Costco Questions

[KashasMom]

Do I have to be a member of Costco to book travel with them? And most importantly do the cash back rewards from them have to be spent AT Costco?

 

[EllinK]

Yes and yes.

 

[KashasMom]

Yes and yes.

Thanks, that's a no go for me then. I'll stick with getting OBC from my TA.

 

[lilsonicfan]

It is super worthwhile if you have a Costco nearby and would buy stuff anyway, like us, we shop there twice a month. But otherwise it would not be useful.

 

[FigmentSpark]

Just a point... the membership is, what, $55? The cash back can be as much as $600? It might be worth it to buy the membership, go on the cruise, get the cashback, load up on stuff you use anyway and then cancel your membership.

 

[southerngirl528]

Because the closest Costco to me has closed, I find myself ordering online more and more from Costco. I almost always get the very best car rental rates through Costco travel as well. And I order gift cards online all the time too! Too bad they don't offer Disney gift cards like another discount warehouse though.

 

[FigmentSpark]

Can you use Costco gift cards at their site on line?

 

[southerngirl528]

Can you use Costco gift cards at their site on line?

Pretty sure you can!

 

[southerngirl528]

Can you use Costco gift cards at their site on line?

Okay, I just signed into my costco.com account and already had 1 item in my "cart", so I went to checkout and YES, there is a space for you to have entered into your account any Costco cash cards you have, and you can choose that card(s) for payment.

 

[Shanti]

Do I have to be a member of Costco to book travel with them? And most importantly do the cash back rewards from them have to be spent AT Costco?

Yes and not necessarily. Costco customer service had no problem giving me cash for the full value of my $500+ gift card. Some other posters have done the same.

 

[WB1971]

My first experience using them with this cruise has been a bit frustrating. The cash back will be worth it, but giving up control of things and not being able to deal with disney direct has definitely been less than convenient for me. Example, set up auto payment for my final balance and there was a glitch. I had to monitor and call them to actually do it. Also needed to add baggage transfer from Hyatt MCO on morning of cruise and that was a 40 minute call. Not sure I’ll do it again.

 

[Scootypuffjr]

Yes and not necessarily. Costco customer service had no problem giving me cash for the full value of my $500+ gift card. Some other posters have done the same.

I second this. I have taken my cash cards to member services and received cash for the full value of the card.

 

[PrincessArlena'sDad]

I second this. I have taken my cash cards to member services and received cash for the full value of the card.

Some posters have said they were unable to do this. It seems it varies by location (maybe by state?)

 

[Scootypuffjr]

Some posters have said they were unable to do this. It seems it varies by location (maybe by state?)

Looks like you are right. From the Costco website:

• Cash Card balances under $10 are always redeemable for cash. Amounts over $10 may be redeemable if required under state law.

 

[bumbershoot]

Example, set up auto payment for my final balance and there was a glitch

Costco payment goes directly through to the cruiseline, so I’d lay the glitch on Disney for that.

Also needed to add baggage transfer from Hyatt MCO on morning of cruise and that was a 40 minute call.

I’ve found it helpful to call Disney for things like that (you’re not increasing the cost of the cruise so it shouldn’t have to go through the TA) and NOT give them my booking info, but get someone fresh on the line and tell them what I want to do. Without them lookin at a screen with the TA info, they are more open to hearing what I actually want to do, and I have more success with that.

Now, it’s oossiuble that you wouldn’t have been able to arrange that with Disney anyway, but I know I’d have tried before calling Costco.

 

[Shanti]

Looks like you are right. From the Costco website:

• Cash Card balances under $10 are always redeemable for cash. Amounts over $10 may be redeemable if required under state law.

It doesn't necessarily even depend on state law. My state's law doesn't require it, but my Costco does it anyway in the spirit of good customer service.

 

[Shanti]

My first experience using them with this cruise has been a bit frustrating. The cash back will be worth it, but giving up control of things and not being able to deal with disney direct has definitely been less than convenient for me. Example, set up auto payment for my final balance and there was a glitch. I had to monitor and call them to actually do it. Also needed to add baggage transfer from Hyatt MCO on morning of cruise and that was a 40 minute call. Not sure I’ll do it again.

I like to book with Disney, add hotel stay, transfers, put in special requests, etc. Then I transfer the booking to Costco. It is easier that way.

Using a travel agency is always a bit slower, in terms of making changes, than booking direct. I think it's worth it for 8% cash back, though.

 

[Girl of the South]

I booked a cruise I had to cancel last minute - and I mean LAST MINUTE - like an hour before they closed on the last day I could cancel - and it was a big hassle to track down my travel agent on a Sunday afternoon and she was reluctant as it was her day off. I DID send her a check to make up for the loss of commission. I also couldn't change cabins on my own. SO, as much as I always wanted to be a travel agent and had fun talking to her about the cruise - for my future trips, I like to be in control. To me that's more important than a Costco cash card, at the moment. Maybe I'll change my tune when money becomes scarcer but I like being my own travel agent.

 

[FigmentSpark]

I booked a cruise I had to cancel last minute - and I mean LAST MINUTE - like an hour before they closed on the last day I could cancel - and it was a big hassle to track down my travel agent on a Sunday afternoon and she was reluctant as it was her day off. I DID send her a check to make up for the loss of commission. I also couldn't change cabins on my own. SO, as much as I always wanted to be a travel agent and had fun talking to her about the cruise - for my future trips, I like to be in control. To me that's more important than a Costco cash card, at the moment. Maybe I'll change my tune when money becomes scarcer but I like being my own travel agent.

Wait, she WOULDN'T book it for you because it was her day off, but you still gave her a commission?

 

[Shanti]

Wait, she WOULDN'T book it for you because it was her day off, but you still gave her a commission?

Girl of the South said that she had asked her TA to cancel it. That's why she sent in a commission- to make up for the agent's lost revenue on that cruise.

That kind of thing is why I prefer using Costco as my travel agency: I don't have to feel guilty for asking one dedicated agent to make lots of changes, or for making an agent lose his/her commission if I cancel. Since it's just a random customer service representative you deal with on any given call, there are none of those worries. Also, I know I'll always be able to reach Costco during their call center hours. I don't have to wait 24 hours for a response or have to try to track an agent down. I just pick up the phone, like I used to when booking directly with DCL.