Costco

Not sure if this is the right place to post this, but I'll give it a go.

How does Costco work in the UK?
I have a Costco card now, can I use it there?

Can DB get a Costco card if he wanted to? I'm getting the impression that only business owners can get a Costco card in the UK?

I found this on the website:

What is Costco?
Costco operates a chain of cash & carry membership warehouses that sell high-quality, nationally branded and selected private-label merchandise at low prices to businesses purchasing for commercial use or resale, and also to individuals who are members of selected employment groups.

Is there any truth to this?

I can use my US Costco card here in Sheffield.  However, I renew my card through the US website as I would not qualify here because there are no personal accounts.    The card works just fine and in general I get a few curious questions but it is a Costco.  The stock is the same in some ways but in others it is different.  The size of freezers here is smaller so my costco shopping is different in some ways.  In both of the rentals I have had they came with a small college mini fridge.  We have purchased are larger fridge/freezer so that we can hold more food at once.   Also fresh food here has no/less preservatives so it does not last as long.

So it is true that DB couldn't get his own Costco card? Why aren't there any personal cards in the UK?

So it is true that DB couldn't get his own Costco card? Why aren't there any personal cards in the UK?

He could possibly get a card, but it depends on who his employer is... i got a card because I was a bank employee.  Cant remember what the other categories were... teachers, civil servants, ...

When Costco first started in the US, it had the same membership policies that are now used here in the UK.  Then about 15 years ago, they dropped the requirements and anyone willing to pay the membership fees could belong.

I went this weekend to the Costco in Milton Keynes.  With the exception of the use of local brands, I could have been in US store.  One thing about the stricter membership guidelines is that it was no where near as crowded as a store back in the States.

I took a couple of friends with me who had never been or really understood what Costco was all about.  They were flabbergasted.  And then wanted to know when we would be going back again!

I have a card through my parents, we just transferred it to a UK account about 5 years ago, these days we pay at the till when our account needs renewing. For me the best thing is that Costco is just next to my regular supermarket, so its only about 10 minutes in the car, I go there regularly. Its never particularly crowded like the one near my parents house in NY is and I love their merchandise, at the minute they have the most adorable PJ's for kids, and really lovely ladies PJ's, also I am raving about their uggs-alikes at the moment, they only cost £27 and they are fab! I love Costco!

We got a card when we lived in the US in 2000.  When we got back here and realised that we wouldn't normally qualify for a card we made very sure that we renewed each year.  We renew in the UK with no questions asked.  So I guess we've managed to get around the system as we've had a UK card now for 6 years but if we applied for one wouldn't get one!

There are two ways your DB can get a Costco card. Add him as your spouse on your USA card (I'm still using my USA card), or if he qualifies for a UK Costco card (Civil Servant, works at University, etc...) The listing is on Costco.co.uk, which also lists the warehouse locations.

and, as was mentioned, freezers are smaller, so although it's great to buy in bulk, I've found that I really have to think about what will fit before going crazy. Best buy.... AMERICAN HOT DOGS, the costco kind! UK hotdogs have no flavor! Also good is the kitty litter.

Yay! Thanks so much for all the responses.

I was talking about this with my mom last night and she said she'd just put him on the company account next time he is here and he can get his own card...just in case he ever wants to go get some things in order to bake me a cake  Haha!

Thanks everyone!

Yup, Costco's another Cash & Carry shop in the UK.  There are similar shops like Makro & JTF which have their own requirements for membership.

Costco offer 2 different types of membership: Trade (business owner / authorised on business account) & Individual.  The "Executive" membership they offer is basically for Trade membership members to earn money back on their purchases for an extra surcharge.

For the Individual membership the primary card holder needs to be a teacher or employee of a school / university, Civil Servant (this includes teachers, nurses, Council Workers etc) or an employee of a bank...  When you go to apply you'll need a photo ID, preferably a drivers licence or work ID (ie. Photo ID card from Hospital, Bank etc) and a recent pay statement from your employer proving your eligibility for membership.  After that they'll just remind you at the till that it's time to renew each year.

I believe Individual membership it's about £35 / per year (I could be wrong), which includes a secondary card.  Additional cards are £12 each.  If you call up a UK Costco they'll be able to tell you all the information specifically pertaining to Individual Membership, otherwise you can get all the info & a membership application from the Customer Service Desk.   

For the Individual membership the primary card holder needs to be a teacher or employee of a school / university, Civil Servant (this includes teachers, nurses, Council Workers etc) or an employee of a bank...  When you go to apply you'll need a photo ID, preferably a drivers licence or work ID (ie. Photo ID card from Hospital, Bank etc) and a recent pay statement from your employer proving your eligibility for membership.  After that they'll just remind you at the till that it's time to renew each year.

I don't qualify for this, but I'll just bring my card over from the States!

When Costco first started in the US, it had the same membership policies that are now used here in the UK.  Then about 15 years ago, they dropped the requirements and anyone willing to pay the membership fees could belong.

I can see the same thing happening in the UK in the future.

Hi all,

The last time I looked in the T&C's etc for Costco, once you have membership it allows use in Every Costco location worldwide. If you qualify and have a card in the US, then when you are here just use it as per normal. Same for the other way around, I went to a couple of the Costco's in Las Vegas recently - not a problem at all.

Hope this helps

cheers, DtM! West London & Slough UK!

I was always told they had special conditions to join but when I went to ours in Aberdeen, the lady said anyone can join. You do not need to do anything other than pay your membership.

And the card is usable worldwide.

For Trade Membership, you need work credentials or business etc.

Makro, on the other hand is Trade Only (well at least on paper).

Lee Bei,

The lady you spoke to obviously doesn't know the costco policy properly enough. Not just 'anyone' can join, as on the costco website it states that their stores are NOT open to the general public. So joe bloggs off the street cannot just go to a store and pay membership and start to shop.

The big board above the membership section in store also clearly points out who's elegible to join.

To make it clear for any future visitors to the site please click here
http://www.costco.co.uk/Membership_home/membership_home.htm

Also as already pointed out, to be an individual member, you need to be an employee of certain industries. I can't actually see that on the website above though - for some reason they haven't shown it (unless I'm being Mr Magoo)

Cheers, DtM! West London & Slough UK!