Does Costco accept coupons? (This depends on)
Over the years, Costco has been recognized for delivering in bulk at prices that most other retailers can’t match. Costco is a giant with nearly 100 million loyal members who pay annually for exclusive club rates.
Even so, shoppers may still wonder if they’ll be able to use coupons to lower prices. Read on to find out if Costco accepts coupons!
Does Costco accept coupons?
Unfortunately, Costco does not accept typical manufacturer coupons found on the Internet or in newspapers. Although it doesn’t accept manufacturer coupons, Costco has its own coupon offer, which offers coupons to members through in-store brochures and mail-in coupons.
Often, these coupons have more valuable savings than those offered by the manufacturer. For some shoppers, it may seem frustrating that they don’t have the option to use manufacturer coupons, but in reality, those coupons are really unnecessary to get the lowest price when shopping at Costco. Read on to find out more!
Why Costco is rejecting manufacturer coupons
The reason Costco rejects manufacturer coupons is that it gives it more control over how its items are priced. Manufacturers that offer coupons often include the price of the coupon in the item price when supplying retailers.
For example, a tissue company will charge a retailer a wholesale price of $0.50 per unit of tissue for a $0.50 coupon it plans to offer customers.
While retailers are still able to make the same profit, manufacturers are more profitable during the coupon campaign because those who buy tissues without the coupon pay an extra $0.50. So, to get around this, Costco avoids these manufacturer coupon programs to ensure shoppers get the lowest possible prices.
How to Get the Most Out of Your Costco Shopping
Although manufacturer coupons are not accepted, Costco shoppers can still get the most from their Costco shopping with better prices! Here are some ways you can make the most of your Costco shopping experience!
Special Offers and Membership Coupon Savings at Costco
Costco members will receive special savings, typically saving $2 to $4 per unit. That’s definitely more than the savings you’ll get on manufacturer coupons, which are only $0.50 to $0.70. Sometimes Costco also offers “buy one, get one free” coupons or special combo deals.
For example, buy one item at full price while saving on the next related item. Coupons from the Costco store are regularly mailed to members as new offers become available. Otherwise, a coupon booklet is available from the in-store customer service center. Coupons can also be downloaded on the Costco app.
But, for added convenience, since 2014, most store locations have searched the loyalty account for store coupons when a shopper’s loyalty card is scanned.
Be sure to read the fine print, though! Most Costco store coupons are only available in-store and do not apply to online orders.
Don’t have a member? no problem! Use Store Cards instead!
If you’re the type to shop at Costco occasionally, and you don’t have a Costco membership, there’s still a way for you to enjoy Costco’s low prices without having to subscribe to it.
The most basic plan for Costco membership costs $60 a year, but for those who aren’t regulars at the store, that seems like a lot of money. Someone might consider switching to a Costco store card!
Those who use a Costco card don’t need a membership to enjoy the low prices Costco has to offer. A Costco Store Card is basically a gift card that can be used at Costco stores, ranging in value from $25 to $2,000.
However, Costco members will still need to purchase gift cards for you. However, once you have a Costco store card, you can shop at any Costco location and even use store coupons that you must clip and present at checkout since you’re not a member.
Find specials at Costco
Costco shoppers should know which items are on sale, which can help them save money when using store coupons and cash back apps. Below is the Costco product pricing guide:
- Items ending in .99 are regular prices.
- Items ending in .97 are discounted nationwide, which means the item is available at a discounted price at all Costco locations nationwide.
- Items ending in .00 or .88 are clearance items, which are store location-specific discounts. If you have a Costco coupon or cash rebate, this is often a great buying opportunity that can save you even more!
Use Costco’s Cash Back App
With extra savings in mind when shopping, cash-back apps are starting to become the norm. The Cash Back app is also available at Costco! Rebates offered by cashback apps can act as coupons, but only after the purchase. Unlike coupons, which apply discounts before checkout, cashback apps give shoppers cash for their purchases after they verify the final receipt on the app.
Here’s a guide on how Costco shoppers can save even more with the cash back app:
- Browse the app for deals – there are deals on specific items as well as deals on “any item” like $0.20 cash back on any brand of peanut butter.
- Select and load the desired offer on the app.
- Buy items at Costco and make sure the correct item size and quantity are purchased on the app. Note that some situations require the purchase of two or more of the same item to realize the savings.
- Use the app to take a photo of your Costco receipt.
- To upload cash to your account, scan the barcode of the matching item.
Unlike typical coupons that can only be used once per item, the Cash Back app allows you to apply the offer up to 5 times. This is a major benefit for Costco shoppers who typically buy in bulk.
Wondering which cashback apps to use? Here are some suggestions:
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Costco also has Cashback IRL!
In addition to the Cash Back app, there is another way you can earn cash back on in-store purchases at Costco. One of the deals with shopping at Costco is that if your purchase drops in price within 14 days of purchase, you’ll get a refund.
For example, if you bought a pair of Kirkland jeans for $29.99 on April 1st and dropped to $25.00 on April 12th, you can simply bring your receipt to the Costco store where you purchased these jeans and receive $4.99 dollars in cash.
How to become a Costco member
Reading this article, you may be wondering about signing up as a Costco member to take advantage of coupon savings and other perks and perks available to them. You can register as a Costco member in the following ways:
- Visit their Membership Desk at any Costco location,
- Register through their website, or
- Please call 1-800-774-2678 to speak with them over the phone with a member services representative.
There are different types of memberships to choose from, so read more about them here to find out which membership option is best for you.
Costco’s membership page. (Source: costco.com)
Want to learn more about Costco? Check out these related posts to find out when Costco restocks and does Costco take EBT?
in conclusion…
In conclusion, Costco doesn’t accept manufacturer coupons, but they do offer coupon offers to members, which are more than what the manufacturer can offer. Costco has chosen not to use manufacturer coupons to avoid incurring additional fees in coupon campaigns, thereby ensuring the best price for shoppers.
Members will receive store coupons mailed to them or available in-store to use. In addition to memberships, there are other ways to get the most out of your Costco shopping, such as using the Costco store card, using the Cash Back app, and using discounted items during or even after your purchase.
So, how do you feel about shopping at Costco? Leave your thoughts in the comments section below!
