Have you ever considered getting a Costco membership?
Are you wondering whether it’s worth it to become a member? If so, you’re at the right place.
However, you can only shop at Costco if you have a membership, and the prices are only available to members.
While Costco is famous for its low prices, its memberships don’t come cheap.
This article will break down Costco’s unique membership program and how it works at both the stores and online.
We’ll also take a look at what to expect for your money so you can make an educated decision on whether it is worth becoming a member.
About Costco Membership
When someone signs up for a membership to Costco, they are promised a 100% satisfaction guarantee.
They will get a full refund on their membership fee if they are not satisfied with the way Costco offers its services and facilities.
It means that everything is allowed in the store and there will be no restrictions whatsoever. The benefits of being a Costco member in Canada are varied.
This is very interesting because almost every other facility or store only allows you to do so much and has a list of restrictions to follow.
With a membership, you can shop with confidence and peace of mind knowing that Costco is committed to delivering a high level of customer satisfaction.
Plus, they have a members-only area, you can often find their products online cheaper than anywhere else, and they have thousands of locations across Canada.
It costs $60 per year for individuals to become members. Having a full year means you have the chance to save a lot of money that can easily exceed whatever you paid in annual dues.
How Does a Costco Membership Work?
Costco memberships are reasonably straightforward. You pay a set fee each year, and you get access to the store.
No matter where your membership originated, you can use it at any of its locations worldwide.
Membership is only available to those who meet the following requirements:
- You must be 18 years or older to purchase a membership
- Have a valid government-issued photo ID or passport
- Have no one else in your household that has as a Costco member
- You must be a legal resident of the country where you apply for a membership
How Much is a Costco Membership?
There is no one-size-fits-all answer to how much the membership in Canada costs. If you want to join, there are several options for you.
A low annual fee is associated with each membership type. Depending on how much you shop at Costco and how much you may spend, the best membership might vary from person to person.
You should know that the $60 yearly charge is solely applicable to Gold Star members.
To cover the $60 annual fee, you will need to spend around $3,000 annually at Costco.
As an alternative, you can get an executive membership for $120, but you’d need to spend $6000 at Costco annually to make up for the annual fee.
If you are a Gold Star Costco member with annual purchase of $3,000 or more, you effectively forfeit your membership savings.
Costco Membership Tiers
There are three options to choose from, and it’s important to know what you’re getting with each one.
Choosing a suitable membership in Canada can save you a lot of money over a year.
Gold Star Membership
For $60 CAD, you may get up to two household cards with the Gold Star Costco Membership, renewed yearly.
This is the cheapest of the three memberships, and it enables you to shop at any Costco store.
As a thank you for signing up, you’ll get a $10 Costco Shop Card, which may be used as a gift card.
A Gold Star Costco membership is a good choice for you if you prefer bulk shopping or making one stop for all of your household needs instead of making several.
Key Features
- It comes with a free household card
- A membership fee of $60.00 per year
- Costco locations worldwide accept this membership
Executive Membership
Costco’s Executive Membership is the most expensive, costing $120 CAD per year.
There is no doubt that the Executive level offers the most benefits, but you should determine whether the $120 annual membership fee is worthwhile for you before subscribing.
Key Features
- Offers a free Household Card
- The annual membership fee is $120.00. $60 for membership and $60 for upgrades
- A reward of 2% on qualifying Costco purchases per year
- All Costco stores around the world accept this membership
- Supplemental Costco Services perks and savings
- Costco travel products with extra benefits
Business Membership
Costco Business memberships allow you to purchase items for personal use, resale, or business purposes.
However, the purchase-for-resale perk requires members to provide Costco with accurate resale information.
Key Features
- Household card included for free
- The purchase of products for resale
- A membership fee of $60.00 per year
- Costco locations worldwide accept this offer
- For $60 each, you can add Affiliate Cardholders
How Do I Sign up for a New Costco Membership?
Costco welcomes new customers with enthusiasm. The process of joining is very straightforward.
You can simply go to any Costco store and sign up for membership. Online registration is also available through Costco.ca.
1. Signing up at a Costco Location
Costco will set everything up for you, and you’ll receive your membership card right away so you can start shopping as a member that day.
2. Sign Up Online
Costco’s website, also allows you to sign up for a membership online.
The steps to getting a Costco membership online are as follows:
- Visit the homepage and click on the “Membership” tab at the top.
- Choose the membership type that suits you best.
- In the Shopping Cart, enter the membership type.
- Be sure to read and thoroughly understand the Terms & Conditions before joining.
