Is Costco executive membership have free shipping? (My experience)

Costco executive membership does not have free shipping. You do not see the shipping charge when you check out online, but the price you see already include shipping and handling charge.

How Many memberships does Costco offer?

Costco has two memberships to offer. One is a Goldstar member with an annual fee of $60. The other one is Executive membership with an annual fee of $120.

The Goldstar membership gives you access to shopping at Costco. The executive membership gives you a 2% reward on all your purchase at Costco.

Does Costco membership include free shipping?

Costco membership does not include free shipping. You do not see a shipping charge when you check out online but the shipping and handling fee is already included in the price.

The price you see online includes standard shipping. you will pay extra if you choose 2-day shipping or any expedited shipping.

I have not purchased big items such as TV, mattress, or furniture at Costco, so I guess the bulk, high-value items might offer free shipping.

Here is a screenshot of the item from costco.com. you can see the shipping and handling are included in the price.

What do you get with a Costco executive membership?

Once you are a Costco executive member, you will have access to Costco warehouse, Costco.com, and a 2% reward on all your purchase at Costco.

The cap of your 2% reward is $1000 per year. You will receive your reward 3 months before your renewal date.

One membership can have two member cards. One primary member card and one free card for your household. The purchase made on the free card does not count for the 2% reward. Only purchase made by primary card count on the 2% reward.

Here is a chart from costco.com

As a Costco member, you can bring up to two guests into the Costco shop with you. Three people can walk into Costco as long as one of you has a member card.

Do remember to keep your receipt after checkout because a person standing at the exit door needs to double-check your receipt and merchandise before letting you out of the Costco shop.

Also Read:

What is the minimum order for free shipping at Costco?

From my own experience that there is no free shipping at Costco.com for everyday items. It does not matter how much or how little it cost, the price you see already includes standard shipping and handling fee.

Goldstar membership vs. Executive membership

The major difference is Goldstar membership does not have a reward, while executive membership has a 2% reward.

Executive membership is great for a big household because the more money you spend at Costco, the more reward you will get.

Besides grocery, Costco also has a pharmacy, Optical, car service, and travel service. I have an executive member card, I use Costco Optical and pharmacy regularly. In my case, I get more discounts at Costco pharmacy than at Walmart pharmacy.

Costco warehouse vs Costo.com

I shop at Costco both physically and online. Quite often the items I am looking for are not at the store but available online, the items like vitamin supplements, cosmetics, lamps, etc.

When you check out at the store you can only use a visa card or Costco credit card, but if you shop online, you can use visa, MasterCard, and discover almost any credit card.

I have no idea why Costco stores only accept visa cards, make sure to bring a visa card with you when shopping at the Costco store.

My suggestion

I am a member of Costco since 2018 because where I live is close to a Costco shop. I am a Goldstar member from the year 2018 to 2020. I am an executive member since the year 2021 till now.

My number one suggestion is sticking to Goldstar membership if your household spend is small. To break even between a $120 annual fee and a 2% reward, your monthly purchase is about $500.

You would want to upgrade to executive member if you plan an event, vacation, change tires, or do house remodeling. because you will get a 2% reward on all you spend at Costco.

My number two suggestion is to open a Costco anywhere visa card by Citi. This visa card has no annual fee and you get a 4% reward at a gas station. 3% reward on all restaurants, 2% reward on all other purchases at Costco, and 1% reward anywhere else.

I like this card a lot. I like to have all rewards that this Citi card provided on top of the 2% reward from my executive member card.

Resource:

www.costco.com