Costco: Our Best Tips for Warehouse Savings

Tips for Costco Warehouse Savings

What Is the Cost of a Gold Star or Executive Membership at Costco in Canada?

There are two types of Costco memberships:

Cotsco Executive Membership gives you a 2% annual cash back on most of your purchases (up to a maximum of $1,000 – or $50,000 in annual purchases).

Your Costco membership pays for itself if you spend more than $3,250 a year at Costco (a $65 cashback), and is completely refunded if you spend $6,500 a year (a $130 cashback).

Costco tip: you could be reimbursed the difference between the $130 Executive Membership card and the $65 Gold Star Membership card if you find it’s not worth it for you!

If you don’t expect to spend more than $3,250 per year at Costco, it might be useful to ask a friend or family member to give you with a Costco Shop Card.

Don’t forget! Your Costco membership card allows you to visit a Costco Business Centre, an individual and not a business owner.

Costco Tip: How to Shop Without a Membership Using a Costco Shop Card

With the Costco Shop Card, anyone can shop at Costco, member or non-member. To buy it, however, you need to be a Costco member.

Non-Costco members will need to go to the member service counter each time they visit the warehouse to obtain a one-day pass.

For Costco members, there’s an added benefit to purchasing a Costco Shop Card online: you can pay with a Visa credit card instead of a Mastercard! Read the end of this article to know more about this tip.

Costco Warehouse Weekly Savings

Many people may think that Costco is just for big families. Indeed, everything you find at Costco is in large quantities.

However, with the right approach, even a childless couple can shop at Costco and save money.

Long before we had our children, we were already shopping at Costco. For example, buying meat and then separating it into freezer bags. The price per kilo is unbeatable and the quality is definitely there. Very practical for barbecues!

Costco tip: Buy Kirkland products – Costco’s house brand – for excellent value and quality. In many cases, major brands are actually the manufacturers of Kirkland products (Duracell for batteries, Huggies for diapers, or Danone for yogurt)!

If you can’t find specials in grocery stores, Kirkland tissue boxes are of much better quality.

Here are most of the products that are often less expensive in Costco stores than in grocery stores:

• Nuts and oils
• Flour, brown sugar, yeast, organic cocoa, sugar, salt, vanilla extract and powdered sugar
• Snacks and other sweets
• Cheese
• Meat, fish (including salmon)
• Frozen fruit (handy for smoothies)
• Choice of organic and gluten-free products
• Medications
• Gift cards (for spas, certain restaurants and regional activities)

Not to mention: gas at unbeatable prices!

On the other hand, there are things we don’t buy or buy very little of at Costco like:

• Fresh fruits and vegetables: often sold in quantities that are too large. It’s better to shop at your local market, as they can spoil quickly.
• Soft drinks
• Cans of food

In general, we avoid buying too much food (that cannot be frozen). Sometimes, it’s better to look for specials at your local grocery store.

Costco Tip: How to Spot Discount Price Tags

Only seasoned Costco shoppers and employees know the secret behind Costco price tags.

Costco price tags help you spot genuine deals versus regular prices. Here are the 5 types of prices indicated by these labels:

Costco tip: As soon as you see a price that doesn’t end in $xx.99, you know you’re getting a great deal!

Nevertheless, even items listed at $xx. 99 already offer great value compared to the competition!

Costco Price Adjustment in Canada: 30-Day Price Guarantee

How many times have you bought a product and then seen it discounted the following week?

Fortunately, Costco Canada offers price adjustment: you can request a refund of the difference up to 30 days after purchase. To do so, go to the Member Services counter.

If you bought the item online, it’s easy! Fill in the price adjustment form with the requested information. The request will be evaluated within 5 to 7 days. I got my answer the same evening, with the refund on my credit card.

Costco Refund and Return Policy

Costco is also renowned for having the best refund policy in the country. This extends to 90 days for electronics, and there is no time limit for other products.

Returns are made simply at the customer service counter. Your membership card allows you to retrieve your purchase, even without an receipt. If the purchase was made a long time ago, returns will be accepted at Costco’s discretion.

Costco Tip: 4 Years of Free Membership for AIR MILES Members

The AIR MILES program offers a Costco gift membership that you can purchase with Dream Miles. For 725 Dream Miles, all taxes included, you get a free one-year Gold Star membership.

With this exclusive offer for the BMO AIR MILES World Elite Mastercard, you earn 3,000 miles after $3,000 in purchases.

This 3,000 miles is perfect to pay for 4 years of Costco membership free of charge!

In addition, this BMO AIR MILES World Elite Mastercard has a special and unique « warehouse » accumulation category, to earn 2 AIR MILES miles per $12 in purchases at Costco.

Shopping Online and In-Warehouse at Costco

Costco’s website, Costco.ca, often offers the same products as in the warehouse (and there’s even a grocery section).

However, prices will often be higher than those you can find in the warehouse, as they include delivery charges.

