Costco question, please!

[sksjasams]

We didn't get photos on our membership cards. It wasn't mentioned, but will they have us add photos later?

Sheila

Costco came to where I work for people to sign up on Friday. We didn't get our membership cards that day. They came in the mail yesterday. There is letter with the cards that you need to get your photo id taken at the store and will need proof of address at that time.

We are hoping to stop in this weekend to get that done since the store doesn't officially open until next Thursday. The flyer we got at work said the store is open daily to process memberships

 

[mikehn]

You can pay with a debit card. But the real incentive is to pay with your Amex card. You can rack up some serious cash back by using your Amex. I mean real cash back they send you a check in the mail, about once a quarter. Not some points that you redeem for merchandise. I lost count, but last year I got back hundreds.

 

[Skatermom23]

I think this depends on your Costco and the employees they have. At mine, they are pretty strict and the membership card must be the same as the debit card. Believe me, they check! At the same time, they don't care if you are obviously buying for another person as long as you do the paying, either with cash or your credit option.

Enjoy the store! I have been a member for 25 years! I love that place!!

 

[Skatermom23]

You can pay with a debit card. But the real incentive is to pay with your Amex card. You can rack up some serious cash back by using your Amex. I mean real cash back they send you a check in the mail, about once a quarter. Not some points that you redeem for merchandise. I lost count, but last year I got back hundreds.

Definitely this! This year I booked a cruise through Costco and not only did I get a fantastic price, but my reward from Amex is going to be big!!

 

[manning]

Your mom could hand you the cash and let you check out/pay.

I only use Amex there so not sure what other cards they take.

FWIW, I love Costco!

Just Amex credit card. don't know about debit.

 

[Ciao Mickey]

Costco is opening where we live next week. A rep came to where I work to sign people up. I signed up for the executive membership and amex credit card and got some great incentives.

We only have experience with Sams Club. My mom has a Sams membership (I don't) and a few times a year she will take me shopping (her treat). She is concerned it will not work out this way with Costco.

I added DH as the second household card holder, not my mom, since she lives at a different address. If I go shopping at Costco with my mom, will she still be able to "treat" using a debit card? I already know they don't accept any credit cards other than amex. How will they know the name on the debit card is different than the name on the membership? I have no idea how the process works, since we have never been to a costco.

Thanks for your help!

Just a heads up regarding Costco-

If you see something you like buy it, you can always return it, because it might not be there next time you go. Especially during the holidays when they might get in a shipment of something they don't normally carry.

Use your card to pay for the order and let your mother give you the cash. That way you are racking up points that gives you cash back at the end of the year.

With an Executive card you will get two separate checks.

I love Costco and have been a member for years.

One thing I hate about the store is I can't get out of there without spending $$$$ each time I go.

Shopping there is very addicting.

 

[girli565]

I think this depends on your Costco and the employees they have. At mine, they are pretty strict and the membership card must be the same as the debit card. Believe me, they check! At the same time, they don't care if you are obviously buying for another person as long as you do the paying, either with cash or your credit option.

Enjoy the store! I have been a member for 25 years! I love that place!!

my costco is like this too. my husband went to pay for the purchases, we have the same last name and the cashier gave us a whole speech on how the name on the payment has to match the membership name. She let him pay this time but we usually just bring cash so we don't have to bother with this anymore. or I pay with my AMEX for the points.

 

[tcufrog]

Costco is very generous with their return policy. I wouldn't be surprised if they have the most generous one these days. I have both Sams and Costco membership but I really prefer Costco because they have a better selection of what we need and the customer service is much better. I recently rented a car through them because the rate was the best I found. I don't have AAA anymore though.

 

[Michelle_R]

We have one opening on the 15th also.

 

[sksjasams]

We have one opening on the 15th also.

Hmmm...I'll bet we're neighbors! Sun Prairie, right???

 

[Michelle_R]

Yes! We live about 20 minutes away.

 

[sksjasams]

Yes! We live about 20 minutes away.

Hi back to you! What a small world! Can't wait to check it out...

 

[Michelle_R]

Hi back to you! What a small world! Can't wait to check it out...

I think I'm going to try to stop and sign up before they open. Been waiting for something like this to open up on this side of town.

It IS a small world!

 

[Michelle_R]

I have a question for red card Target shoppers. Do you find that a Costco membership is also worth getting? Perhaps it depends on what you're shopping for? Just wondering. Thanks!

 

[vicki_c]

I have a question for red card Target shoppers. Do you find that a Costco membership is also worth getting? Perhaps it depends on what you're shopping for? Just wondering. Thanks!

I no longer have a Costco membership right now, but when I did, I didn't shop for any of the same things at Target that I did at Costco, so they were both meaningful to me. Not sure if that helps, but they are very different types of stores.

 

[swilshire]

Trip Report to the grand opening of Costco this morning. We had a couple of other early obligations so missed the 8 AM opening by 2 1/2 hours. Absolutely no parking spaces anywhere. Drivers following shoppers leaving and waiting for their spaces. We filled up with gas first (2 cents cheaper than our local station) using one of the gift cards I got for joining. We found someone leaving behind the building and parked there.

Lines to sign up for membership must have been over 2 hours long. Maybe 3. Lots of people standing at the entrance with carts. I ask one lady who looked pretty irritated what they were waiting for. They were waiting for their membership cards to print so they could get in.

We wandered the store for about an hour, trying lots of samples. All were tasty. I especially liked some sort of fruity smoothy, but not sure what it was. The aisles were packed, so it was hard to get around. We didn't try to do too much comparison shopping. Some of the prices were much more than I would pay for the same item on sale at the local grocery stores. We were out of sugar and the Costco price was the same as the sale price at Krogers (per pound) so we got sugar. I have a coupon so it would really be cheaper at Krogers, but I'll buy another bag there. Good sale on a big jar of Tums that had a mfg instant rebate. Krispy Kreme donuts were 30 cents more than the grocery store but had 15 donuts instead of 12. That was it. Checkout lines were short and I used my other gift card from joining.

I know I will buy some things there and the first year membership was a no-brainer. Time will tell whether it's worthwhile in the long haul. We are going to Maul next August, so I know we'll use the card there.

Sheila

 

[Michelle_R]

Stopped in and bought my membership yesterday. It will be fun to try it out.

 

[queenbetsey]

We share a membership with dd and her new husband. They only ask for one address and our husbands usually go with us anyway. today we went there to get that great deal on the disneyland tickets and I gave them my membership card and dh paid with his debit card. they only take debit or amex (wanted to use our disney visa for the points, but still was a great deal so we used his debit card)
i think it will be fine if your mom uses her debit card. another choice is to have her pick up a costco gift card if you can find them at the giftcard sections of your market. out here seems like the market has a gift card for just about anywhere.