Gift cards make it easy to purchase gifts for someone. Many people purchase gift cards as a last-minute present from a store or online.
Costco gift cards are a good gift because they can be purchased ahead of time and paid for in full. Costco gift cards don’t expire, and they can be used in your local warehouse or online. In addition, you likely know someone who’s a member, given Costco has over 100 million members.
We’ll discuss where to buy Costco gift cards and how to use them.
Where can you buy Costco gift cards?
Costco gift cards can only be purchased at Costco stores or Costco.com if a Costco membership is active. Costco is the only retailer that sells gift cards. You cannot purchase a Costco gift certificate from other retailers like Walgreens or Walgreens.
An alternative way to buy a Costco gift card without a membership is using a gift card resale website like Raise.com or eBay. These sites sell discount gift cards to retailers, restaurants, grocery shops, and many other businesses. You should be careful about buying gift cards from third parties.
Surprisingly, you can still visit a Costco warehouse and shop with only a Costco gift card.
Using a Costco gift card without membership?
To use your Costco gift card at the warehouse without a membership, simply show your Costco gift card to the door attendant checking the ID of members.
You can use the Shop Card for merchandise, gasoline at a Costco Gas station pump or buy pizza in the Costco Food Court without having a membership. Non-members can use the gift card to purchase a Costco membership in any Costco warehouse or on its website.
Students whose parents are Costco Shop Card members will also find it useful. Instead of paying for a membership, parents may give them a store gift card and reload it as needed.
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Checking Costco Gift Card Balance
On its website, you can check the balance of your Costco gift cards.
Here are the steps to check your Costco Gift Card balance
- Go to Costco.com first and click on “Costco Shop Card Balance”. This link is located near the bottom.
- To authenticate your Costco Shop Card card, please enter the unique Costco Shop Card numbers on the back.
- Enter the 4-digit PIN that is located on the backside of your Costco Shop Card. Scratch off the silver security feature on the back if the four-digit PIN isn’t visible. Don’t panic if your card doesn’t include the silver security feature because some cards do, and others don’t have the feature.
- Choose the ‘Check Balance’ option from the drop-down menu, and your current balance should appear.
In addition, you can check the balance on your Costco Digital Shop Card using the same method. Enter the Shop Card number, pin and email address.
You can also call Shop Card customer service at 1-888-668-9668 to verify your balance. For assistance with checking your Costco gift cards balance, call 1-888-668-9668 Monday through Friday and 8: 00 am to 5: 30 pm Saturday.
Do Costco Gift Cards Expire?
Costco gift cards are non-expired and can be reloaded at any Costco warehouse. However, Costco gift certificates cannot be used to purchase money unless the law permits.
Your state may allow you to get cash back if your balance falls below a specific threshold. California, Connecticut and Colorado are the states that allow you to convert a gift card into cash. You can receive cash back depending on where you live.
Just what is a Costco Shop Card.
Costco Shop Card can be used to pay for your purchases, without you having to have cash or credit. They are non-expiring, can be recharged, and come in a variety of denominations ranging from $25 to $2,000.
Costco members are required to purchase a Costco Shop Card. To join, go to any Costco warehouse or visit Costco.com. The card will be mailed to your home if you order a Costco Shop Card online.
Costco.com makes it easy to purchase a Shop Card and add a personal message at checkout. Members can also reload their Costco Shop Cards at any Costco warehouse.
Surprisingly both members and non-members are able to use Costco Shop cards to purchase at any Costco store in the United States or Canada.
Your Costco Shop Card balance can be viewed online, at your local Warehouse, or by calling our customer service.
Costco Shop Cards can be used to purchase a membership, goods, including fuel purchases at the Costco Gas Station and pizza at Costco Food Court.
See our guide to gas stations that have vacuum cleaners nearby.
Costco Gift Card Purchase Online.
You can buy Costco gift cards online if your nearest Costco Warehouse is not available or you wish to gift someone a Costco Shop Card.
You can buy a Costco gift cards online by following these steps:
- Costco.com
- Log in or create an account. You will need to have a Costco Membership in order to buy a gift card online. If you already have Costco membership and haven’t set up an online account, then you will need to create an account.
- Search for “Costco Card”
- Choose the Costco Shop Card item from the drop-down menu. If you are unable to locate it, please visit this page.
- Select a denomination that is between $25-$2,000 to make the card.
- Select “add to your cart.”
- Select “Show Cart” from the drop-down menu.
- Checkout.
Online payment for a Costco Shop Card can be made with a Visa, Mastercard Discover, or most ATM/debit cards with a PIN and a gift certificate.
