Costco is taking new steps to prevent nonmembers from entering its stores, but there are still several ways to shop at Costco without paying an annual fee.

In a notice on Costco’s website, the wholesale retailer announced it’s adding membership scanning devices at store entrances.

Costco also said it will enforce photo identification requirements, meaning you’ll need to present a Costco card with a photo or a valid photo ID like a driver’s license.

The changes will make it more difficult to evade the member requirement to enter the store, and it’ll be harder to freeload off a friend’s account. “We don’t feel it’s right that nonmembers receive the same benefits and pricing as our members,” Costco said in a statement last year regarding related measures.

Most of Costco’s profits come from membership fees, and the company says they’re what makes it possible for Costco to offer the low prices that draw crowds of customers to its stores.

But if you’re not a regular Costco shopper, it could be hard to justify buying a membership, which will cost at least $65 starting Sept. 1.

The good news is there’s a trick involving gift cards that makes it possible to shop in-store without a Costco membership.

How to shop at Costco with a gift card

Under Costco’s policies, anyone can shop at warehouse locations if they present a Shop Card, which is just a gift card.

These cards can be purchased in-store, and electronic versions are available online. The catch is that Costco Shop Cards can only be purchased by members, so for this trick, you’ll still need to rely on a family member or a friend with a membership to buy a gift card for you.

You’ll likely have to pay your friend back because the company’s policies require the name on your debit or credit card to match the account name.

If you’re worried about using this strategy, rest assured that the gift card method is allowed: “Non-members as well as members may use Costco Shop Cards to shop at any Costco location in the U.S.,” a Costco customer service FAQs page reads.

In online forums, shoppers report that they’ve been able to use small denomination Costco gift cards (ex. $25) to get in the door. Then they can fill up a cart and pay for the rest of the total with other payment methods like cash or debit. Keep in mind, however, that the rules and enforcement may vary from store to store.

Other ways to shop at Costco without membership

If the gift card method is too much hassle, there are several other ways to shop at Costco without a membership.

Much of Costco’s inventory is available online, and the company has free shipping on many items. Unfortunately, online prices are sometimes higher to offset shipping costs — and nonmembers pay a 5% surcharge over what members pay for online orders.

Nonmembers can order items with same-day delivery using Instacart.com, however, the prices are higher than what you would find shopping in person. Costco has also teamed up with UberEats for delivery — available to members and nonmembers — though this option is currently limited to select store locations, and nonmembers still pay more.

Lastly, there are several things that anyone can get at Costco without a membership, including alcohol (in 14 states), prescriptions and eye exams.

But to get the full Costco shopping experience with the lowest prices — and to be able to order the famous $1.50 hot dog deal — you’ll either need to pay for a membership or try the gift card method.

How much is Costco membership?

Costco has two main membership options:

The standard Gold Star membership is $60 per year (increasing to $65 on Sept. 1) and it includes a “household” card that can be used by a second person who lives at the same address as the account holder.

The Executive membership ($120) gets you 2% back on all purchases, which pays for itself when you spend $3,000. The price of this membership will increase to $130 on Sept. 1.

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According to a recent report from The Money.com, Costco is implementing new measures to prevent nonmembers from entering its stores. These changes include the addition of membership scanning devices at store entrances and the enforcement of photo identification requirements. This means that nonmembers will need to present a Costco card with a photo or a valid photo ID in order to enter the store.

These changes are aimed at preventing nonmembers from receiving the same benefits and pricing as members, as Costco believes it is unfair for nonmembers to receive these perks without paying the annual membership fee. However, for those who are not regular Costco shoppers, the membership fee may be hard to justify.

Fortunately, there is a trick that allows nonmembers to shop at Costco without a membership. This involves using a Costco Shop Card, which is essentially a gift card that can be purchased in-store or online. While these cards can only be purchased by members, nonmembers can still use them to shop at warehouse locations.

To use this method, nonmembers will need to rely on a family member or friend with a membership to purchase a gift card for them. They can then use the gift card to enter the store and pay for their purchases. However, the name on the debit or credit card used to purchase the gift card must match the account name.

If the gift card method is too much hassle, there are other ways to shop at Costco without a membership. Many of Costco’s products are available online with free shipping, although nonmembers may have to pay a 5% surcharge on their orders. Additionally, some shoppers have reported being able to use small denomination gift cards to enter the store and pay for their purchases with other payment methods.

Overall, while Costco is making it more difficult for nonmembers to enter its stores, there are still ways to shop at Costco without paying the annual membership fee. 

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