Costco Executive Membership

[Phlip]

Is it worth it? I live about 35 minutes from Costco, have a good bunch of grocery stores and a Walmart oh, and a BJ's nearby. I don't ever drive down to the town that the Costco is in--but I'm wondering if I should. I was reading about their different memberships, and got to wondering if it was really that great a deal? I've saved on rental cars, eyeglasses and tires, but what about the food?
What do you guys think?

 

[bumbershoot]

I think you should go and look around, to see what sorts of things they have, and see if you would want to shop there. We have just the normal membership and that's fine...doing the executive membership wouldn't get us anything b/c we just don't spend that much money there. And we shop there every month.

But for a long time, Costco didn't work for me...didn't have what I ate or used, I had no space for big packs of anything, etc etc...so it doesn't work for everyone.

Go check it out with a member...

 

[mjkacmom]

I have it, but Costco is a 5 minute ride away, and I'm there at least twice a month, and average about $250 when I go (medication, laundry detergent, body wash, shampoo, conditioner, chicken, beef, tp, paper towels, kcups, veggie burgers, eggs, butter...). Last year, I got a check back for $5, so it was worth it, but I only saved $5 for the year. Most don't buy as much as I do.

 

[A Mickeyfan]

My Costco is about 30 minutes from me.. and no, the Executive Membership didn't turn out to be good for me. They gave me my money back at the end of the year for the difference of the regular & Executive memberships. I hadn't even made my money back on the deal..... so for me, it didn't pan out..

 

[Judique]

I have an executive membership and my check back was for 92.18. I shop often and also buy most of my gasoline there. It's a ten minute ride.I also received a $10 reward card in store for something plus 2 ten dollar referral cards. So, membership was basically free this past year.

I signed up mid year for the executive membership first time around. The cost was prorated and I got a check back for a couple of dollars more then I had paid to upgrade the membership.

I like the store. I go often and I easily spend 4-5k a year. If I lived further away I would probably get a basic membership. I also tend to buy more then just food products.

 

[Swimalie]

I have an executive membership and have for about 5 of my 9 years of membership. Our Costco is about 20 min away. I go about every other week. I went today in fact and bought kitchen garbage bags, rotisserie chicken, chocolate milk (my husband and I drink it after our workouts), a book for my son and a new GPS which was $30 cheaper than at REI. I get a lot of toys there as gifts, got my Christmas cards for 2011 there recently (already had 2010 bought last year). So you can get a lot of non-food items there and they can make the membership worth it.

 

[mnrose]

Works out great for us. But, we live close, and probably go weekly. Plus, we have a Costco Amex, which really helps double down on the rebate. So far (through August) we've earned over $150 in rebates (membership is $100). So, we are well into positive territory. LOL! We buy many "regular" grocery items there, and also a few big ticket items every year (last year it was a set of tires, and a computer, for example).

I have no idea what the break even point is, but I know we always hit it.

 

[Phlip]

How's the AmEx work? Right now I have a sky miles card and get free flights, hotels etc with it.
I've had a card, but now that they are 50+ bucks I just wonder if it's really worth it--can you do better at the grocery store/walmart with coupons, etc?
Thanks for the relplies--

 

[LizinSTL]

Is it worth it? I live about 35 minutes from Costco, have a good bunch of grocery stores and a Walmart oh, and a BJ's nearby. I don't ever drive down to the town that the Costco is in--but I'm wondering if I should. I was reading about their different memberships, and got to wondering if it was really that great a deal? I've saved on rental cars, eyeglasses and tires, but what about the food?
What do you guys think?

There's a coupon in the 2011 entertainment book that gives you a free upgrade to executive membership. That's essentially a free membership- only valid for new members though. Pay $50, get free upgrade via entertainment book.... at your renewal time, collect your check- if it is under $50, take it to the service counter and they'll give you $50. If it's over $50, take it to the cash registers and use it to pay or take it to service and cash it.

 

[Swimalie]

How's the AmEx work? Right now I have a sky miles card and get free flights, hotels etc with it.
I've had a card, but now that they are 50+ bucks I just wonder if it's really worth it--can you do better at the grocery store/walmart with coupons, etc?
Thanks for the relplies--

With the True Earnings card (the card they are promoting now) you get 3% back on gas and restaurants, 2% back on travel and 1% back on everything else, including Costco purchases. For us, we eat out every Sat so it is worth it with the restaurant. We just switched from their previous card this past April and so far we are over $200. We will probably hit over $500 by the end of the cycle for us. The reward comes as a check that you take to Costco and can either use it to purchase things or just cash it in. The card is free with your Costco membership, too. It also doubles as your membership card and has your picture on the back as an extra security measure. And it also adds extra purchase protection and extends the warranty on purchases when you use it to buy them. It's really worth it.

 

[Green Tea]

I have the executive and it is worth it. Not so much for the cash back at the end of the year, but other things. With offers, they often have an added premium for executive members. Auto loans were a half point (or 1 point?) lower with executive. To open a Sharebuilder account, I go double the bonus money over the regular. In travel, the executive often has an upgraded room or some other premium.

 

[DawnM]

It is worth it for us, but we are a family with 3 growing boys.

We use Costco for new tires for the cars too.

