman]

Yes and yes.

if they take debit card, how do they verify that you're the membership holder? a simply ID check? do they do that every and single time? i'm thinking about getting the Viewsonic HDTV deal...

[earthman]

btw, thanks for your replies. appreciate it =)

[gman]

if they take debit card, how do they verify that you're the membership holder? a simply ID check? do they do that every and single time? i'm thinking about getting the Viewsonic HDTV deal...

They probably won't check debit card because you are supposed to be the one who slides the card to the machine and then punch in your pin. It may "appear" better if you ask your friend to do that (and then you change the pin afterward).

[AMDr]

No. At least, officially, no.
And, officially, they do not allow you to separate what you buy into 2 transactions. That is your friend can't even pay cash twice (one for his and one for yours). They can give you a subtotal on the receipt though.

Went today for the first time with a friend and did this. They sub-totalled the bill for his stuff, then rang mine in. Friend paid first sub-total and I paid the rest, no problems and no questions asked... and we both used our own debit cards too. I don't know if it's a company wide policy or up to each store, like I said it was my first time and not my membership.

[shoppingmama]

Went today for the first time with a friend and did this. They sub-totalled the bill for his stuff, then rang mine in. Friend paid first sub-total and I paid the rest, no problems and no questions asked... and we both used our own debit cards too. I don't know if it's a company wide policy or up to each store, like I said it was my first time and not my membership.

You are lucky because they usually only allow one debit card with purchase.

[Anessa]

It's easier to just split the bill up and pay each other after.

[Chrispy]

if they take debit card, how do they verify that you're the membership holder? a simply ID check? do they do that every and single time? i'm thinking about getting the Viewsonic HDTV deal...

There is a picture of the membership holder on every membership card.....plus i've been ID'd before lol...when I was really young and had a costco membership they didn't believe it was me.

It really does depend on the store policy, and the person that you're dealing with to how much adherence to the rules is done...

[DACC]

What you can do though, the next time you want to go, but you don't want to impose on your friend and drag him along is that you have someone with a costco membership buy a cash card for you. the minimum amount of $25 is fine.

Your friend gives you the cash card, you walk in thru the doors with the cash card. You pick up whatever you want and you pay with the cash card. If you don't have enough on the cash card, you pay the balance with CASH. (that's what the costco near my place insisted!). They'll hassle you for a membership but say you don't need one. Like in my situation, I'll go like once every two months. I'm not paying $55 plus tax to go to costco 6 times.

My friend got me two cash cards for $25, so I'm good for the next three months!

[Piccolo]

There is a picture of the membership holder on every membership card.....plus i've been ID'd before lol...when I was really young and had a costco membership they didn't believe it was me.

It really does depend on the store policy, and the person that you're dealing with to how much adherence to the rules is done...

QFT.

I remember going with my brother and his family to Costcos and there was never a problem getting two seperate bills (this was about 7 years ago or so), then there was this huge deal about changing the policies where you can't split up the purchases. Only the the Costco's member can pay for the items. Everyone was all upset about the new policy (whether it was a new policy or just an old one being enforce i am unsure).

But last month i went with my bf and he asked if we could get seperate reciepts and pay for it seperately. The cashier say o.k. with no issues.

So i would have to agree - depends on the cashier and how lenient they want to be with the rules/policies. I dont see the policies being different from store to store, only how the employees want to enforce them.

[vr6man25]

hmm tried this
and was told cant do it.
can anyone else confirm this.
If i get someone else to buy be a cash card , do i need a membership card to buy something or is the cash card only thing i nee.

What you can do though, the next time you want to go, but you don't want to impose on your friend and drag him along is that have someone with a costco membership buy a cash card for you. the minimum amount of $25 is fine.

Your friend gives you the cash card, you walk in thru the doors with the cash card. You pick up whatever you want and you pay with the cash card. If you don't have enough on the cash card, you pay the balance with CASH. (that's what the costco near my place insisted!). They'll hassle you for a membership but say you don't need one. Like in my situation, I'll go like once every two months. I'm not paying $55 plus tax to go to costco 6 times.

My friend got me two cash cards for $25, so I'm good for the next three months!

[proj]

I gave my card to a family friend, they just bought whatever they needed with they're debit/credit card.

[DACC]

I gave my card to a family friend, they just bought whatever they needed with they're debit/credit card.

I think the use of debit/credit card depends on the store (for non-members). the costco in downtown montreal were such a**. I had a $25 cash card and the balance was cash only.

Even on the costco website, when you see the description for cash card, they invite you to give it to your family and friends.