Reading the other thread just now about Costco I was hoping someone could clarify for me about the Costco 1 day pass - created a new thread so as not to get the info buried in the other post.

I did a shop recently for a MS company that told me I would just need to arrange a visitor pass in order to get in. I called the Costco I was assigned to and told them what the scheduler had told me to say - I was considering membership and would like an opportunity to come inside and look around and price some things before making my decision and wanted to know how to obtain a one day pass. The gal I was speaking with told me that this is a common belief among people that is just not true anymore and there are no guest passes issued. She suggested I find a friend who is a member and have them give me a quick tour.

Bottom line, I had to cancel shop and when I told the scheduler why I was cancelling I got the impression from the tone and statements made in our email exchange that she did not believe me.

Did I understand correctly from the other thread that you actually CAN get a day pass into Costco? Maybe it is just Costco's in my area? I'm shopping in Western Washington - has anyone in this area shopped Costco and had luck obtaining a day pass?

I don't know if they have a "day pass". They do have a visitor sign-in which allows one to go to a kiosk.

As far as I know, Costco does not offer a 1-day pass. I had to have my mom go with me on my Costco shop because I am not even allowed to use my parents card. I have performed BJ's shops and they DO provide trial memberships and free passes.

I stopped doing the Costco shops because it is too much of a pain to get a member to go with me.

KWorkman Wrote:
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> Reading the other thread just now about Costco I
> was hoping someone could clarify for me about the
> Costco 1 day pass - created a new thread so as not
> to get the info buried in the other post.
>
> I did a shop recently for a MS company that told
> me I would just need to arrange a visitor pass in
> order to get in. I called the Costco I was
> assigned to and told them what the scheduler had
> told me to say - I was considering membership and
> would like an opportunity to come inside and look
> around and price some things before making my
> decision and wanted to know how to obtain a one
> day pass. The gal I was speaking with told me
> that this is a common belief among people that is
> just not true anymore and there are no guest
> passes issued. She suggested I find a friend who
> is a member and have them give me a quick tour.
>
> Bottom line, I had to cancel shop and when I told
> the scheduler why I was cancelling I got the
> impression from the tone and statements made in
> our email exchange that she did not believe me.
>
> Did I understand correctly from the other thread
> that you actually CAN get a day pass into Costco?
> Maybe it is just Costco's in my area? I'm
> shopping in Western Washington - has anyone in
> this area shopped Costco and had luck obtaining a
> day pass?

I just called my local Costco to check for you. According to the employee I just spoke with, you were correct. He told me Costco has not had one-day passes for about 12 years.

I know, for certain, that Costco used to have one-day passes. People using those "free passes" had to pay in cash and pay a certain percentage (5%?) above Costco's regular prices.

Here's a possible workaround for you if your shop does NOT require you to buy anything. Pretend you are a member who lost your card and are trying to get a replacement card from the service desk. That should get you past the "gatekeeper" at the exit. Make a covert detour after getting in line. (There are often lines for returns and membership.)

You can also use the pharmacy without being a member. Go to the pharmacy, ask a question, then you are free to wander around while you "pretend" to be waiting for your prescription if anyone asks (or fill a real prescription if you have them, they have great prices).

Maybe there is a problem with the terminology. As recently as two years ago I went to Costco and was allowed in with the caveat that I could not make a purchase without membership.

Shop2Live, I don't buy warehouse memberships. However, my mother has memberships at both Costco and Sam's. She put my name on the account and I have cards for each. Your parents might be able to include you on their account.

I, too, have both Costco and Sam's Club memberships. I have the former mostly for the gasoline, and the latter mostly for the shorter checkout lines. Each is only about 5 minutes from my home. =D

I'm the primary member on both accounts and have one "free" card on each account. I gave my Costco secondary to one of my sisters and my Sam's Club secondary to my mom.

Just tell the gate keeper at Costco that you are going to the pharmacy. You do not need a membership to use their pharmacy. No one is going to ask you to prove anything while you are wandering around. There's just to many people for that.
Hopefully the shop does not require you to purchase anything, as you will not be able to without a card, even at the pharmacy. The only thing you can purchase is a prescription without a card.

