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Reading Time: 6 minutesCostco is a shopping safe haven for many families all across the world because of its incredible deals and no-frills warehouse environment. Many Costco shoppers spend tons of money buying products through the standard Costco Gold Star Membership card, so you may wonder if the Costco Executive Membership is worth it.
That’s why Slickdeals is breaking down exactly what perks come with the Executive status and if it’s worth it for you to shell out the extra cash.
Current Deals on the Costco Executive Membership
Costco will occasionally offer enticing deals to get new members to sign up for a Costco Executive Membership.
The current deals include:
Cost of a Costco Executive Membership
First, let’s compare the Gold Star and Executive costs in order to see what it’ll cost you if you do decide to upgrade or flat-out get a Costco card as a non-member.
Standard Gold Star membership is priced at $60 per year. You will need to be a Costco member in order to shop inside the warehouse, but there are ways to circumvent that and shop as a non-member if you’re going to the pharmacy, buying alcohol, grabbing a pizza or a hot dog at the food court. We have a handy guide on how to shop at Costco without a membership.
Costco Executive membership is double the standard Gold Star price at $120 per year. But there are multiple ways to make sure you’re getting your money’s worth.
- Money Back Satisfaction Guarantee: If you’re unhappy or not taking enough advantage of the benefits, there is a “risk-free 100% satisfaction guarantee” so that you can get a refund on your membership fee at any time. Simply go to the membership counter or call 1-800-774-2678. However, any rewards you’ve accumulated will be subtracted from the refund.
- Prorated Price for Upgrades: If you’re already a Gold Star member and you upgrade to Executive, the price of the upgrade will be prorated based on how many months you have left in your current membership, so you may end up paying less than the extra 60 bucks to upgrade.
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Who shouldn’t get a Costco Executive Membership?
The $120 annual fee for the Executive card is worth it if you spend more than $500 a month, or $6,000 a year total at Costco on eligible purchases. This is the exact amount to break even on the extra yearly membership fees. Most purchases online and even the trips and bookings you make via Costco Travel qualify.
If you make several big grocery purchases a month, $500 is relatively easy to meet just from buying food alone. Some of the best things to buy at Costco include meats, salmon, and organic veggies.
Who should get a Costco Executive Membership?
If you don’t feel you will spend more than $500 a month at Costco, and/or reach that $6,000 yearly total, you won’t benefit from a Costco Executive Membership.
Benefits of Costco Executive Membership
To start both the Costco Gold Star and Executive Memberships offer:
- Access to shopping inside Costco’s warehouses
- Access to buying products through Costco’s website and avoid non-member surcharges
- Use of Costco’s member services, such as gas stations, auto repairs, travel, insurance and more
Where the Executive really shines is in the rewards you can earn, which we cover below.
1. Earn 2% Rewards on Eligible Purchases
When you upgrade to the Executive membership, the most notable difference is that you can earn a 2% reward annually on qualified purchases you make through its warehouses, online and even the trips and bookings you make via Costco Travel.
Here is a breakdown of the rewards you can earn based on your spending:
- Spend $3,000 a year and get $60 in rewards
- Spend $6,000 a year and get $120 in rewards
- Spend $9,000 a year and get $180 in rewards
- Spend $15,000 a year and get $300 in rewards
- Spend $50,040 a year and get $1,000 in rewards (the maximum)
Note that there is a cap of a $1,000 that you can get back annually, so once you hit that limit you can no longer earn additional rewards on purchases.
2. Access to Additional Executive Member Savings
Also, in addition to the 2% reward back, the Executive membership gives you more savings on Costco services such as “check printing, identity protection and free roadside assistance for vehicles covered through the auto insurance program.” Plus, you get other perks like glass repair reimbursement and home lockout assistance.
Little-known tip: On top of the 1-year manufacturer’s warranty, either Costco memberships will qualify you for an additional 1-year warranty extension on TVs, computers, major appliances or water heaters. So, that’s 2 years you’re covered for any potential mishaps on electronics and appliances!
3. Earn Rewards from Costco Travel
If you and your family make a yearly vacation getaway, Costco Travel is even more perfect to qualify for the 2% reward on everything you book from flights to hotels and complete packages. I routinely reserve my vehicles through Costco Travel to compare multiple businesses and get the cheapest prices. Keep in mind that surcharges, resort charges, trip protection and gratuities don’t count toward the reward.
