Costco

[MiniMilkBottle]

Hi does anyone know how you can sign up to Costco if you don’t qualify? I’ve heard they sometimes sign people up at shopping centres but I have never seen that anywhere (I’m in London if that helps) I don’t know anyone with a card who could add me so that’s not an option.

What do you mean by don’t qualify?

i thought anyone could get a card ?

No you have to qualify. I do as an ex teacher.

Not in the uk.

You have to work in a certain sector or own a business

Unless you know someone who qualifies who is willing to add you as a friend or family member, you won’t get a card

You can buy online membership and shop online

only interested in visiting the store, not online defeats the purpose really

We have an executive card, I never knew you needed to work in a certain sector.
What sector do you work in?

I had to show a recent payslip the first time I went to the shop to prove I worked in one of the approved industries. A Costco rep had come in to my workplace to sign people up, but not everyone in the building could've joined - there would've been contractors working for things like catering and cleaning companies.

It’s on their website and they are very strict with who they allow to have one..was hoping to find a loophole 🫣

Have you checked if your employer is a partner? Some larger companies are in partnership which means their employees can sign up

Apparently you can buy and use Costco vouchers to shop in store and that bypasses the membership.

@Coconutter24 we are also business executive members because we own a business. For the "individual" card or Gold Star as it is now called you have to work in certain sectors or be qualified. The list is here

https://www.costco.co.uk/membership-goldstar-questions

As an executive card holder you get cashback on your shopping and on a weekday we get in 1 hour before the individual members and we used to get free coffee and some cake. Not sure if that is still offered post covid.

OP it is best to see if anyone you know has a card and go in with them. That way you can have a look at what you might want to buy, It isn't necessarily cheaper overall than supermarkets, it is more about quality and their own brands are very good value.

When I took my mother round Costco her comment was ‘it looks to me like they let anyone in’.

No definitely no one that has a card we don’t live near one so no one has a need but I’m willing to travel 😂

The list of eligible occupations is very broad and the self employment test is very light touch.

DP qualifies as he's self employed as a labour only subcontractor so he doesn't have a premises, employ people, buy or sell anything tangible apart from the odd bit of safety kit etc, and I think all he needed to prove this was a letter from HMRC about his self assessment and a bank statement which is our normal joint account - he doesn't even have or need a business account.

If you really wanted to join and didn't otherwise qualify, you could probably call yourself an online trader, using any old bank account to receive payments and register for self assessment to report your earnings. You wouldn't have any costs if you brought in under £1k pa and opted out of the basic NI contribution yet would likely qualify for Costco membership. I don't think they check ongoing qualification, when it's due to renew, they just ask you to do it at the till.

I never knew that I thought everyone could have it, thanks. Our executive card expired end of may and we used our cash back to renew our membership for this year and also towards the following shop, definitely worth it!

Do you actually need anything or is it the experience you’re after? 😂😂

@Coconutter24 we also use our cashback to renew too and have change. It does make you realise how much money you have spent in there though.

I do think people see it as an experience. Dh used to go every week on his way home from work, you cannot beat a Costco hot chicken. That plus normal stuff like milk. I think their cherry tomatoes are the best I have ever tasted. We buy chicken, fish, pork and minced steak from there. If it is fresh we portion it, vacuum seal it and freeze it. I have a larder freezer for this reason.

Just see people getting lots of deals from there so a bit of both really, we have a makro nearby instead so most people I know just go there instead but I thought it was rubbish when I visited, heard Costco is a lot better and also like the fact you can bulk buy from there but I’ve given up now as it seems it’s very strict.

Where are you based? I’m an executive member and can add on someone else.

Bulk buying isn’t that great tbh. I look often whilst I’m there and 9 times out of 10 it’s cheaper in the supermarket

Thanks for the offer I am in London

Honestly I wouldn't say it's worth the effort. Most stuff not much cheaper than supermarkets.