No membership fee loophole closed at Costco (ON)

[Shwa Girl]

We wanted to purchase a $25 Costco Cash Card. As of last week, there are no more $25 cash cards. Why?
People were able to buy the $25 cash card with a friend/relative member, and use the $25 cash card as a Day Pass.

Now, Costco's minimum cash card value is $50. The Costco guy explained that, $50 encourages people to go ahead and purchase the $55 membership.

Well, at least you can still cancel at any time and get the full membership fee back.

[abbasgirl]

I didn't even know there was such a loophole! Is a cash card like a gift card? Because if it is, it would still make more sense to buy the card and actually get to spend the money instead of wasting it on a membership.

[Shwa Girl]

I didn't even know there was such a loophole! Is a cash card like a gift card? Because if it is, it would still make more sense to buy the card and actually get to spend the money instead of wasting it on a membership.

It's a Costco card loaded with $$. It's not a gift card that you can use other places. Only at costco and costco.ca

[annedougherty]

Yeah...so the loophole isn't closed then. You just have to buy, or have someone buy a $50 card. How is the loophole closed? I

[Shwa Girl]

Yeah...so the loophole isn't closed then. You just have to buy, or have someone buy a $50 card. How is the loophole closed? I

$50 versus $55. They made it attractive to spend $5 more for the one year membership, and all the benefits of membership
http://www.mycostcoservices.com/myco...ring_2015#pg34

[Arvilish]

I have never been to Cosco

Its one of my 'bucket-list' along with Zoo, Wonderland etc. lol

[nicolthepickle]

I have never been to Cosco

Its one of my 'bucket-list' along with Zoo, Wonderland etc. lol

This made me smile. I've been to Costco. My list includes Ikea.

[Lynn49]

$50 versus $55. They made it attractive to spend $5 more for the one year membership, and all the benefits of membership
http://www.mycostcoservices.com/myco...ring_2015#pg34

I must be dense. So for $55 I have a membership....but no $50 gift card? So I'd have to spend an additonal $50 on top of the membership, making my total outlay $110?
Doesn't make sense to me. Why not just buy the $50 gift card?

[abbasgirl]

It's a Costco card loaded with $$. It's not a gift card that you can use other places. Only at costco and costco.ca

Yeah, that's what I thought. I'm with Lynn on this one. $55 just for the privilege of walking through the door or $50 that you get to spend there (and walk freely through the door) seems like a no brainer to me.

[CrazyQT]

Yeah, that's what I thought. I'm with Lynn on this one. $55 just for the privilege of walking through the door or $50 that you get to spend there (and walk freely through the door) seems like a no brainer to me.

Think about the people that work there. They need to be paid and the membership fees allow people to continue to shop there in bulk at a fraction of the cost (on most products) that regular supermarkets sell at.

If every person did the "loophole" way of shopping at Costco the doors would surely close putting thousands of people out of work.

[Shwa Girl]

I must be dense. So for $55 I have a membership....but no $50 gift card? So I'd have to spend an additonal $50 on top of the membership, making my total outlay $110?
Doesn't make sense to me. Why not just buy the $50 gift card?

Hi Lynn49, if you spend $55 for the membership you get to shop at Costco
plus discounts on gas
plus car discounts
plus travel discounts at costco.ca
plus rental car discounts at costco.ca
plus movie package discounts
plus lower prices on selected items (some are able to use coupons to get deals better than Costco).

We shop for friends and family all the time and they pay us back.
The gas is the best deal for us when other stations raise prices in peak summer travel or

[Shwa Girl]

I have never been to Cosco

Its one of my 'bucket-list' along with Zoo, Wonderland etc. lol

If you don't go in to the store, you can shop online at costco.ca without a membership

[Arvilish]

On side note: how did you get TOP T on your profile???

[annedougherty]

I must be dense. So for $55 I have a membership....but no $50 gift card? So I'd have to spend an additonal $50 on top of the membership, making my total outlay $110?
Doesn't make sense to me. Why not just buy the $50 gift card?

You're not dense Lynn that is my point lol. No loophole is closed you just have to buy a $50 card. If I a had been a person getting $25 cards to shop there I still wouldn't buy a membership, just a $50 card.

[annedougherty]

Hi Lynn49, if you spend $55 for the membership you get to shop at Costco
plus discounts on gas
plus car discounts
plus travel discounts at costco.ca
plus rental car discounts at costco.ca
plus movie package discounts
plus lower prices on selected items (some are able to use coupons to get deals better than Costco).

We shop for friends and family all the time and they pay us back.
The gas is the best deal for us when other stations raise prices in peak summer travel or

Well just to play Devil's Advocate then by shopping for people and them paying you back they are avoiding paying membership fees and shopping there, no? lol You are facilitating a loophole! lol. I'm only kidding by the way, please no one take offense!