How to Get Around Costco's New Crackdown on Nonmembers
Gone are the days of simply borrowing a member's card.
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Attention bargain hunters and bulk-buying enthusiasts: Costco seems to be tightening its membership policies. In an update to its website, the company indicated that in the coming months, shoppers will be required to physically scan their cards at the store's entrance and match with the photo that pops up for that card's account. In other words: Gone are the days of borrowing a member's card to check out without buying your own membership.
Still, don't bid farewell to bulk buying just yet: There a few more ways to shop the store without committing to an annual membership—the price of which will increase by $5 (to $65) on September 1. Consider these "creative" solutions that will keep you in the Costco loop, even as they crack down on non-member shopping.
Get a gift card
The official Costco policy states that anyone can shop at warehouse locations if they present a "Shop Card," also known as a gift card. These cards can be purchased at Costco, and electronic versions are available online. Here's the catch: These cards can only be purchased by members, and using a debit or credit card that matches the Costco account name. That means in order to make use of this loophole, you'll need a buddy with a membership who is willing to buy a gift card for you.
Don't worry about getting caught using this workaround method—it's perfectly allowed by Costco's policies. According to this
Costco customer service FAQs page, "Non-members as well as members may use Costco Shop Cards to shop at any Costco location in the U.S."
Once you're in the door, you can pay for your goods with your own personal payment method. That means you can use a $25 gift card to get in the door, and then spend as much as you want.
Go with a friend
If the gift card method is too much hassle for you, there are still other ways to shop at Costco as a non-member, the simplest of which is to tag along with your card-carrying Costco buddy, who will be able to get you in the door as a guest. (You might even offer to treat them to a post-shopping snack at the food court as a thank-you.)
Shop online (for a fee)
Although it's not quite the same as strolling the aisles and buying in bulk, don't forget about the digital realm. Costco.com offers many items for sale to non-members, often with just a small surcharge. It's a great way to snag those Costco-exclusive deals without setting foot in the store.
You don't need to be a member to use the pharmacy or Costco Optical
Did you know that Costco's pharmacy, optical department, and food court are open to everyone? That's right—you can still enjoy those famous $1.50 hot dog and soda combos without flashing a membership card.
Meredith Dietz
Senior Finance Writer
Meredith Dietz is Lifehacker’s Senior Finance Writer. She earned her bachelor’s degree in English and Communications from Northeastern University, where she graduated as valedictorian of her college. She grew up waitressing in her family restaurant in Wilmington, DE and worked at Hasbro Games, where she wrote rules for new games. Previously, she worked in the non-profit space as a Leadership Resident with the Harpswell Foundation in Phnom Penh, Cambodia; later, she was a travel coordinator for a study abroad program that traced the rise of fascist propaganda across Western Europe.
Since then, Meredith has been driven to make personal finance accessible and address taboos of talking openly about money, including debt, investing, and saving for retirement. Outside of finance writing, Meredith is a marathon runner and stand-up comedian who has been a regular contributor to The Onion and Reductress. Meredith lives in Brooklyn, NY.