Interestingly enough, I did my first Costco shop just the other day, and was prepared to tell the gatekeeper that I was there to fill a prescription for a family member who was ill and could not get out. (The MS company I was working for actually gave me that scenario to use if I was not a Costco member.) I was a little nervous, but It turned out I didn't need to say anything. I simply walked in with an "air of authority," looking like I knew what I was doing, and no one challenged me! Pretty funny!

You don't need a pass to go to the pharmacy or food court. The gatekeepers and service desk people told me that non-members go in all the time to eat. I am a former Costco member - but still have my Costco AMEX card that I flash to get in.

Yeah what they said. I do shops there all the time and ask for a browser pass. Or you can say going to the cell kiosk or pharm. Use the food court for a purchase receipt hotdog, frozen yogurt. All doable. I was told in terms of being on someone's account ie a relative, you have to live at the same address or state that you do. That right Lisa?

I recently did a shop at our Costco. I went to the service desk asked for a pass to look around the store. The employee asked my name and put it in a logbook. I did not purchase anything in the store for a receipt I bought a coke from the food court area.

One day I had 3 Costco shops and I flashed my Sam's card at them. They didn't notice. I was evaluating a stand in the store, and not the greeter. I'm always nervous doing it, but I need to get in and don't want to waste time explaining.

Waving an Amex card would probably do it too. If you have the Costco Amex card with your picture on the back you don't even use your Costco card any more.

I wrote about the Costco cash card on the other thread about Costco. If you are doing shops there frequently and do not want to ask for the Pharmacy just reimburse a friend to purchase a $small cash card for you and flash it to go in every time. You can even then purchase something if you happen to pass one of their great deals on your way. The pharmacies have been way in the back of the store in every Costco I have been in and that is many. I doubt anyone would follow you back there to see if you went there to get a prescription filled. Someone told me there is a federal rule that public pharmacies have to be open to the public and Costco's is not considered a private pharmacy so they are required to let everyone in to use it.

sandy: I asume you mean a Costco member can buy you a cash card, which is cool. Does it have to be in your name. Tell me how it works please, cause I am doin it!

Cynb - No, the person you give the second card to does not have to live at the same address as the primary. For years, a friend and I shared the cost of the card. After she passed away I put my daughter on my card and then eventually I went off so that her husband could have the second card. I just don't shop there enough to warrant use of a card. I can always go in to use the pharmacy or if you go in the left door you are never questioned.

My sister shares mine. She pays half the fee.

It's not always the "left" door. I shop at probably eight different Costcos in the Phoenix area and I WISH they would standardize their layouts!

I never deal with the membership beyond saying thank you when she gives me a card every year, but that is probably the case.

cynb Wrote:
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> Yeah what they said. I do shops there all the
> time and ask for a browser pass. Or you can say
> going to the cell kiosk or pharm. Use the food
> court for a purchase receipt hotdog, frozen
> yogurt. All doable. I was told in terms of being
> on someone's account ie a relative, you have to
> live at the same address or state that you do.
> That right Lisa?

Costco was doing one day passes a few years back.

Sam's and BJ's still have them contained in recent newspaper ad inserts and I think you can still walk in and simply ask for one.

BUT they will charge day pass guests another 20% service charge which is illegal in a scant few states.

Could be it's something that varies from state to state. I vaguely remember when they were Price Club, I think anyone could go in there (in Arizona) but they charged 10% more if you weren't a member. This was over 30 years ago I'm thinking about.

Since my parents are still married (believe it or not) each one of them has a Costco card. When I tried to get on their membership, I was told...
1) only two cards per membership
2) I have to have the same address as them and they asked to see my driver's license as proof of address.

My sister lives in another town and has my second card. I don't remember if they asked if she lived with me or not.

Actually, I had a shop at Sam's and the lady at the front told me, "Just go inside, look around, but you can't buy anything without a membership."

Sounded fair to me, I hit 3 departments and was paid $30...

Shop2LiveinFL Wrote:
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> Since my parents are still married (believe it or
> not) each one of them has a Costco card. When I
> tried to get on their membership, I was told...
> 1) only two cards per membership
> 2) I have to have the same address as them and
> they asked to see my driver's license as proof of
> address.

If your parents shop together, they would only need one card to get in. Next renewal, ask them to give you the second card. I do that for my son, because my husband would not dream of stepping foot in Costco without me.

I was a Sam's member 10 years ago, but kept the card, so I can flash it to get inside - never been stopped. I get my receipt from the food court.