Costco Coupons 4/12/12 - 5/6/12

VirginiaDC said:   Anyone know if buying the Executive membership has any added benefits? I think I figured that I'd have to spend at least $2750 to break even on the Cash Back and no way I spend that much. At least at Sam's business members can get in several hours before the general public which is good but I don't see that at Costco. The ones around here don't open until 10 am which kinda sucks.

If you don't spend $2,750 during the year, ask for a refund just before the renewal date, and then apply that to next year. Keep it in place until you decide to leave (taking a cash refund that year), so that you're always earning 2% if you reach that number AND getting other executive-only perks.

Edit - each year you pay for Exec. You earn, but do not receive, 2% on most purchases (not gas for example). As your year comes to an end, if you haven't achieved break even you go to the desk and they refund your Exec premium. Then they offer to give you Exec for next year as part of your renewal for $55, less the $50 they just gave back to you.

This is not MY strategy. When I signed up for membership I was sold Exec with this explanation, I.e. I was told to do this by Costco.

Finally, if you ever decide to not renew your regular membership, you can get both it and Exec refunded if you aren't satisfied. Assuming you are leaving because you are unhappy, a refund is your right. If you are satisfied, don't ask for one.

Hard to do that since they ask for your membership card at checkout. The cash card is not a membership card.

yoregano said:   EradicateSpam said:   VirginiaDC said:   Anyone know if buying the Executive membership has any added benefits? I think I figured that I'd have to spend at least $2750 to break even on the Cash Back and no way I spend that much. At least at Sam's business members can get in several hours before the general public which is good but I don't see that at Costco. The ones around here don't open until 10 am which kinda sucks.

If you don't spend $2,750 during the year, ask for a refund just before the renewal date, and then apply that to next year. Keep it in place until you decide to leave (taking a cash refund that year), so that you're always earning 2% if you reach that number AND getting other executive-only perks.
Huh? You lost me. Yes, you can ask for a refund before your renewal date, but doing so also "demotes" you to Gold Star membership, removing any further benefits of Executive membership. I suppose you could come back at a later time and upgrade again to Executive level, but everything is tracked in the system--I don't think Costco will allow a frequent pattern of upgrading/downgrading. It would be easy to see that one is trying to (wrongly) game the system.

i was 'convinced' to go with an Executive membership when i signed up a couple of years ago because they guarantee you will get back the additional membership fee with the rebate. so for 2 years now, i've taken the rebate check to the service desk, and they've given me the difference.

I shop at Sam's Club very often, and am very happy with their merchandise. It is not anything close to what Wal-Mart carries. Much better quality, and all of the store personnel have been very helpful and friendly. Although I no longer carry a Costco membership due to driving distance, I still like to see what their coupons offer. I may join again in the future.

Strange.. I dont understand why "mfp2waoe" and "ryoanji28" are giving red for people who thanked OP. Good post's deserve at least a Thank you.
Thanks OP

horizon6 said:   kalyans said:   Strange.. I dont understand why "mfp2waoe" and "ryoanji28" are giving red for people who thanked OP. Good post's deserve at least a Thank you.
Thanks OP

I don't understand why FW doesn't require entering a reason for "red".
I can't speak for the people being called out, but I think a good post only needs a green rating if there is nothing else one has to contribute. Posts that only say things like "Thanks" or "In for one" and such add little to the discussion, which is the point of having a thread. The green rating is sufficient way to say this without a long stream of posts saying the same thing over and over again.

As far as requiring a reason for red, that would have to go both ways to be fair. Whatever the case, nothing that happens in a forum should be taken too seriously.

EradicateSpam said:   horizon6 said:   

You'd simply be taking that 2% from other people who are paying for it - not the spirit of Costco

First, thanks for the red horizon6! You're not taking anything away from anyone. Pay $55 for Exec. When earnings are less than breakeven, under their satisfaction guarantee you are entitled to a refund. You paid for something you did not use.

What spirit? It is a warehouse store...
Yes, what you are saying here is correct (the satisfaction guarantee). But your earlier post could be read as trying to get away with something or gaming the system. I may be missing it—I'm still not clear what that earlier post is saying.

yoregano said:   
Yes, what you are saying here is correct (the satisfaction guarantee). But your earlier post could be read as trying to get away with something or gaming the system. I may be missing it—I'm still not clear what that earlier post is saying.
How is it gaming the system if they openly tell you when you sign up that they will pay you the difference between the earned reward and the cost of upgrading from basic to executive? I'm all for playing by the rules, and this is well within the rules as far as I'm concerned.

