The Offer
- Groupon is offering a one year Costco membership for the regular price of $65/$130 and you’ll get a $45 Costco shop card as a bonus.
After your purchase you’ll receive an email from Costco confirming your membership details. Please allow up to two hours to receive your confirmation email. Incentive will be emailed within 2 weeks after sign-up to qualifying members. A physical membership card is not required to shop online or receive your incentive. To receive your physical membership card, visit the membership counter at the nearest Costco location. Please bring a photo ID with a copy of your Costco or Groupon confirmation email.
The Fine Print
- Valid only for new members or those whose previous memberships have been expired for at least 18 months or more. Not valid for the renewal or upgrade of an existing Costco membership.
- Promotional value expires Dec 22, 2024. To qualify for the Digital Costco Shop Card you must purchase this promotion by Dec. 22, 2024.
- Please allow up to two hours to receive your confirmation email from Costco. You must have either your Costco or Groupon confirmation email to receive your physical membership card at a Costco location.
- A physical membership card is not required to shop online or receive your incentives.
- Incentive includes a Digital Costco Shop Card: Digital Costco Shop Card will be emailed within 2 weeks after sign-up to qualifying members. Digital Costco Shop Card will be emailed to the email address provided by the Primary Member at time of sign-up.
- Limit 1 Groupon voucher per person. Limit 1 membership and incentive per household.
- Voucher will be redeemed, and 1-year membership period will begin immediately upon purchase of the voucher. Photo identification required when you visit the warehouse to pick up your membership card. Must be 18 or older.
Our Verdict
We saw a similar deal a few months back. With this current deal payment is completed via Groupon; you can thus use a shopping portal for added cashback (looks like Rakuten is 8%).
One downside of Groupon payment – I’m unsure if you can get a refund on the overage cost of the $130 Executive membership when the payment was made through Groupon and not directly with Costco.
Many state laws require free access to Costcos if they sell alcohol. Just tell the rep at the entrance you plan to purchase wine or beer.
Same with gas, prescriptions and optical. Some of the locations actually have liquor at a separate entrance. Couple states don’t allow Costco to sell liquor at all, I think MD and PA.
Good points. Unfortunately, though, you can’t buy prescription glasses or contacts there without a Costco membership card.
As a former VA resident and now PA resident, both states are state run liquor, nobody can sell it other than the state
Do I need to activate the membership online or in store? Or i can start to use the membership right away?
Fine print states it can be used right away. Store is just if you want to get the physical card (which might be needed for in-club purchases, I’d guess)
I got success once by enrolling costco membership although I was not a new customer I received $30 gift card (this was enrolled from perksatwork).
I tried the same next year but Costco treated me as an existing customer so I would pass.
It was a long 3 month wait, but glad i didn’t renew.
I had a feeling this $45 offer would come back somewhat before EOY.
Now it’s time to sign P2 up on November first and we can start our Costco adventures again!
You never have to stop with enough stocked up shop cards.I am set for a year.
Then why did you also say this? Also, have you run into the card scanners at the entrance? Wonder how that works with those trying to get in with a shop card…
Aki July 10, 2024 00:15 #1872069
Yeah they don’t really let you shop regularly with shop cards(always some random excuse to waste time, last time it was 50% or more of your balance has to be on shop card) or try the P1/P2 trick since they diligently check id when checking out.
Just tell them you have a gift card and there shouldn’t be a problem.
Costco near me said they stopped allowing non members in with a shop card last year. I haven’t tried again since then, but they were adamant.
my stores are still ok with a shop card
Do you have entry scanners yet?
The T&C say you don’t need a membership to use them, and suggest buying them for family and friends.
Sigh, I paid full price for this yesterday
ugh, of course it’s bumped up to a $45 shop card bonus right after i just signed up last month for the $20 shop card bonus 😒
I signed up for the last deal and Groupon never honored the 60 off 200. Membership services wasn’t helpful, asking me to contact Groupon.
if ya choose to cancel, do ya think will get a full refund?
Does being P2 on another person’s account in the past year count towards the 18 months?
Mixed data points on SD. I was truly a 1st time member this august and got everything (40gc+60 coupon+$20 chase cb) while I was leeching on other people’s memberships for years, had products shipped to my address, etc. BUT I was never officially P2, just used their card in store, and had own online account (they never had that) with their card#.
does anyone found out the answer for this question?
if I had a card as auxilliary on another membership does that count towards this, or can I get a new membership in my own name?
The terms say Primary and Household members are considered prior members for the purpose of the 18 month clock for eligibility
In for one membership for sweeping Uber gift cards