Costco is known for operating a membership-only basis and warehouse model, meaning that you must pay an annual fee to get a membership card that can only be used to shop in their warehouses across every locations. So, without the membership card, you cannot shop at Costco unless you go with a member, use a Costco Shop Card (Gift Card), purchase alcohol (in Certain U.S. States), get Eye tests at Costco Optical, buy from Costco Pharmacy, or shop online using other payment methods.
Non-members can also order Costco products through third-party delivery services like Instacart or Uber Eats. But these services are limited in some locations. These services allow you to shop Costco’s inventory without a membership card, but prices are typically higher than in-store, and you’ll pay service and delivery fees, plus a tip for the driver.
However, the case is different when you're shopping online, and that's what we'll beemphasizing on in this article. I'm motivated to write about this topic due to many customers' enquiries about "Can I shop/buy on Costco online without a membership card?" Then, I have decided to give an answer in this article and also show the step-by-step guide on how to shop on costco.com without a membership card.
Can I Buy on Costco Online without Membership
Yes, you can buy and shop what you want on the Costco online retail store without holding the company's membership card. You can certainly do that using other payment methods. On costco.com's check out page, you can use debit/credit card to shop and make payments.
You can as well use Costco Anywhere Visa Card, Apple Pay, Google Pay (and other digital wallet that works with NCC technology), Costco Shop Card (otherwise known as Costco Gift Card), or Affirm Financing (instalment services but for products equal to or above $500) to shop on costco.com online.
Related Article: How to Use Apple Pay for Payment on Costco.
With all these payment options, membership card is not needed for online orders on costco.com. However, it's important to note that shipping on costco.com as a non-member will incurs for a 5% surcharge. Furthermore, members-only items will be restricted, and online prices may be higher.
It's also important to note that creating a Costco account would be required, and shipping and delivery of the goods you ordered may incur for additional fees before they get to you. Non-members can purchase prescription drugs through Costco’s online pharmacy without the 5% surcharge. But, you’ll need a valid prescription from a doctor, and payment can be made with cash, debit/ATM cards, Costco Shop Cards, or Visa card.
Well, shopping on costco.com online is possible and easy without a membership card. But at the same time, it may not always be cost-effective. What did I mean? For example, if you plan to shop infrequently e.g., one or two orders per year, and spend less than $1,300 annually, the 5% surcharge may cost less than the $65 annual Gold Star membership fee.
However, if you shop frequently or make large purchases, the 5% surcharge can exceed the cost of a membership card. For instance, spending $2,000 annually would result in a $100 surcharge. This makes the $65 membership a better value.
The membership card is of two types: the physical membership card and the digital membership card. The Digital Membership Card is offered through Costco mobile app. Meanwhile, you need to know that both the physical and digital cards are only available for members and not relevant for non-members shopping online.
Related Article: List of Gift Cards that are Available on Costco.
In a nutshell, in-store shopping is generally cheaper than online shopping, even for members, due to lower prices and no shipping costs. But, the challenge is that non-members cannot shop in-store without a Costco Shop Card or other workarounds I have discussed above.
How to Shop on Costco.com as a Non-Member
Follow these simple steps to shop on costco.com online without a membership:
- Visit the Costco online retail store via www.costco.com or Costco mobile app. You can download the app on Google Play Store or Apple Store.
- Browse the available products on the online store and select your preferred product. Note that some items may be labeled “Member-Only.”
- Once you're done selecting, click on "Cart" and proceed to make payment. If you're new to the online store, you'll be asked to create an account.
- Click “Sign In / Register” and select “Create Account.” Enter your email address and a password. No membership number is required.
- Once you complete the sign-in, proceed to checkout. To do that, click “Cart” and then “Checkout.”
- Next, you'll required to submit your address information. Enter your shipping address and payment information. The payment options accepted on Costco online store have been discussed earlier in this article.
- The 5% surcharge will be reflected in the final price at checkout page (except for prescriptions). Review your order to ensure the total is acceptable. You can quite if you're not pleased with the total amount.
- But, if you're pleased with the final amount, then place your order and wait for confirmation from Costco. The confirmation will be sent your registered email address. Once the shipment is confirmed, you can begin to track your shipment once it’s dispatched. The tracking code/number will also be available on in the confirmation email.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it's possible to shop online on costco.com with a membership but comes with a 5% surcharge on most items and non-members will have restrictions on member-only products. If you plan to shop at Costco frequently, either online or in-store, I will advise you to opt-in for a membership card before it's cost-effective when compared to shopping infrequently on the online retail store.
