Costco is well known for being one of the most cost-effective places to purchase groceries and food. Costco is a members-only warehouse club; therefore, customers are expected to come with their cards to shop.
So, if you’re a member, you might be wondering if your husband can use your Costco card without you. If you’d like to find out, keep reading!
Can My Husband Use My Costco Card Without Me In [currentyear]?
According to Costco, the membership card is non-transferable; therefore, it can’t be used by your family and friends in [currentyear]. As a primary member, you can assign a free household card to your husband, and he can use it to pay for items if you’re not there. However, according to some customers and employees, the policy varies in some warehouses.
Read on for more information about whether your husband can use your Costco card without you, like if your spouse can shop at Costco without a card, among other facts!
How Can My Husband Shop at Costco Without a Card?
If your husband is not a member and doesn’t have a Costco card, there are still ways to shop.
Since you’re the primary member, you can assign a free household card to him, which will allow him to get similar benefits as a Costco member.
To add your husband to the account, sign in to your account and open “Account Details,” and include their details.
Note that you’ll need to verify that the additional person lives in your residence and you’ll need to provide official documentation.
Once the details have been added, your husband can pick up their membership card at the nearest Costco location.
Can My Husband Shop On Costco.com Without a Card?
To shop on Costco.com, you don’t need a membership card. Therefore, your husband can use personal information to purchase items from Costco.
However, this comes with a downside; as a non-member, your husband will pay higher prices for the products, as Costco cardholders receive a 5% discount when shopping at Costco.com
Therefore, to avoid paying more, it’s better to register as a member or register your husband for a free household card.
How Many People Can Be On My Costco Membership?
If you are on the basic Gold Star membership, you can add a total of two people- a primary member, and the additional free household member.
At this time, the additional household member must be over 18 and live at the same address.
As the primary member, you can always change the person who received the second card at any time.
However, if you’re on the Business membership, you can add more than one person at an extra fee.
What Happens If You’re Caught Using Someone Else’s Costco Card?
Some customers say cashiers are not bothered if you’re caught shopping without a Costco membership card.
However, according to the Costco card policy, members are not supposed to share their Costco cards with family or friends.
When this happens, the retailer could revoke your membership card and refund your membership fee. Therefore, it’s not recommended to use another member’s card.
How Can You Shop at Costco Without a Membership Card?
If your husband or other members of your household don’t have a Costco membership, there are other ways to shop at the warehouse club locations without a card, such as the following:
Using a Costco Gift Card
Costco gift cards are usually available at different sites, making it easy for non-members to get them to pay for purchases.
Overall, this is one of the ways to buy items at Costco, even if you’re not a member.
Fill Out a Prescription
Customers don’t have to be Costco members to use the pharmacy; therefore, anyone can fill a prescription.
At this time, you don’t need a membership card to buy over-the-counter medications, but you’ll need one if you have to buy more items like glasses or hearing aids.
Go Shopping Together
Since Costco allows members to take two guests per visit, your friend or family member can accompany you to the store.
If your friend or family member wishes to purchase something, a common practice is for the cardholder to put the purchase on their account, and have the person pay them back later on.
Shop On Costco.com
Non-members can shop on the Costco website and take advantage of the discounts and offers to save money. However, non-members get a 5% surcharge on some items.
Use a Delivery Service
If you want to shop at Costco but you don’t have a card, you can also use third-party delivery services like Instacart.
These services will not request your membership number, making it easier to get items from any Costco warehouse.
What Is a Costco Card?
A Costco card is issued once you register for a membership. To shop at Costco and enjoy the benefits, you need to register as a warehouse club member.
Once you sign up for a membership on the Costco website, you can pick up your card at the membership counter.
Currently, you need to show your card at the store’s entrance to gain access to the warehouse and shop.
In fact, these cards usually have the owner’s name and photo printed on the back for confirmation purposes, which means you need to be the cardholder to gain entrance.
Who Can Use Your Costco Card?
As a Costco member, you need to know how the Costco card works and who can use it.
According to the Costco website, the membership card is non-transferable; therefore, your husband can’t use it when you’re not there.
If you have a card, you can bring up to two guests to the Costco warehouses for each visit, but you have to pay for the items at the checkout as the primary member.
Costco employees check the cards at the door and at checkout to confirm that the shopper is a member.
However, according to some Costco customers, it’s possible to use a family’s member Costco card even if you’re not a member.
Additionally, Costco employees allow some customers to pay via cash or debit if they throw a fit, even if they’re non-members.
To know more, you can also read our posts on the things to know before buying a Costco membership, Costco Gold Star membership, and does Costco membership auto-renew.
Conclusion
According to Costco, the membership card is non-transferable; therefore, it can’t be used by your family and friends. However, as a primary member, you can assign a free household card to your husband, and he can use it to pay for items at Costco if you’re not there.
However, according to some customers and employees, the policy varies in some warehouses. You might get away with shopping without a Costco card in these stores, but it’s not recommended on the chance that you’ll be refused service.
