Costco is known for its fantastic deals on bulk groceries, household essentials, electronics, and much more. However, to unlock these savings, you generally need to purchase an annual membership. The cheapest Costco membership costs $60 per year, while the premium Gold Star Executive membership is $120 annually.
But what if you just want to check out what Costco has to offer or only need to shop there once in a blue moon? You may be wondering – does Costco offer a one-day guest pass so you can browse the aisles and snag some deals without committing to a yearly membership?
I dug into Costco‘s official policies and discovered that unfortunately, Costco does NOT offer any one-day passes or temporary memberships. To get inside a Costco warehouse and purchase items, you must either be a member or accompany one. The good news is there ARE still quite a few ways you can shop at Costco without shelling out for your own annual membership.
After extensive research and drawing on my own experiences as a savvy Costco shopper, I‘ve put together this complete guide to accessing Costco‘s low prices as a non-member. While you can‘t get an actual one-day pass, these nifty tips and tricks will help you score Costco deals with minimal commitment. Let‘s dive in!
7 Ways to Shop at Costco Without a Membership
1. Use a Costco Shop Card
One of the easiest ways to shop at Costco without your own membership is to use a Costco Shop Card. These are essentially Costco gift cards that are loaded with a cash value. They can be purchased in denominations from $25 to $1,000 and reloaded when the balance runs low.
The key is that only Costco members can buy Shop Cards, but ANYONE can use them, with or without a membership. So if you have a friend or family member with a Costco membership, ask them to pick up a Shop Card for you. You can give them the money to load on the card, and voila – you now have access to all of Costco‘s treasures!
A few things to note about using Costco Shop Cards:
- They can be used to purchase anything in-store, including groceries, electronics, clothes, gas, and more (with a few exceptions like cigarettes and alcohol in some states – more on that later).
- Non-members can use Shop Cards to shop on Costco.com too. However, you‘ll still have to pay a 5% surcharge over posted prices online.
- Up to $10,000 can be loaded on a Shop Card per day. The cards never expire and can be reloaded when you run out.
- Costco Shop Cards can be used at any Costco location in the U.S., Canada, or Puerto Rico.
2. Tag Along With a Member
The most obvious way to get your Costco fix without a membership is to hitch a ride with a friend or family member who already has one. Costco members can bring up to two guests with them each time they shop.
You‘ll be able to browse to your heart‘s content and pick out anything you like. The only catch is, your member friend will need to pay for your items at the register, since only members can make purchases. To avoid any awkwardness, it‘s a good idea to bring cash to pay your companion back on the spot.
3. Shop Online and Pay a Surcharge
Did you know you can shop on Costco.com without a membership? It‘s true! Non-members can create an account and place orders online just like members can. You don‘t even need a Shop Card.
However, there is one small caveat – a 5% surcharge is added to your order total over the listed member prices online. This helps cover costs of selling to non-members. Depending on how much you buy though, the 5% may still be cheaper than paying the membership fee.
One other drawback to online Costco shopping is that many items sold in-warehouse aren‘t available on the website. And some of the steepest discounts and deals are member-only. But for basics like pantry items, small appliances, and gift baskets, Costco.com is still a great option for non-members.
4. Buy Alcohol (In Some States)
Here‘s a fun fact – in several U.S. states, Costco is legally required to open their alcohol sales to the general public, not just members. So if you live in one of the following 14 states, you can waltz right into Costco and stock up on budget-friendly beer, wine, and spirits without a membership card:
- Arizona
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Hawaii
- Indiana
- Kentucky
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- New York
- Texas
- Vermont
Just tell the associate at the entrance that you‘re there to purchase alcohol and they‘ll let you right in. In some cases, the alcohol section may even have its own separate entrance. Note that you won‘t be able to buy anything else – just booze. But if you‘re throwing a party, Costco‘s unbeatable prices on alcohol might be reason enough to stop in.
5. Get a Temporary One-Day Pass for Health Services
On certain days, Costco opens its doors to members and non-members alike for various health services and screenings. These include:
- Optometry and eye exams
- Hearing tests and hearing aid fittings
- Vaccinations and flu shots
- Health screenings for heart health, osteoporosis, diabetes, and lung function
No membership is required and the screenings are often free or discounted. Contact your local Costco to find out when they‘re offering these services and schedule an appointment. You‘ll be given a temporary pass to enter the store on the day of your screening.
While you can‘t do a full shopping trip, you CAN fill any prescriptions you receive at the Costco Pharmacy during your visit, which offers lower prices than many competitors. Not a bad perk for getting your eyes checked or a flu shot!
6. Return an Item Purchased by a Member
Non-members can actually make returns at Costco and receive a full refund without a membership. And here‘s the kicker – the refund is issued in the form of a Costco Shop Card that you can use on the spot to buy something else! Here‘s how it works:
Let‘s say your Costco member friend buys you a shirt as a gift. If it doesn‘t fit or you want to exchange it, just bring it to the returns counter with the receipt or your friend‘s membership number. You can return it and get the cost of the shirt loaded onto a Shop Card to spend on anything else in the store. It‘s a handy trick to get a one-time Costco shopping spree without a membership.
7. Sign Up for a Membership and Cancel It
My final tip is more of a sneaky hack. Did you know that Costco memberships are fully refundable at any time? Yep, even if you‘ve used it for months, you can request a complete refund of your membership fee and cancel the membership.
So one strategy is to bite the bullet and pay for an annual membership, do your shopping, and then immediately cancel for a refund. You could even do this multiple times throughout the year if needed. This only makes sense if you plan to do some big stock-up trips, as it‘s a bit of a hassle. But it‘s a good way to test out a Costco membership risk-free to see if it‘s worth the fee for your needs.
The Verdict on Costco One-Day Passes
So there you have it – while Costco doesn‘t offer a traditional one-day guest pass, there are still plenty of ways to shop the warehouse savings without an annual membership. Between tagging along with a member, using Shop Cards, and taking advantage of the few services open to non-members, a savvy shopper barely needs to pay membership fees to enjoy Costco‘s famously low prices.
That said, if you find yourself frequently borrowing a friend‘s card or constantly reloading a Shop Card, it‘s probably time to consider an actual membership. Costco‘s regular membership fees pay for themselves pretty quickly if you shop there often, especially for big families or those who like to buy in bulk.
I hope this guide has given you plenty of options and inspiration to enjoy all Costco has to offer, with or without a membership card. Happy shopping!