ETA: Never mind. I see we agree on that. To give the other poster the benefit of the doubt, maybe he only gets the difference refunded, not the entire amount.

horizon6 said:   If memory is correct there are potentially two "rebate" "mailings" from Costco "membership". Those with Costco Am Ex Card get the rebate for their CC spendings with the February statement. Executive Members would get the 2% back with the renewal notice which would precede the membership expiration.

Sounds like "Eradicate Spam" is getting the 2% "certificate", using/cashing it, changing to regular member and then at some point changing back to Executive, getting Executive Member benefits at regular member price. Obviously the 2% back come from the pockets of the other customers, the staff, or the stockholders. Long term the business can sustain it as was seen with the implementation of the limited return period of televisions and electronics.

As to "Eradicate Spam" questioning the Costco spirit or business model, its one where management takes care of employees with salary, benefits, etc., top of the industry; employees take care of customers - think the satisfaction guaranteed/return policies and low mark-up on products; and with low employees turnover and a growing customer base paying the membership fee, in the long-term the stockholder have a fair profit.

Now if only we could eradicate spam here

BS. Costco knows if you use the certificate. Either you hand it to them and they void it, or you use it and they deduct it. You insinuate a lot about people you don't know.

Starbucks beans on sale! And btw I save enuf money on gas each fill to pay for membership

EradicateSpam, I don't know why the Costco employee did that for you. The one time I got a refund was during my first year because I hadn't been a member for one full year and obviously didn't have enough spending. When that happened, I went to the membership counter with my certificate, and the girl advised me to come back closer to my renewal date. Upon my return, she refunded me the difference between my reward and the cost of upgrading to executive. I don't think they know if and how much of a reward you already redeemed. If they did, what you suggested wouldn't fly, as they would automatically deduct that from your refund.

I'm still trying to get my head around all of this. Costco's system keeps track of everything, so I don't see how some of the things people are saying here and the other mentioned thread would happen. Something like getting a larger rebate by opening an account with an Exec membership, yes, as that is separate from store transactions. But since this is all about taking them up on a satisfaction guarantee, how do you essentially tell them you're dissatisfied yet remain at Exec level? There's a logical disconnection there.

A few years ago, I upgraded to Exec based on Costco's recommendation. An employee actually came by with a handheld scanner and looked up my account info, and said the upgrade would be worthwhile based on my spending. (I happened to spend more that particular year than previous years due to some tech purchases.) To the point, renewal time approached and I had not taken advantage (financially) of the Exec upgrade. I went to the service desk and asked for the refund. I was told I was bumped back down to Gold Star level and the amount of my refund was prorated based on the extra cassh back earned from the Exec bonus.

This was a few years ago so the details are a bit hazy, but that is the gist of my experience.

yoregano said:   I'm still trying to get my head around all of this. Costco's system keeps track of everything, so I don't see how some of the things people are saying here and the other mentioned thread would happen. Something like getting a larger rebate by opening an account with an Exec membership, yes, as that is separate from store transactions. But since this is all about taking them up on a satisfaction guarantee, how do you essentially tell them you're dissatisfied yet remain at Exec level? There's a logical disconnection there.

A few years ago, I upgraded to Exec based on Costco's recommendation. An employee actually came by with a handheld scanner and looked up my account info, and said the upgrade would be worthwhile based on my spending. (I happened to spend more that particular year than previous years due to some tech purchases.) To the point, renewal time approached and I had not taken advantage (financially) of the Exec upgrade. I went to the service desk and asked for the refund. I was told I was bumped back down to Gold Star level and the amount of my refund was prorated based on the extra cassh back earned from the Exec bonus.

This was a few years ago so the details are a bit hazy, but that is the gist of my experience.

No difference with me, except the "extra Cash Back earned from the Exec bonus" was taken by the manager, voided, and then they refunded the entire amount. Net is the same. Then she said "I can sign you up for next year (i.e. 6 weeks from now) and use this $50 towards that", which I agreed to after confirming with her that if again at the end of year 2 I didn't justify the Exec fee it would be refunded. She replied "you can do this every year at renewal time. We want you to either earn back the Exec fee or we'll refund it back".

Horizon6 is trying to imply that I did something that isn't legit, when in fact a)I was told to do so by Costco when I opened my membership, b)a Costco Manager processed the transaction. Frugalpete on this thread (http://www.fatwallet.com/forums/deal-discussion/1181853/) has done it for multiple years also.