However, it’s an almost obligatory step when buying household appliances online! Costco’s prices are often very competitive for these reasons:

• Delivery included;
• Basic installation included for some appliances;
• 2-year warranty included;
• Pick-up service that collects old appliances for recycling;
• Keep an eye out for promotions and discounts when buying several appliances at once.

The Costco Extended Warranty

The advantage of shopping at Costco for your appliances: there is often a 2-year warranty included. Ditto for televisions!

In addition, the extended warranty (up to 5 years), which can be convenient, costs up to $129 for a television.

Shop at Costco in the United States

Your Canadian Costco membership card allows you to shop at Costco in the U.S. (and around the world, too!).

We’ve often used it in the United States, especially in Hawaii. It’s convenient for filling up on gas or picking up camping gear.

By the way, the Canadian CIBC Costco Mastercard is the only Mastercard that works in a Costco warehouse in the U.S.! However, a foreign currency conversion fee of 2.5% is added.

Otherwise, you’ll need to pay with cash or a Visa credit card. For this, the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card is recommended, as it charges no foreign currency conversion fees.

Here’s another option: Before you travel, purchase a Costco Shop Card in Canada using your Mastercard or Visa credit card. Then, use your Costco Shop Card at a Costco warehouse in the United States. Conversion to U.S. dollars is instantaneous and free of charge.

Costco Business Centre

Costco for Business is open to all Costco members! Even people who do not have a business.

In Quebec, there is a Costco Business Centre in Saint-Hubert and another in Anjou.

Costco Facebook Group

To find out what’s happening at Costco stores in Quebec, check out the Facebook group Les Accros du Costco. Nearly 480,000 subscribers comment on new items, discuss discounts, post their finds and ask questions.

Costco Executive Coupons

They are mailed out a few times a year.

Costco coupons for Executive members are also available here on the Costco website or at the warehouse customer service counter.

Costco Mobile App

The mobile app keeps everything in one place:

• Digital membership card to be shown at checkout or entrance;
• Receipts for warehouse and online purchases;
• Shop just like on the website;
• Check your cash back balance;
• View the latest offers.

It is available on the App Store and Google Play.

Use Any Mastercard Credit Card at Costco

Costco tip: you can use any Mastercard in Costco warehouses! Then, at Costco.ca, you can use both Mastercard and Visa.

Costco is not considered a grocery store. So you won’t have the accelerated accumulation of your credit card in supermarkets, if any.

The Best Credit Cards For Costco

To shop at Costco, we recommend one of these Mastercard credit cards, depending on the type of rewards you want to earn.

If you want the complete list per program (AIR MILES, Cash Back, travel points, hotel points), read this article: Comparison of the best credit cards for Costco Canada.

Discover below a selection of the best credit cards for your purchases at Costco, such as:

• Rogers Red World Elite^® Mastercard^®: 1.5% cash back
• National Bank World Elite Mastercard^®: 1 point per dollar
• BMO AIR MILES World Elite Mastercard: 2 miles per $12 (1.75% return)

In fact, the BMO AIR MILES World Elite Mastercard is the only one with a special category for warehouses or wholesale clubs.

A Great Credit Card for Costco.ca

The CIBC Dividend^® Visa Infinite* Card is a great way to earn cash back on all your purchases at Costco. You can use it for all your Costco.ca purchases.

The trick is to buy a Costco Shop Card, which you can then use in the warehouse. Handy if you don’t have a Mastercard!

With this credit card you earn:

• A welcome bonus
• First-year annual fee rebate
• 1% per dollar spent at Costco
• 4% per dollar of purchase in grocery stores and on gas
• Excellent insurance

Costco Tip: How to Use an Amex Credit Card for Purchases at Costco

American Express credit card holders can also shop at Costco (in a way).

The Instacart website includes a large majority of grocery chains, including Costco. Costco offers on its website the same products found in its warehouses and delivers them to your home, but with an additional fee.

Instacart accepts American Express cards for purchases made at Costco and even accepts non-Costco customers!

On the Instacart website, you select the items you want, pay for them using your American Express credit card, and delivery is completed within the specified timeframe.

With this tip, you can earn 5 times the points with the American Express Cobalt^® Card and the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card! Instacart is recognized as an eligible grocery store or food delivery service.

Take a look at your Amex offers, to see if you have an Instacart offer that gives you up to $240 in credit per year.

However, the cost to use this service is higher than a store purchase.

Here are the disadvantages of Instacart:

• High service and delivery costs
• Cost of purchases not included in the calculation of the 2% cash back for executive members
• Item cost approximately 10% more than in the warehouse

To keep costs down, Instacart offers an Instacart Express subscription for $99 a year. This eliminates delivery charges and reduces service fees.

Costco tip: instead of subscribing to a $65 or $130 Costco membership card, you can subscribe to Instacart Express. It can be useful for people who want to save time, while making the most of the return on their American Express credit card.

Bottom Line

Many seasonal items are so popular that they fly off the shelves very quickly. When you see them, take advantage right away! If not, they may not be there the next time you visit.

Happy shopping!

Frequently Asked Questions about Costco