Costco? do they ever give new members discounts

[kiki02]

it's $55 where we just moved. YIKES

 

[graceesmom]

Not where we live, but I know they do in certain areas. My parents always seem to get a promotion to renew their membership and they received a gift card when they signed up. Of course, their Costco is not nearly as busy as the one where I live. It makes me think that they target the promotions to stores that need to drive up memberships.

 

[girli565]

I've heard of promos where you pay the renewal price and they will offset it with a gift card. Like pay $55 for the renewal and get a $25 gift card back. I wish mine did this but no such luck.

 

[Mabel67]

I renewed using Aeroplan miles.
Ordered voucher from Aeroplan website, and it came within about 2 weeks.
Took voucher to Costco.
'Free' renewal.

 

[bumbershoot]

As far as I know, it's $55 everywhere. It was $50 for quite a long time, but they had that $5 increase last year.

 

[shortbun]

I've heard of promos where you pay the renewal price and they will offset it with a gift card. Like pay $55 for the renewal and get a $25 gift card back. I wish mine did this but no such luck.

We got this deal the first year we joined but not for renewals.

 

[Psychodisney]

The entertainment book has a coupon for new members.

 

[wiigirl]

I have only seen it when they open a store.

 

[kiki02]

The entertainment book has a coupon for new members.

BAD links

 

[JessB320]

I have only seen it when they open a store.

Me too

 

[arwood82]

We just recently got a Costco in our area. I have a dumb question is it $55 per person or for a family? My mom also owns a daycare so do they offer a better deal on business memberships?

 

[Ephany]

On slickdeals, if you type in 'costco membership' into the search engine, it pulls up a thread that discusses savings for new members... I'm not sure if the promotion is still valid, but it's the only one I've seen lately.

 

[disneychrista]

As far as I know it is $55 regardless of individual/family (AKA Gold Star) or business membership.

Each Gold Star card allows for one main member & one family member (living in same household).

 

[JB2K]

I renewed using Aeroplan miles.
Ordered voucher from Aeroplan website, and it came within about 2 weeks.
Took voucher to Costco.
'Free' renewal.

But that's all Canadian -- probably won't work in the States...

 

[JB2K]

I would imagine if Costco enters a completely new market for the first time, they might dangle some promotions via direct mail to get new members.

OTOH, if they are adding stores in areas where they already have a multi-store presence -- for example, St. Louis, since one of the big rumors floating-around, these days -- that is yet to be confirmed by Costco corporate in Washington State -- is they may be building a store on the Metro East/Illinois side of town. I imagine if that happens, they won't offer any special promos such as free membership since they already operate 3 other warehouses in the region (plus, the Metro East is a huge military community with Scott AFB, and many military personnel transfer to this area as existing Costco members from their previous assignment).

At the end of the day, it boils-down to two things:

• If there are enough potential members to make it work (as Costco's policy is they won't build in a community where the average yearly household income is less than $50K). In my case, Scott AFB offers many affluent potential shoppers, while the Metro East is also home to one of the poorest cities in the U.S. Membership sales account for the biggest slice of Costco's profits (since they sell most of their merchandise at a deep discount and they pay their warehouse workers much higher wages than their other "big-box" competition)
  
• How many Sam's Club members Costco can woo-over to their side (St. Louis, to include the Metro East, has been a big Sam's Club market area since the mid-1980's -- which is almost an entire generation ago and many years before they, and their parent company, Walmart became part of the national consciousness)

And for the record, $55 is the normal price for a 1-year Gold Star (basic) membership.

 

[sunshinecruise]

We have the Executive Membership. It costs $110, but you get 2% back on all of your purchases. We spend so much at Costco that we always get more than $110 back at the end of the year. It is a good deal for us.

 

[Pumbaa_]

Same here, we got a check for $138, so basically free membership plus 28 bucks!

Love my costco!

I just rebooked my car rental for next week's trip and saved $42!!!

 

[Fire14]

I know when our costco opened we didn't get any deals and it's only one anywhere close. SAm's club is close but not close enough so no competion there.

 

[Donnainnj]

Just saw this on the cokerewards promotions and thought of your post

The deal is: you pay the regular fee, but then get coupons worth more than $50
Costco Membership Certificates • Exclusive Online-Only Offer
Costco Membership Certificates are not valid for a renewal of an existing membership.

Join the 66 million Costco members who enjoy low warehouse prices on thousands of high-end, brand-name products and services at more than 600 locations worldwide.
Order today and receive this special offer.

Every Costco Membership Certificate comes with coupons worth more than $50, including:
• Free rotisserie chicken
• Free Kirkland Signature™ 48 pk "AA" Batteries.
• Free Kirkland Signature Spring or Drinking Water 35/16.9oz. bottles
Restrictions: Valid for new memberships and upgrades to Executive Membership only.
Not valid for renewal of an existing Costco membership. Costco Membershiop Certificates have no cash value. Costco Membership Certificates are not replaceable if lost, stolen or destroyed. Costco Membership Certificates are valid at any U.S. or Puerto Rico Costco location. Costco Membership Certificates can only be returned to the place of purchase. Offer expires March 31, 2013.

Again if you go into mycokerewards.com and offers and promotions Get Extra Points. Funny thing is the offer only showed up when I was logged in so I am not sure everyone gets this offer. Wish we could use it, but we are already members.
Donna

 

[disneybirds]

Thanks for the info. I just signed up!