And yes, the bank paid the $60 to my account themselves, interest, which I was issued a 1099 for. And I gave them my money to earn the $60.

EradicateSpam said:   yoregano said:   I'm still trying to get my head around all of this. Costco's system keeps track of everything, so I don't see how some of the things people are saying here and the other mentioned thread would happen. Something like getting a larger rebate by opening an account with an Exec membership, yes, as that is separate from store transactions. But since this is all about taking them up on a satisfaction guarantee, how do you essentially tell them you're dissatisfied yet remain at Exec level? There's a logical disconnection there.

A few years ago, I upgraded to Exec based on Costco's recommendation. An employee actually came by with a handheld scanner and looked up my account info, and said the upgrade would be worthwhile based on my spending. (I happened to spend more that particular year than previous years due to some tech purchases.) To the point, renewal time approached and I had not taken advantage (financially) of the Exec upgrade. I went to the service desk and asked for the refund. I was told I was bumped back down to Gold Star level and the amount of my refund was prorated based on the extra cassh back earned from the Exec bonus.

This was a few years ago so the details are a bit hazy, but that is the gist of my experience.

No difference with me, except the "extra Cash Back earned from the Exec bonus" was taken by the manager, voided, and then they refunded the entire amount. Net is the same. Then she said "I can sign you up for next year (i.e. 6 weeks from now) and use this $50 towards that", which I agreed to after confirming with her that if again at the end of year 2 I didn't justify the Exec fee it would be refunded. She replied "you can do this every year at renewal time. We want you to either earn back the Exec fee or we'll refund it back".

Horizon6 is trying to imply that I did something that isn't legit, when in fact a)I was told to do so by Costco when I opened my membership, b)a Costco Manager processed the transaction. Frugalpete on this thread (http://www.fatwallet.com/forums/deal-discussion/1181853/) has done it for multiple years also.

And yes, the bank paid the $60 to my account themselves, interest, which I was issued a 1099 for. And I gave them my money to earn the $60.

No one said illegal. Yes Costco is trying to earn your business. But someone pays for what you get, someone other than you. Now please don't complain when the employees elsewhere grab up the stock of the bargain you read about here but didn't get, even if someone called to check stock as that is not illegal either.

BTW, you got $60 when others got $20 for the same thing; if another people do it the bank may stop offering the higher rewards - may even be meeting about it now.

If you want to know if Costco has figured out all the business angles consider this: $54/sh in July 2010 and now over $90 (Thank you COST) Love the stores - we have several in Atl and never had any customer svc issues at any of the stores. See people returning dead plants - they never say a word .They fixed my glasses and I got them at Visionworks! And the best lunch price in town. Lowest AMEX refund $800 plus $150 from Costco refund They're the best. John B (Costco owner)

I have been holding out for a few weeks for the new coupon book in hopes that they would be on the Michelin tires coupon. However, I do not see a tire coupon at all in the scan and haven't received my book in the mail yet. Can anyone confirm if there is/isn't a tire coupon in the new book? TIA!

xenvar said:   I have been holding out for a few weeks for the new coupon book in hopes that they would be on the Michelin tires coupon. However, I do not see a tire coupon at all in the scan and haven't received my book in the mail yet. Can anyone confirm if there is/isn't a tire coupon in the new book? TIA!
There is a coupon for Bridgestone tires in the book (see last page). So that will probably be the only tire coupon.

EradicateSpam said:   MissCrabette said:   yoregano, this is what you said a few posts back:
you can go to the service desk and get a refund of the difference between the price of Gold Star membership and Executive. But the refund will be offset by any extra reward earned with 2% bonus, and you should also be downgraded to Gold Star level. There is no risk, but you can't get the extra perks without paying for them. If you "re-upgrade" to Exec level, at that point you will be charged the upgrade premium.
That's basically what EradicateSpam and I did, with the difference that I got to keep my rewards certificate and got a lesser refund, while he had his taken away and received the full refund. You don't even have to say that you're dissatisfied with the executive membership. They know the drill. The reason they ask you to return around your renewal date is so that they can downgrade and upgrade you all at the same time.

That is absolutely correct.
Okay, I guess I was misreading something. It makes more sense now.

Anyone have any experience on the ink refills that Costco is offering? They are half the price for the HP ink I have been buying at Staples.

No. did you keep the receipt? If so buy it again and use the older receipt for the refund