I have been a loyal Costco member for many years now! Even back when I was more or less broke while raising 4 growing kids, I still made room in our budget for a Costco membership. The money I saved from buying food in bulk at low prices always exceeded the cost of the membership by a large margin, so it was well worth that upfront cost.
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While I’m definitely not buying as much food as I did back in those days, I still get a lot out of my Costco membership. In fact, after all I’ve learned about the services that Costco offers, I think I probably use my membership now more than ever! Which brings us around to today’s post, because today I’m sharing 11 lesser-known benefits of having a Costco membership!
Also, I wanted to quickly mention that this post is NOT sponsored by Costco. I’m not associated with Costco in any way, other than the fact that I like shopping there! :-) I’ve used many of the services listed below, and I just wanted to make sure you weren’t missing out on any of these convenient and money-saving benefits! So let’s get to it!
Related: 7 Surprising Costco Tips You Need To Know About
11 Hidden Benefits Of Your Costco Membership
1. Travel Deals
Costco partners with hotel chains, car rental companies, and cruise lines to offer great deals on travel. They find great group discounts and bulk savings, and pass those deals onto their members. Costco even has travel experts that will work with you to plan your perfect trip! And when you’re quoted a price for a travel deal, they include taxes and fees, so there are no surprises when it comes time to pay.
I had a great experience renting cars through Costco last September. We were planning a family vacation to Hawaii and wanted to rent a couple of cars while we were there. I had gotten a price quote from one of the major rental car companies, but then a friend recommended I look into renting cars through Costco. And to my delight, Costco’s price ended up being less than half of the original quote!
2. Prescription Drugs
Costco members can take advantage of the Member Prescription Program to get discounts on prescription medications. This is a great option for people who are uninsured or don’t receive prescription benefits through their health insurance. For more information about the Member Prescription Program, check out the Frequently Asked Questions page.
3. Hearing & Vision Exams
You can get an eye exam for a competitive price through Costco Optical. (The actual price varies by location, so call your local Costco Optical department for current pricing information.) And every Costco Hearing Aid Center offers hearing tests, follow-up appointments, and check-ups for free!
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4. Discounted Gift Cards
Buying gift cards at Costco can save you quite a bit of money! It’s not unusual to see deals like two $50 gift cards for $79.99, or four $15 gift cards for $44.99. These deals make it really affordable to stock up on gift cards for Christmas or birthdays! Look for gift cards for movie theaters, theme parks, performances, activities, and more.
5. Insurance
Costco has partnered with Ameriprise Insurance to offer discounted rates on home, auto, renters, and specialty insurance. These policies often offer special Executive Member benefits too, like roadside assistance, lockout assistance, and more. Get a free quote for Ameriprise Insurance policies through Costco at this link.
6. Gas & Tires
Many Costco locations have a Fuel Center where members can fill up their cars for a lower price than most gas stations. The fuel is rated as Top Tier, meaning it meets a high quality standard and contains detergents that help keep your engine clean.
Costco members can also take advantage of the Tire Center. They frequently offer discounts and rebates on sets of four new tires. So if you ever need a new set of tires, make sure to check out what Costco has to offer! It’s hard to beat their five-year Road Hazard Warranty, which they offer on all tires they sell.
7. Tech Support
Costco Concierge Services offer free technical support on any kind of gadget that you bought at Costco. This includes laptops, printers, monitors, home theater systems, tablets, TVs, and even major appliances. For more information on Costco’s tech support services, click here.
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8. Quality Meat & Seafood
If I ever need to buy an expensive cut of meat, I head to Costco to get it. (For instance, I always get my Christmastime prime rib from Costco!) I always know I’m going to get the best quality for my money from their Meat & Seafood departments. The butchers are also very helpful and have always been willing to answer my questions or help me with any special requests.
And if you aren’t already aware, Costco’s rotisserie chickens are consistently one of the best deals available in the entire store. You can get a delicious roasted chicken for just $5.99!
9. Book Signings
Not only is Costco a great place to score a great price on a new book, it’s also a great place to meet the author of that book! Check out the Author Signings page on Costco.com to check out upcoming book signings at your local store.
10. Floral Delivery
You may have already bought flowers at Costco, but did you know you can get them delivered as well? Prices start at just $39.99 (including delivery fees!) Check out Costco’s floral offerings here.
11. Ink Cartridge Refills
Ink cartridges can be crazy expensive, even when you buy them through Costco! But many Costco locations also offer another option—ink cartridge refills. You’ll pay a fraction of the cost to refill your cartridge rather than buy a new one (and it’s less wasteful!) To find out if your local Costco can refill your particular ink cartridges, click here.
Do you have a personal favorite Costco service or product?
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