Can you buy costco gift cards at shoppers

Costco's Netflix-style crackdown on unauthorized membership sharing raises a perennial question about how to access the jumbo packs of toilet paper, tubs of peanut-butter pretzels, pound bags of dog food, and other staples without signing up for a membership.

Many people flock to Costco to load up on low-cost groceries and household essentials. But the warehouse club giant sells a lot more than just bulk breakfast cereal and paper towels. You can find everything from apparel to electronics to furniture at Costco. And it could also be a good source for buying gift cards. That said, Costco's gift card offerings may not meet your needs.

Can you buy costco gift cards at shoppers

Personal finance gurus and TikTok users are sharing a shopping hack that reportedly allows non-members of Costco Wholesale to make purchases without signing up and paying for an annual membership fee. The key to making non-member Costco purchases lies in getting access to a Costco Shop Card, which is a members-only item that functions the same way as a gift card. If someone receives a Costco Shop Card as a gift or can convince a Costco member to buy a Costco Shop Card on their behalf, the card provides entry and checkout at Costco Wholesale locations — whether you're a member or not. Social media users have long documented their successful non-member purchases on platforms like Instagram and YouTube, but the hack appears to be trending on TikTok in recent months. Costco's Wholesale Club members get exclusive access to the company's in-store product inventory, which includes bulk-size food and drinks, home goods, office supplies and more. Current search query data on Google Trends — an online search volume tool — shows searches for Costco gift cards have peaked at different points from January to May on Google, and it has resulted in breakout searches for "can you shop at Costco with a gift card" and "Costco gift card trick. On May 10, Amin Shaykho, the Seattle-based founder and CEO of the tutoring website and app Kadama, shared the Costco gift card hack on his Instagram and TikTok accounts — where he uploads shopping and personal finance tips. Costco Wholesale allows customers to user Costco Shop Cards to cover purchases made online and in-store. Other social media users have pointed out that using a Costco Shop Card as a non-member could inconvenience cashiers and hold up lines because it requires more work to process. It annoys the cashier because we have to wait for a supervisor or manager to override the transaction," an Instagram user explained. Several commenters noted that asking friends and family to purchase Costco Shop Cards can create a hassle.

One major benefit of buying gift cards at Costco is that you'll often find them priced below face value.

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Costco warehouses are known for their amazingly low prices on bulk grocery and personal merchandise, electronics, jewelry, furniture, and more. However, unless you purchase a yearly Costco membership, it can be hard to reap these savings. Many also wonder whether Costco offers members the ability to give non-members a gift card that can be used to shop at Costco. To purchase a Costco Gift Card, you must have a membership. Costco members can purchase gift cards in warehouses or on the Costco website. Also referred to as Costco Shop Cards, gift cards cannot be purchased anywhere else.

Can you buy costco gift cards at shoppers

Gift cards are a convenient way to buy presents for someone. Many people purchase gift cards as a last-minute present from a store or online. Costco gift cards are a good gift because they can be purchased ahead of time and paid for in full. We will discuss the best places to purchase Costco gift cards, tips on using them, and getting the most out of your purchase in-store or online. You can only purchase Costco gift cards from a Costco store or Costco. Since only Costco sells its gift cards with a membership, you cannot buy a Costco gift card from competing retailers such as Walmart , Target , Walgreens , and CVS.

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It annoys the cashier because we have to wait for a supervisor or manager to override the transaction," an Instagram user explained. Primary Costco members can assign a free household card to one other person in your household, according to customerservice. Members can purchase digital gift cards, which are delivered via email, and physical gift cards, which are delivered via mail. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Costco Wholesale. Costco says more shoppers are sharing cards at self-checkout, so it's clamping down on checking IDs. The real kicker however is even simpler: if you don't think the membership is worth it, you can get a refund. That way, you're not left in the lurch. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team. Information is provided 'as is' and solely for informational purposes, not for trading purposes or advice. Another popular workaround is to use a Costco gift card, known as a Shop Card , which allows shoppers to access the warehouse to use the funds. And in the summer months, you can often find tickets to Major League Baseball games. And those may not align well with your schedule. Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. Paid Post: Content produced by Motley Fool. US Markets Loading

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If there's a specific gift card you're looking for, don't bank on getting it at Costco -- even if you've seen it there before. Costco says more shoppers are sharing cards at self-checkout, so it's clamping down on checking IDs. It indicates the ability to send an email. An Insider's Reviews team found, the prices of bulk-size items can add up quickly, and shaving a few percent off in fees means the breakeven point comes after just a few trips. Costco's policy allows members to bring two guests with them to the warehouse, but once again there is a hitch: technically only the member is allowed to pay for purchases. Analyst Estimates. And it could also be a good source for buying gift cards. It annoys the cashier because we have to wait for a supervisor or manager to override the transaction," an Instagram user explained. According to Costco's current company profile, which was last updated on Feb. Analysis from Insider's Reviews team found the best prices on Costco items are found in-person at a warehouse, while online member pricing was slightly higher, and non-member prices were higher still. Thanks for signing up! Costco's Netflix-style crackdown on unauthorized membership sharing raises a perennial question about how to access the jumbo packs of toilet paper, tubs of peanut-butter pretzels, pound bags of dog food, and other staples without signing up for a membership. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.