Here is a promotional Costco membership certificate for prospective new members. You buy a certificate for full price on the promotional page and then bring it in to Costco to activate your membership. I have done this promotion in the past. You’ll then get a gift card in the mail:
- Gold Star Members receive a $10 Costco Shop Card
- Gold Star Executive Members receive a $20 Costco Shop Card
Costco has two membership tiers for consumers: Gold Star membership at $60/year and Executive membership at $120/year. Executive membership comes with a 2% cash rebate on purchases (now up to $1,000 in total rebates) as well as some other side benefits. That makes the breakeven point now $3,000 annually (averages out to $250 a month).
Here are some useful details from the fine print:
To qualify as a new member, an existing Costco membership must be expired for 18 months or more. Not valid for renewal of an existing Costco membership or an upgrade of an existing membership to an Executive Membership.
The Costco Shop Card will be mailed to the address provided at the time of new membership sign up at the Costco location. The Costco Shop Card will be mailed within 4 – 6 weeks.
After joining, you may consider applying for the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi.
The Best Credit Card Bonus Offers – October 2024
Big List of Free Stocks from Brokerage Apps
Best Interest Rates on Cash - October 2024
Free Credit Scores x 3 + Free Credit Monitoring
Best No Fee 0% APR Balance Transfer Offers
Little-Known Cellular Data Plans That Can Save Big Money
How To Haggle Your Cable or Direct TV Bill
Big List of Free Consumer Data Reports (Credit, Rent, Work)
I hear they’ve got some killer deals on frozen berries!
@Jared – They do, I was on a smoothie protein shake kick for a while and they were very cheap. Strawberries, blueberries, mixed berries, even diced frozen mango. The bags are huge and take up a lot of room in the freezer, though!
@Jonathan – I think Jared was referencing the Hepatitis outbreak… (generally though, the Berries are really good!)
@Travis – Thanks, that one went right past me. You can’t even buy organic blueberries without worrying about getting sick… I’m still just getting past food poisoning as it is. 🙁
The affected product is The Townsend Farms Organic Anti-oxidant Blend:
http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Hepatitis-outbreak-linked-to-Costco-berries-4570175.php
Can the certificate be used to renew an existing membership? Mine expires next month. Thanks for posting this Jonathan.
The website says that it cannot be used to renew a gold membership….wouldn’t that be equivalent to “rejoining”?
When I signed up for executive membership, they said if you don’t make back the extra $55 upgrade cost with the 2% cashback rebates, they’ll refund the difference as a check at the membership counter. Not sure if this was bunk just to get me to sign up for the executive.
@ZH – This offer is intended to attract new members, but you can probably use it if you cancel and re-join. There may be a period that you need to be a non-member, I’m not sure.
@Stan – By re-joining, I meant that if you were a member in the past and you are currently a non-member. Renewing would be if there was no break in membership.
@pogo – Yes, I believe that is their standard policy. If you’re a new member, you can even get the Gold membership refunded if you decide it’s not worth the money.
Good deal!
But have to pass as coupons are not worth for Vegans. 🙁
@pogo They told me that too when I signed up for the Executive Membership, but the magazine mentions that it is not guaranteed. The “refund of the difference” is that you can cancel your membership if you’re unhappy.
I’ve gotten $51 back every year, which was great when it cost $50 but less great now that it costs $55. I’ll see if the desk will give me a check for $4, but I doubt it.
If I purchase from the mypoints website do you get an online certificate or do they send something via postal mail?