I buy all my paper goods there.....paper towels, toilet paper. We have also purchased quite a few electronics there......flat screen TV, Ooma phone service, camera, DVRs for Directv.

Normally we get the executive and get at least $80 back each year. That helps pay the membership for the next year. If we have to get tires, we have gotten even more back.

If I ever get to the point where the executive doesn't pay us enough to at least bring our membership cost down to the $50 paid out we will switch.

But you only get 2% back, so figure it out. You would need to spend $2,500 per year to cover $50 of your membership. That is $208/month. We spent at least that on groceries and paper products per month at Costco.

Dawn

 

[wmharley]

Is it worth it? I live about 35 minutes from Costco, have a good bunch of grocery stores and a Walmart oh, and a BJ's nearby. I don't ever drive down to the town that the Costco is in--but I'm wondering if I should. I was reading about their different memberships, and got to wondering if it was really that great a deal? I've saved on rental cars, eyeglasses and tires, but what about the food?
What do you guys think?

the only way it will be good for you is if you buy alot of stuff. Assuming you have a normal $50 membership, you have to spend enough in Costco so that your 2% rewards covers your $50 upgrade.

I upgraded for like $20 with 4 months or so in the year left. I didn't break even so Costco gave me the difference.

I was told though, that if you buy a big ticket item, you should get it just for the rewards.

 

[StephMK]

We just re-joined Costco even though it's farther away. We have 5 grocery stores within 5 minutes but I can get better deals at Costco on most stuff. It does help to know your prices & if you are brand loyal, that may be a factor. If you're a hard core couponer, you may do better in a store but we don't have double coupons & I have not yet gotten the hang of major coupon savings.

We love the Kirkland brand & as a family of 5, the large quantities are not an issue. Plus I like having stuff on hand that I can pull out, it helps cut down on grocery trips. I figure I save $ that way because whenever I go to the store, it seems more things end up in the cart.

It's about 20 minutes away & I go once a month to stock up on meat, canned goods, baking items & some snack stuff. I usually spend about $200 a trip. Right now, we just signed up for the regular membership but they said the cashiers will start asking us about upgrading if it appears we would be better off w/the exec membership.

 

[disneyfan55]

the only way it will be good for you is if you buy alot of stuff. Assuming you have a normal $50 membership, you have to spend enough in Costco so that your 2% rewards covers your $50 upgrade.

I upgraded for like $20 with 4 months or so in the year left. I didn't break even so Costco gave me the difference.

I was told though, that if you buy a big ticket item, you should get it just for the rewards.

Yes, this is true. Actually my daughter and I got the Executive card last Sept. We did buy quite a few big ticket items, like the year of emergency food and a swing set to name a few of the big priced items. In July we got a 'check' that can be used only at Costco for 110.00 It was worth it. Also, when we did sign up, she had a special offer through Bank of America for a variety of free and high discount coupons that came with the membership. I don't recall if it was an employee discount or just for BOA customers.

Anyway, the first year is a 'shorter timeframe' for the rewards since they send it 2 1/2 months prior to your year. Hopefully when we renew now it will be cost effective again. We did a few larger purchases again so the 2% will add up and get a free renewal again next year. I guess if you get $50 or more back you basically get your membership in the executive portion free (if joining Costco anyway)

We haven't used it for any of the other perks that I can recall. I know there are quite a few. The 'free' coupons did account for about 50-100 in items as well just to let you know.

I find Costco in general good price for some items not all. You do have to make sure you can use up all the larger quanity foodstuff as well. For me, I find paper items to be more inexpensive at the grocery store when on sale there. If you don't shop for sales at the grocery store, they can be cheaper at Costco. I find water, some fruits and odd items to be a bargain at Costco. It's only about 1 mile from my house so items like milk are no problem to just pick up (most times that gallon of milk costs 40-50! though)

 

[princesspeach]

It depends how much you shop at costco. I spend about $600 a month at costco so its definetely worth it. I also have amex costco card that gives me 1% so I get a total of 3% cash back. They send me a check about 2 months before my membership expires. This year I used it to buy new clothes for our disney trip and the membership paid for itself.

 

[Swimalie]

Anyway, the first year is a 'shorter timeframe' for the rewards since they send it 2 1/2 months prior to your year.

They actually always send your renewal about 2 months prior to your joining anniversary. You'll only get shorted on the first year.

 

[3pletprincesses]

we have it and love it but we spend alot of money there. Most of my groceries are done there plus I buy alot for my daycare. My check this year was enough to pay for renewal and then some. I think it was something like $140

 

[disneyfan55]

They actually always send your renewal about 2 months prior to your joining anniversary. You'll only get shorted on the first year.

YES, but the 1st years worth of '2% earnings' is only based on about 10 months of shopping. the next year will be based on an entire 12 months worth of shopping just to let new members realize this. Yes that was my point is even putting it there.

 

[high meadows]

For the first six years we had the executive membership and Am Ex, we got more money back at the end of the year than the membership cost. We were 20 minutes away and building a house. For the last three years, an hour away, we have not quite made our costs back BUT the values are better than the local supermarkets and better than Sam's. We saved about $300 on our snowblower alone. It's also a great place for Christmas and birthday gifts, electronics and outerwear.