Costco shared membership?

[sticker231]

I'm baffled by the fact you don't need a membership to use a gift card. Thought you needed a membership number to begin the transaction. I do know that you don't need to be a member to use the pharmacy. I'll have to ask DH, he works there. That's how I know for a fact that memberships are where their largest profits are from.

The cashier has to get an override from a supervisor or manager if it is a non member using a cash card.

 

[aclov]

I have a membership and have my mom who lives at a different address on my membership. We were never ask for proof or had issues.

 

[starwood]

I just took my DH off our membership and put DS on it. He is going to school in Florida. The woman at the counter looked at his drivers license and said it was OK as long as his ID had our home address on it.

 

[APiratesLifeForMe2]

Our Costco asks for proof that you live at the same address. However they don't ask for this year after year. My mom and I shared a membership and when I moved out I kept our membership renewed each year despite living at a different address and even getting married with a new last name. We let it expire a few years ago and just recently my husband went to get a new membership. They asked for proof of address for both of us.

That being said, ours is strict. They make a fuss if you try to separate transactions. I own a business and like to keep separate receipts for business purchases. They always give me a hard time when I do this because they assume I'm trying to buy a few items for someone else. I even saw them deny a husband try to buy diapers in front of us in line with his wife's card. They made him to go customer service and get his own card. Poor guy had three small kids and was just trying to get diapers.

 

[OceanAnnie]

Do you guys have a BJs near you? BJs does let you add additional members to your membership for a nominal fee (I think $15). My parents have an account and have had me and my brothers added on for years. We all live in different states and it is no problem and within their rules.

We have both a BJs and Costco membership, but I like BJs so much better, they take manufactures coupons (and you can combine both manufacturers and BJs coupons!!) and they take regular credit cards (not just cash and debit).

Good to know. Does everyone receive BJ's coupons at the different addresses?

 

[LSUfan4444]

http://www.costco.com/member-privileges-conditions.html

What is a Household Card? Is that the membership card?

 

[Judique]

What is a Household Card? Is that the membership card?

I'm not sure. I have an executive membership where I get two per cent back on everything I buy. I also have the Costco Visa which pays rewards as well.

I used to have a regular membership card - no rewards - but one day the cashier told me I should upgrade because of my spending I would save money. Its more like get some back as opposed to saving.

 

[AnnaS]

I have shared a membership with my neighbor for over 15 years. When we joined we did not hide that we did not live at the same address.
I would ask them directly in the location where you go.

Same here. I shared it with my neighbor for many years - I was the primary and paid for the membership most of the time. I just did not go often enough to justify the price then. It was never a secret. Four years ago she passed and I just added my hubby. Of course, rules/enforcing rules might have changed now so I would check with your local Costco.

A few years ago, my son went with my card to try to buy something and was told no.

They have so many rules. Years ago in Coscto we were allowed to bring in two additional people (per card/member) who were not members to shop. Not sure if this is still the case. When I shopped for a family member, they would allow two separate receipts. They stopped doing this years ago and now will only give one receipt. So.....we would get a sub-total and then have them finish the rest of the order. We don't do this anymore. No one left to pick up anything for.

Not sure if these rules change or sometimes they are just on a mission to enforce them.
Many supermarkets will not allow the next customer to use the store card for the discounts. Some do and some don't. Sometimes the cashier pretends not to look. I can't see the point at the supermarket......it gets silly. No fee for having the store discount card where Coscto is making money on the membership of course.

 

[Ciao Mickey]

My grandmother has a costco card that she will give to me to go buy things for her. The card has a different last name than mine, and a photo of a 90 year old. They way we get around that is when going in, just say you are going to the pharmacy. Some sort of law (maybe just New Jersey?) prohibits requiring a membership to access a pharmacy. Once you are in the store, you can go to self check out.[/QUOTE

Which Costco in NJ has self check out? I've only seen them in my Florida stores.

 

[Ciao Mickey]

I'm baffled by the fact you don't need a membership to use a gift card. Thought you needed a membership number to begin the transaction. I do know that you don't need to be a member to use the pharmacy. I'll have to ask DH, he works there. That's how I know for a fact that memberships are where their largest profits are from.

I purchased gift cards for my niece to use because she doesn't have a membership and has a Costco close to her.

There is a surcharge of 5% when a non-member uses a gift card.

 

[sticker231]

I purchased gift cards for my niece to use because she doesn't have a membership and has a Costco close to her.

There is a surcharge of 5% when a non-member uses a gift card.

There is no 5% surcharge to use a gift card as a non member. The cashier will just need to get an override from a supervisor or manager to start the transaction.

 

[arminnie]

Costco asks me for my ID when I check out. New Orleans.

Not sure about shared anything - except that my husband has a card. We have different last names. Our drivers licenses are from different states (and addresses). No problem there at all.

 

[Ciao Mickey]

There is no 5% surcharge to use a gift card as a non member. The cashier will just need to get an override from a supervisor or manager to start the transaction.

That makes me happy!

I just checked the website and it's only a surcharge when you order on Costco.com.