Costco continues to be a popular chain in the United States, and it’s growing throughout the world. As of 2020 there were over 550 Costco stores in the United States. While the vast majority of Costco members renew their membership every year, there are still some Americans who do not want to pay for a Costco membership. Luckily, Costco makes allowances for that. If you don’t currently have a Costco account, you’ll want to understand Costco’s guest policy as well as how many people can be on your Costco membership.
Costco’s Guest Policy
Any member can bring up to one guest with them to the store. However, only Costco members are allowed to make purchases. If your guest wants to make a purchase, you will need to buy the items, and your friend will need to pay you back.
How Many People Can Be on Your Costco Membership?
Each Costco member who has a Gold Star membership is allowed to have one additional person on their membership. This person must be in the same household and 18 years or older.
How at Authorize Another Person to Your Costco Membership
Adding an authorized user to your Costco membership is simple. Just sign in to your account, click “My Account,” and go to “Account Details” to add the person you would like. Then, that person can pick up their membership card at the local Costco you choose.
You can also easily change authorized users using the same steps.
How Much Is a Costco Membership?
For people who don’t own a business, Costco offers two main membership types:
Gold Star Membership
A Gold Star Membership is Costco’s most basic type of membership. This membership costs $60 per year, allows you one free household card, and is valid at any Costco worldwide.
Executive Membership
If you shop at Costco frequently or have a large family or hungry teens, you may want to consider upgrading to an Executive Membership, which costs $120.
An Executive Membership also includes one free household card and is valid at any Costco worldwide. However, it has additional, significant benefits. These include annual 2% reward on qualifying Costco purchases (this check is sent to use once per year, usually in the month your renewal is due), additional benefits on Costco Travel products and increased savings on other Costco services.
We have an Executive Membership, and each year, our 2% reward check is greater than the additional $60 this membership costs over the Gold Star Membership, essentially making this upgrade free. Plus, we reap all the other benefits of an Executive Membership.
Final Thoughts
If you are on the fence about getting a Costco membership, try to see if a friend with a membership will let you accompany them to the store so you can see what it’s like, what products are offered, and how much they cost.
If you have a Costco membership, don’t forget to add a household member on to your Costco card for free.
Read More
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Costco Can’t Be Beat for Large Purchases
Melissa is a writer and virtual assistant. She earned her Master’s from Southern Illinois University, and her Bachelor’s in English from the University of Michigan. When she’s not working, you can find her homeschooling her kids, reading a good book, or cooking. She resides in Arizona where she dislikes the summer heat but loves the natural beauty of the area.
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