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Purchases That Don’t Count Towards the 2% Reward
And just so you’re not surprised while checking out your items, you don’t earn 2% rewards on these purchases:
- Alcohol (in various states)
- Auto Purchasing
- Battery Fees
- Costco Shop Cards/Gift of Membership
- Food Court
- Gasoline
- Home Delivery Services (Delivery Charges, Installation)
- Membership Fees
- Optical Exams
- Stamps
- Tire Balance & Installation Fees
- Tire Disposal Fees
- Tobacco
- Prescription drug purchases in certain states
So if you thought about getting the Executive Membership because you need new tires for your vehicles, or you’re hoping to purchase a new vehicle through Costco, these purchases will not be counted towards the 2% reward, so it may not make sense to upgrade.
How to Use Your 2% Rewards
- In-store: To use your rewards, simply hand the certificate to the cashier when checking out at your local warehouse.
- Online: If you want to use your rewards when shopping at Costco.com, you must first redeem it for a Costco Shop Card at a warehouse, which can then be used to shop online.
When will I receive my 2% reward?
Your 2% rewards will be automatically mailed to you in the form of a certificate around two months prior to your member renewal date. If you’re not sure when your renewal date is, inquire at your local Costco warehouse or check your account through Costco.com or using the Costco app.
What can I redeem my 2% reward on?
You can spend your rewards on most items when shopping at Costco warehouses.
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Is the Costco Executive Membership worth it?
We’ll make it very clear and simple for you: the $120 annual fee for the Executive card is worth it if you spend more than $500 a month or $6,000 a year total at Costco on eligible purchases. Those are the exact numbers needed to get $120 in rewards and break even on the extra yearly cost in the membership fees.
The Costco Executive Membership is absolutely worth it if you have a big family to feed and care for. If you make several big grocery purchases a month, $500 is relatively easy to meet just from buying food alone. You can stock up on food, toilet paper, skincare products, and bath and body items to make the most of your membership. Plus, it’s also worth it if you or your loved ones travel frequently through Costco or are looking to make some purchases on large appliances like TVs, fridges, dishwashers, washer/dryers and more.
Final Thoughts on Costco’s Executive Membership
Now, after learning more about the differences and perks, gather those past Costco receipts and plan your big purchases and vacation trips accordingly to see if you can easily match that $500 monthly or $6,000 yearly amount. If so, then it doesn’t hurt to go to the membership counter and ask about the Executive upgrade.
If you’re on the fence about it, remember that earlier we stated Costco will refund that extra cost in case you’re unsatisfied or not fully taking advantage of everything Executive has to offer.
Frequently Asked Questions
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According to several reports, the average Costco shopper tends $114 each trip, with the average trip including nine items.
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This really depends on how much you spend at Costco in a given month or year and will vary greatly from person to person.
Costco is well-known for its great deals and low prices on many items, so you will probably save money on many household grocery staples as well as clothing, office supplies, and more. Then, with the 2% reward, your savings will be even more.
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Not anymore. Some of you savvy shoppers might have taken advantage of the special warehouse hours back in the days for Executive members, but sadly, that unique access is no longer available. There are still special operating hours for elderly members over the age of 60, the disabled and immunocompromised.
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Both the Executive and Gold Star Memberships come with one free card for a member of your household over the age of 18, and all cardholders can earn the 2% annual reward when making eligible purchases. The additional cardholder must have the same residential address as the primary cardholder.
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Unfortunately, one-day passes and free trials are not offered by Costco. But there is a risk-free satisfaction guarantee, so if you are not satisfied with your membership experience, you can request a full refund.
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Costco can definitely be worth it for two people. Even if you’re not buying large quantities of food, the prices on appliances, books, clothing, office supplies, furniture, holiday decorations, and more are typically very reasonable, making Costco a great option for a couple.
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In many cases, Costco is cheaper. Granted, Walmart sells single items at reasonable prices, so if you’re not interested in buying bulk quantities you may prefer to shop there at times. But in general, Costco offers outstanding prices, as well as other deals on services Walmart does not offer.
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Jin Rhee
For the past decade, Jin Rhee has been a content writer with expertise in comedy, sports, and technology. Besides finding the best deals, Jin Rhee enjoys keeping up with the latest current events and the ongoing NBA bubble.
