Costco customers face automatic surcharge – but there’s an easy way for shoppers to avoid paying extra

BUYERS at Costco have been warned about an automatic surcharge that could be added to their receipt, but there’s an easy way to avoid it.

The warehouse retail giant is known for its low prices for buying products in bulk and of course its memberships that make this possible.

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Costco’s membership options include Gold Star for $60 per year and Executive Gold Star for $120, as per the company’s website.

The memberships are also offered as private or business memberships and offer slightly different perks.

Either way, membership is required for every shopper to enter a physical store and shop from the retail giant, but non-members can shop at Costco.com too.

However, there’s a catch: According to Yahoo! add a five percent surcharge to your bill. finance.

Those who only shop at Costco once in a while might not worry about the fee, as it doesn’t necessarily match the cost of a membership.

For example, if a family or individual shopper spends less than $1,200 online at Costco without having a year-round membership, the five percent surcharge would represent less than the $60 base membership.

Shoppers who frequently shop online at Costco might want to consider becoming a member to avoid the fee, even if they don’t have access to a physical store near them.

This saves them money in the long run, since the five percent surcharge will be higher overall than what a membership would cost if you avoided the fee altogether.

There’s only one way a non-member of Costco can avoid the five percent surcharge without being a member, and that’s by ordering prescriptions through the retailer.

Neither members nor non-members are charged the percentage fee for prescriptions, and shipping is even free if medication is ordered well in advance.

However, shipping costs add up for non-member online buyers.

According to Yahoo! the retailer allegedly offers its products at a higher price online than in-store to accommodate packaging processes. finance.

There is also a general delivery fee for the online shop. There is always a charge of $3 per item for delivery of perishable goods within two days.

If a shopper buys $75 worth of groceries online, they can avoid the shipping fees, but given the cost of packaging, prices start higher already.

Ultimately, the best way to snag in-store bargains is to shop in person and get a Costco membership.

As The US Sun previously reported, there may also be an opportunity to save on membership prices with Groupon.

Melyssa, a savings expert who shares her best deals and finds on TikTok (@couponing4beginners), recently shared her “crazy” Costco membership offer that brings in $185 in free benefits.

In a video, she detailed a Groupon deal for a Costco membership that she felt was “too good to pass up.”

As part of the deal, you get a one-year Costo Gold Star membership, along with a bunch of valuable extras.

Perks include a $45 digital Costco store card to use in store or online. Plus, there’s a $40 off an online order of $250 or more.

The biggest offer, however, is a promo code that gives you a $100 digital Costco Shop card when you purchase a vacation package worth $2,500 or more from Costco Travel.

Overall, the Groupon deal offers savings worth $225 for just $60.

The offer is only valid for new members or customers whose membership expired before March 31, 2023.

For more related content, check out The US Sun’s coverage of the huge Costco deal that could save customers up to $5,000 on car purchases.

The US Sun also has the story of a Costco member who claimed it quit its membership after six years for a vital reason.

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