3 Little-Known Perks of Shopping at Costco Without a Membership

If you were thinking about joining Costco, the fact that the warehouse club giant recently raised its fees may be causing you to reconsider. A basic membership at Costco now costs $65 a year, while you’ll pay $130 for an Executive membership that gives you 2% cash back on your purchases. 

The good news is that it’s possible to shop at Costco without paying for a membership of your own. If you tag along with a paid member, you can access the store in person. And you should know that anyone can make purchases from Costco.com. 

Non-members do pay a 5% surcharge on Costco.com. But if you spend less than $1,300 per year, then you’re better off paying 5% extra on your orders than forking over the $65 membership fee. 

Now, the obvious benefit of shopping at Costco without a membership is saving yourself the $65 or $130 it costs to join. That’s money you can spend on other expenses. But here are some lesser-known perks of shopping at Costco without paying for a membership of your own.

1. If you’re reliant on a friend or neighbor for store access, you might avoid overspending

Chances are, you know at least one person who’s a paid member at Costco. And if that person lives nearby and your schedules line up, then you may have an opportunity to shop at Costco with them, thereby avoiding a membership of your own.

But when you shop with someone else, you’re on their schedule. That could mean less frequent trips to the store and less time spent per Costco visit.

The less often you go to Costco, and the less time you’re able to spend browsing the aisles, the less likely you may be to fall victim to impulse buys — something that’s fairly common at Costco given the store’s massive selection and appealing prices. Plus, if you’re forced to shop with someone else, you’ll have an accountability buddy who can help you keep your spending in check.

2. If you’re not paying for Costco, you can pay for another warehouse club membership instead

Costco may carry certain products in your area that Sam’s Club doesn’t, and vice versa. But it’s hard to justify the cost of two warehouse club memberships at the same time.

Another benefit of shopping at Costco without a membership is that you’ll be freeing up the money to join another warehouse club. This could give you the best of both worlds — savings on more of the essential items you need and the things you want.

As mentioned earlier, non-members can place orders on Costco.com if they’re willing to pay a surcharge. And shopping online at Costco might make for a more pleasant experience. 

One downside of shopping at Costco in person is that the store tends to be crowded no matter when you go. If you’re limited to weekend Costco runs, you’re apt to struggle even more with jam-packed aisles. 

If you don’t have a Costco membership or someone you can shop with in person, Costco.com may be your only option (non-members can shop in person with a Costco gift card, but only members can purchase Costco gift cards). That’s not a bad thing if you dislike crowds. Plus, you may find it more efficient to make your purchases online than trek over to a store and spend time waiting in a long line to check out.

For many people, the $65 or $130 per year it costs to join Costco is more than worth it. But if you don’t feel similarly, or if you have a way to access the store in person for free, then you might as well save your money and enjoy the perks above.