Here’s The Trick To Get A Free Year Of Shopping At Costco

Saving money any way possible is a priority for many, and if you are a regular shopper at Costco, there is a trick that can put a little more scratch in your pocket for a rainy day. It is a somewhat devious strategy, admittedly. But after it is said and done, you will be potentially $65 to $130 richer for your trouble, depending on what type of membership you have. Even if you just want access to Costco’s $1.50 hot dog deal, this trick will allow you to enter the food court like a fully-fledged member for up to 364 days.

Costco strives to guarantee that all its patrons walk away with a smile, and that includes refunding purchases for dissatisfied customers — even on membership cards. Moreover, you can cancel that card within one day of it expiring. If you are feeling roguish, you can buy a membership, use it for nearly a year, and then get a refund on the purchase of the card.

It’s possible you might get pushback from store staff who are eager to keep you on the plan — that is their job, after all. But, they can’t force you to keep it. Stick to your guns if you want to follow through with this strategy. However, it is worth noting that the membership fees contribute to Costco’s discount prices, and utilizing this sneaky trick may result in the store raising prices in the future. If this hack doesn’t sound like it’s for you, there are other, less crafty ways to save while shopping at Costco.

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Less Tricky Ways Of Saving At Costco

If you sincerely don’t want to fork over any cash for a membership, find a friend who already has one. While you won’t be able to take advantage of their discounts directly, you can have them buy Shop Cards for you. Members and non-members alike can use these pre-paid cards to access savings on anything in the store, including meat, produce, pantry staples, and Costco coffee from a popular brand — but only a bona fide member can acquire them.

Another way to benefit from the retailer’s low prices is to purchase your spirits there. Because of some (but not all) state regulations, Costco isn’t allowed to turn away non-members seeking alcohol. Kirkland products tend to be available for some of the deepest discounts, so if you aren’t stuck on buying a specific brand of liquor, this can save you a pretty penny on your cocktails.

You could also simply obtain a membership and use it in good faith. An upgraded Executive Membership awards folks with 2% cash back annually on all purchases from the store. It is an upfront cost of $130, but if you spend over $3,000 throughout the year, you will essentially be getting the upgrade for free. Sometimes, it isn’t necessary to employ devious tricks to save some dough at Costco — you just have to use what they offer to your advantage.

Read the original article on Foodie.