Can you buy a costco gift card without a membership

Here at Clark.com, we love Costco Wholesale! But not everyone is sold on the idea of having to pay to shop somewhere.

If you’re still on the fence about Costco, here’s how you can still shop or visit any of the more than 500 warehouse club locations across the country — without paying the $60 membership fee to get in the door.

Skip the Costco Membership and Still Get the Deals!

1. You Can Use a Costco Gift Card

Anyone can shop at a Costco if you have their version of a gift card — the Costco Cash Card.

One caveat here: If you choose to use a Costco Cash Card online and you’re aren’t a member, you’ll be charged 5% more than the stated price on everything except prescriptions.

Getting your hands on a Cash Card when you’re a non-member is easier than you think. Gift card resale aggregator GiftCardGranny.com sometimes has them available at a small discount to anybody who wants one!

2. Go With a Friend Who Is a Member

Costco lets members take up to two guests into the warehouse club.

Just be aware that if you’re the non-member going in with a friend, they’ll have to foot the bill and you’ll have to settle up with them after the trip.

3. Get Your Vision Tested

Non-members can use Costco’s optical services for exams and screenings.

But if you need to buy glasses, contacts or hearing aids, you’re going to need a membership or a friend who can get you in the store to purchase what you need on your behalf.

Of course, you could always use a gift card as we described in tip #1!

4. Fill a Prescription as a Non-Member at the Pharmacy

In an era of skyrocketing prescription costs, Costco routinely has some of the lowest prices on medications.

Best of all, you don’t have to be a member to use the Costco pharmacy. Some locations even have a separate entrance for non-members that leads directly into the pharmacy. Call your local store to check before heading out.

5. Show Up to Buy Alcohol

Many states prohibit the sale of alcohol through any club or membership. Check with your state laws to see if you’re able to enter Costco to buy alcohol.

6. Shop Online

Anyone can shop on Costco.com. But if you don’t have a membership, remember that you’ll have to pay a 5% surcharge.

More Costco Stories on Clark.com: 

  • Is a Costco Executive Membership Worth It?
  • 7 Things to Know Before You Buy Gas at Costco Wholesale
  • 5 Things to Know Before You Buy Glasses From Costco Optical
  • Costco Members: Here Are the Best Deals & Coupons This Month

Can you buy a costco gift card without a membership
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Can you buy a costco gift card without a membership

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Want to try Costco products but not join the club? This could be the solution. 


Key points

  • Costco is a warehouse club that offers discounts on bulk products.
  • You must be a member to shop at Costco in most circumstances.
  • If a Costco member buys you a Costco Shop Card, you can shop without being a member.  

Costco is a warehouse club that offers discounts on bulk purchases. This can help you cut grocery costs so you can put more money into savings or use it for other financial goals. Costco also has its own brand of products, the Kirkland Signature brand, which is very popular.  

If you want to shop at Costco, though, you generally must pay an annual membership fee to be eligible to buy items at the warehouse club. But this is actually not the case in every situation. In fact, there's one way you can shop at Costco without becoming a member. Here's how.

If you want to shop at Costco without buying a membership, there's an easy way to do it -- if you have a member who is willing to help you.

See, if you have a Costco Shop Card, you are allowed to come into any Costco location in the U.S., Canada, or Puerto Rico and purchase items. And you are also allowed to purchase items online at Costco.com and Costco.ca. You do not have to be a member in order to make purchases at Costco with your Costco Shop Card.

What is a Costco Shop Card, exactly? It's just a fancy way of saying a Costco gift card. So, basically, if you have a gift card to Costco, you don't have to be a member to use it and you can take advantage of Costco's low prices and get access to its beloved Kirkland brand items.

Now, there is a catch though. Only Costco members are allowed to buy Costco Shop Cards. So you would need someone who is a current Costco member to buy a gift card for you. And once you had spent the balance on your gift card, you would need them to get you another card or to reload your existing one.

Obviously, this is likely not a long-term solution, since you probably don't want to hassle your friends and family with Costco memberships by asking them to buy you gift cards to the warehouse club all the time (even if you do pay them back). But if you're hoping to just try out Costco to see if a membership is worth it or if you only shop there a few times a year for special purchases, then this could be a great option for you. 

Should you become a Costco member? 

Whether paying for a Costco membership is worth it will depend on many factors, including how often you plan to shop at the store and whether Costco's prices on the items you regularly buy are discounted enough to cover the membership fee.

If you're struggling to decide and you know a Costco member who is willing to buy a Shop Card for you, this can be a great way to test out whether membership is worth paying. You can get a chance to shop at the warehouse club with this approach in order to see if becoming a long-term customer is the right choice for you.

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About the Author

Christy Bieber is a personal finance and legal writer with more than a decade of experience. Her work has been featured on major outlets including MSN Money, CNBC, and USA Today.