These Perks of a Costco Membership Are Overlooked Too Often

A basic Costco membership costs $60 a year, while an Executive membership that puts cash back in your wallet costs $120. But starting Sept. 1, these prices are rising. A basic membership will cost you $65 per year, while an Executive membership will cost $130.

Since you’re spending a good amount of money to join Costco, it’s important to get the most out of your membership. But you may not realize just how many member benefits are available to you. Here are a few that are often overlooked. 

1. Access to discounted gift cards

Though some people will tell you that it’s perfectly acceptable to stuff cash in an envelope when you need a gift for a coworker or child’s teacher, gift cards tend to be a notch classier. But did you know that when you buy gift cards at Costco, you don’t have to pay full price?

Costco carries a range of gift cards, from restaurants to services like Uber. And you can save serious money by purchasing your gift cards below face value.

Here are some of the great gift card deals Costco has available right now:

• A $100 Instacart gift card for $79.99
• Two $50 Spafinder gift cards for $79.99
• Five $15 Subway gift cards for $59.99

It pays to scope out the gift card aisle at your local Costco store. Or, look online for great deals. You may find a wider selection on Costco.com. 

2. A complete take-out meal for under $10

You’ll often hear that ordering takeout is way more expensive than buying groceries and cooking a meal at home. And generally, that’s true. But Costco’s food court pizza may be an exception to that rule.

Many people are familiar with ordering pizza by the slice at Costco’s food courts. But did you know that you can buy a whole pizza for $9.99? And did you know that you can order that pizza in advance so it’s warm and gooey and ready for you by the time you’re done with your Costco shopping? 

It’s true. You can call in an order or place one at the food court in person before you make your way through the store. 

3. Hassle-free tire maintenance

Have you ever shelled out good money for new tires only to run over something and end up with a flat just weeks later? It’s an incredibly frustrating experience, to say the least. 

The good news, though, is that if you buy your tires at Costco, a situation like that shouldn’t cost you any money. All Costco tire purchases come with a five-year road hazard warranty. 

Plus, when you buy Costco tires, services like rotations and pressure checks are included in your purchase price. That makes it easy to maintain your tires and get maximum value out of them.

4. Easy, flexible returns

Many retailers give you 30 days to return items you’ve purchased but no longer need. Some even give you 90 days. At Costco, you largely have an unlimited window of time to return items that aren’t useful to you, whether it’s apparel, home decor, or kitchen supplies. 

Now, there are exceptions, such as electronics, which only have a 90-day return window. But you should never hesitate to take items back to Costco even if it’s well beyond when you bought them, assuming they’re in returnable condition. 

It’s not so cool to take back a pair of frayed, faded jeans you bought eight months ago that you’ve been wearing almost daily on the basis of those pants not meeting your needs or expectations. 

Costco might take them back, but that’s generally an abuse of its return policy. And too many strikes could get your membership revoked. But if you bought jeans eight months ago that were never worn and still have their tags, don’t hesitate to get your money back.

These are only four of many lesser-known benefits of a Costco membership. It pays to explore the store and website to see what other products and services you may not have known about. That way, you can get the maximum value out of your membership.