Your Costco gift card will arrive at your address within 7 to 10 business day. There is no balance on the card. You can activate the card by calling the toll free number once you receive the card by mail.
Costco Gift Card Online Uses
Costco gift cards can be used to buy online for members and nonmembers. Non-Costco members will be charged a 5% surcharge for items purchased above the list price.
You can make online purchases using a Costco gift coupon by following these steps:
- To complete your purchase, first select “cart”
- Next, click ‘add’ at the Costco Shop Card section.
- Next, enter number 2 on your Costco gift certificate.
- Finalize by entering your four-digit security number, which you will find printed on your card’s back.
Some credit cards offer a silver security feature that can be used in place of your 4-digit PIN. To see your PIN code, just scratch the security layer.
The amount remaining on your card will be subtracted from your gift card balance. Once you’ve finished the checkout, your remaining balance in gift cards will appear.
You will need to use another payment method to pay the remainder of the Shop Card balance if you want to use it.
You can also refill your Costco gift cards at any Costco warehouse, but not online.
Using a Costco gift card for gas?
Even if you are not a member, you can use your Costco gift card to pay for gas at the Costco Gas Station. You can simply insert your gift cards at the pump to make it work. You can use the gift card balance up to its maximum limit.
Your college student can get a Shop Card so they can buy gas at Costco for a low price without having to be a member.
Instacart – How to Use Costco Gift Cards?
Costco Shop Card can not be used to buy items using Instacart same day delivery. To pay for 2-Day Delivery Service, however, you can use your Costco gift card.
Instacart Same Day Delivery to Costco is available for all major credit and debit card types.
Can You Buy a Costco Membership as a Gift?
Costco offers $60 memberships for gift giving. It’s called the Gift of Gold Star Membership and can be used for a new membership or upgrade to the Executive. The Costco Executive membership hours remain the same as the basic but it provides additional benefits such as cashback and services for $120 annually.
You can give Executive memberships as gifts by purchasing two Gift of Gold Star Membership gift certificates.
To redeem the Gift of Gold Star Membership, you must take it to your local Costco Warehouse. The receiver can also upgrade to Executive status at the membership counter.
If the gift recipient is already Costco Member, they may use their Gift of Membership card to upgrade or renew their membership.
Costco has restaurant gift cards.
Yes, Costco members can buy restaurant gift cards at a discount online and in-store. You can also choose from a variety of gift cards for restaurants in most warehouses.
Gift cards for local restaurants are likely to be available at your local Costco. In addition, you can buy discount restaurant gift cards at Costco online, including:
- Bahama Buck’s
- Ruby Tuesday
- Landry’s has 425 locations that offer restaurant brands including Brickhouse Tavern, Bubba Gump Shrimp and Chart House.
- Boston Market
- Hard Rock Cafe
- Taco Time
- Baja Fresh Mexican Grill
- Jamba Juice
- Peet’s Coffee
- Famous Dave
- Granite City
- Smashburger
- Instacart 1-Year Express Membership
- Pinstripes
- Texas de Brazil
- Rock Bottom
- Old Chicago
- Romano’s Macaroni Grill
- O’Charley’s
- Krispy Kreme
- California Pizza Kitchen
- Best of Italy: Bravo, Bertucci’s, Brio, and Buca de Beppo
*All Costco restaurant gift certificates that are sold online at discounted prices are subject to alteration.
See our guide on Costco employee discounts.
Does Costco Sell Visa Gift Cards?
No, Costco does not sell Visa gift cards. No, you cannot buy prepaid Visa gift card denominations online or in-store. Costco.com and warehouses sell discount gift cards of other brands.
You can also use a Visa gift certificate from another retailer to pay for Costco purchases. Visa gift card can be purchased at Walgreens CVS Target Walgreens Walmart Walgreens Kroger Kroger Amazon.
Is Costco selling Disney Gift Cards?
Costco is not able to sell Disney gift vouchers online or in stores. Costco sells on a rotational basis gift cards from many restaurants, airlines such as Southwest Airlines and Delta, retailers such as Ulta and Lowe’s, as well services like massage deals and Roblox gaming.
Alternativ, you can purchase Disney gift cards at places like Target, Best Buy, Disney Stores, Sam’s Club, and Disney Stores.
Costco Gift Card Shopping Guide
Costco gift certificates can only purchased from its warehouse and website. Costco gift coupons don’t expire. Additionally, the Costco gift card is non-transferable. This means that you can use it to purchase in-store items like a mattress and pizza at the Food Court.
See our guide for Using VSP and EyeMed Insurance at Costco Stores.