- After reviewing the terms and conditions, click “Accept.”
How To Renew Your Costco Membership Online
By visiting the Costco.ca website, you can renew your membership easily.
The following steps will help you renew your membership at Costco:
- Access your account by signing in
- Select “Membership” from the menu
- Fill up your membership details
- You can now proceed to checkout by clicking on “Proceed to Checkout.” You are now all set.
However, before making any changes, be sure to check your Costco account online.
It only takes a few minutes to verify your Costco account at the Membership Counter at any Costco location.
You will receive an email from Costco only valid for 48 hours after successfully verifying your account.
Also, you must renew all your cards when you renew your membership if you have more than one.
Additionally, you will receive an email from Costco when the renewal process has been completed.
Costco Digital Membership Card
Once you have become a Costco member in Canada, you can get a digital membership card to get membership benefits throughout the country.
The digital Costco membership card is actually a digital version of a physical Costco membership card.
This means that you will get the same benefits and privileges with your digital Card as you get with the physical one.
This is the main reason why almost all people love to get the Digital Costco Membership Card instead of going for the physical one.
The main benefit of having a Costco Digital Membership Card is that it lets you carry it on your phone, so you don’t have to carry a physical card.
You can simply present your phone with a digital membership card to any Costco location employee to get membership benefits.
How To Get The Costco Digital Membership Card
For a Costco digital membership card, there are several steps to follow.
You can get a Costco digital membership card by following the steps below:
- To begin, get the Costco Mobile App by downloading and installing it. You can download it from the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store, whichever one you want.
- After you’ve installed the app, launch it by tapping on the Membership Card icon.
- log in to your Costco membership account using your details.
- On the login screen, you will find instructions for signing in and creating an account if this is the first time you are using the app.
- Verifying your membership at any Costco location near you would be necessary. If you want to get your account verified physically, you can go to the Membership Counter at your local Costco Warehouse.
- Alternatively, you may contact Costco at 1-800-463-3783 to have your account validated over the phone if you like.
- Close the app and reopen it after your account has been validated. You should now see your digital membership card on the screen.
Costco Membership Promo Code
When you become a member of Costco, you receive significant benefits.
Costco also offers promo codes as a benefit to its gold and executive memberships.
You can apply for a $40 off voucher on a $200 purchase at Costco.ca if you are a new executive member or your membership has expired for more than 18 months.
You can get this offer by using the code “COSTCO40”.
Also, with the Gold Star membership, you receive a $20 discount on a $100 Costco.ca purchase.
Like the executive membership, you can get the offer using Promo Code “COSTCO20”.
How To Get Vouchers For Costco Membership Promotion
The corresponding promo codes you need to enter while paying for your membership will depend on your selected type of membership.
You will receive an email from Costco containing your membership number.
You can pick up a membership card throughout Canada by bringing the email to any location.
Within two or three weeks after you get your membership card, you will receive an email from Costco with a coupon that you can use to make online purchases from Costco.ca.
Is a Costco Membership Worth It?
Membership fees are relatively low, especially when considering how much you stand to gain from one.
However, is the annual fee really worth it? The answer depends on what you’re looking for and how much you plan to spend at Costco.
Costco Warehouses provide a wide variety of brands and products. In fact, you’ll find everything you could ever need at the store.
One of the best things about Costco Warehouses is its enormous savings while still offering excellent products.
Even at a minor basic level, a member has access to discounts at Costco Gas, Travel, Photo Centers, Opticals, and many more.
All of these services offer primary membership discounts as they are Costco subsidiaries.
Costco has nearly 800 stores in Canada, and its membership is valid at all of them. Even outside of Canada, products and services are available at discount prices.
Besides accepting business checks, Costco also accepts Mastercard debit cards for payment.
Costco.ca also offers hundreds of things that you won’t find in your local store, as well as free delivery on anything you buy online.
Additionally, you’ll have access to Kirkland Signature products, representing Costco’s commitment to offering quality goods at discount prices.
As a member of Costco, you can also shop at CostcoTravel.ca, a travel site you can use while on vacation for a great shopping experience.
Conclusion
So, should you become a Costco member? The benefits of Costco membership in Canada are worth considering.
However, it would be wise to weigh the benefits of the membership against the price of a membership if you’re on the fence about joining.
And don’t forget to take into account all the additional perks that come with being a Costco member.
The store offers several ways to save money, which makes it an ideal choice for just about anyone.
But, it all depends on how much you’ll utilize the services that this company has to offer and if you can afford it. Either way, though, the membership pays for itself in multiple ways.
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