Can anyone get me a membership to costco

delboyuk2005uk · 03-10-2007, 9:05 PM

Simply looking for a membership for costco as I have been advised a plasma I want in there is only 700 including vat and 3 years warranty.

which is good for the samsung psq4297

dBrowne · 03-10-2007, 9:21 PM

Just show up with ID and sign up for one.

Mylo · 03-10-2007, 9:39 PM

don't you need to prove that you are 'trade' of some sort to qualify for membership ?

JackFord · 03-10-2007, 9:48 PM

I think you need to be linked with "trade". My dad has one and he's a teacher. If worst comes to worst I guess you could get a nice forum member to buy you one.

dBrowne · 03-10-2007, 9:57 PM

I don't think so. I managed to get one with just proof of ID. I think Saturday mornings are reserved for trade.

Bobdk · 03-10-2007, 10:26 PM

Hi,

I just copied and pasted this from the Costco website:

Costco is an exclusive wholesale cash and carry membership warehouse club and is not open to the general public. Membership is required. You are eligible for trade membership if you are a bonafide business owner/manager who can provide evidence of trading. Follow our Trade membership tab above for further details.

If possible can't you get someone near you, who is a memeber, to take you in and then you can buy it cash? This is perfectly acceptable as Costco members are allowed to take in guests.

*avinitski* · 03-10-2007, 10:33 PM

Also don't forget their prices exclude VAT ( i think), like Makro.

Smeggor · 03-10-2007, 11:15 PM

There are 2 types of membership, trade & private. Trade is about £5 cheaper & allows more shopping hours, however the goods are the same price, private or trade.

I think all tv`s etc have the costco 3 year warranty in the price. Also, if you dont like it, just take it back.

Steve.J.Davies · 04-10-2007, 12:04 AM

there is quite a long list of job types that will get you a membership if you don't qualify for trade membership. teachers, bank workers, policemen, fireman...others..
can't recall them all, justs pop along to nearest store and have a look at the big signs on the walls.

trade members get the first few/couple of opening hours and then gen members later according to the signs..

wombar · 04-10-2007, 8:16 AM

Yup, trade members are allowed in throughout the day whilst the general public (who have a different membership card) are only allowed in after 12pm Mon-Fri but any time on the weekends (I think).

Pretty sure that anyone can sign up, but if you want the benefit of trade membership (i.e. more opening hours) you'd have to be connected with a legitimate trade or business.

**LV426** · 04-10-2007, 9:02 AM

Indeed. According to their "rules" you do NOT have to be in the trade to join as a private member. But you DO have to be in one of a list of professions, or be qualified as per a similar list, or be retired from one of the listed professions. As to exactly how strict they are.....I don't know.

It costs just shy of GBP30 per year to be a member, but if you visit oftenish, you can recover this with the free food and drinks that are on offer most of the time.

Their returns policy is simple and, to the best of my knowledge, they DO honour it without quibble.

If you are for any reason dissatisfied, bring it back for a full refund.

As the guy on the exit said, when I bought a TV for my neighbour - even if she doesn't like the colour, bring it back.

Plus, 3-year guarantee on all TVs, free.

(No-quibble returns are limited to 6 months for PCs and laptops).

Kebabhead · 04-10-2007, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by delboyuk2005uk

Simply looking for a membership for costco as I have been advised a plasma I want in there is only 700 including vat and 3 years warranty.

which is good for the samsung psq4297

Do you know any primary cardholders as you can get put on their account as a secondary cardholder No need for any ID etc

Another advantage being a trade member you can bulk buy medicine i.e headache tables they sell

Adam Shaw · 04-10-2007, 11:27 AM

Its a dangerous place to shop though, you cant just pop in for a can of soup and a loaf of bread. Everything is HUGE!

Its great fun though, and an excellent one stop shop forn xmas presents. Clothes are always very good value too.

delboyuk2005uk · 04-10-2007, 5:39 PM

I can get a makro card but are they the same as costco

Phil57 · 04-10-2007, 7:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by delboyuk2005uk

I can get a makro card but are they the same as costco

Is Tesco the same as Morrisons?.......................

Is bread the same as water?............................

Is the left foot the same as the right foot?.........

Woodywizz · 04-10-2007, 9:10 PM

Being a Bank Manager I can get membership - used to have a Costco card but have not been a member for a couple of years. Used to get some real bargains in the food section, though I did always come out with about 48 tins of Heinz Beans and Sausages too. Good for nappies as well, and tyres bizarrely.

Mr_Wistles · 04-10-2007, 9:22 PM

Bookers is a proper cash and carry.

Costcos is good for electronics (because they are the only C&C that do it), thats it.

Phil57 · 04-10-2007, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russell_Piper

Bookers is a proper cash and carry.

Costcos is good for electronics (because they are the only C&C that do it), thats it.

I think you will find that Macro have a large electronics section as well as clothing, toys, foods, and so on.
Whether Costco is bigger or better I do not know, as I have not visited a Costco.

**LV426** · 05-10-2007, 7:28 AM

Makro and Costco are quite different really.

Makro are really retailers hiding in a Wholesaler's "clothing". Despite their theoretical policy of only allowing "trade" membership, you can buy one loaf of bread, a pair of shoes, or 500g of butter (etc), and their prices are often not much different to supermarkets. Only certain goods are sold in true wholesale quantities. They have a wide range of goods and a wide range of types of goods, but, often, small stocks of each and a great tendency to sell out. They DO take Credit Cards as well as other means of payment. They can, however, sometimes hide behind their "wholesale" image when it comes to consumer protection - Sale of Goods Act and so on.

Costco are more like Wholesalers even though they admit to allowing Private membership. Pretty much everything they sell is in wholesale quantities - although, obviously, they will sell you one TV or Fridge or Easy Chair......... They sell the same spread of goods more or less, but will typically have just one brand of many things and a lot of stock. So, rather than finding you have a choice of three or four brands of, say, spring water, and then finding the one you want is sold out (as might occur at Makro), at Costco there will be a choice of just one - and they'll have plenty. They do carry a representative range of TVs, but other electronics, as with most of their range, tend to be limited in choice - perhaps only one or two types of Freeview PVRs, one or two DVD recorders........

The major benefit, though, of Costco, is their very very relaxed returns policy, which makes shopping there pretty much totally risk free.

They accept DEBIT cards, but not Credit Cards.

delboyuk2005uk · 05-10-2007, 6:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by woodywizz

Being a Bank Manager I can get membership - used to have a Costco card but have not been a member for a couple of years. Used to get some real bargains in the food section, though I did always come out with about 48 tins of Heinz Beans and Sausages too. Good for nappies as well, and tyres bizarrely.

can you get me a card?

joglynne · 05-10-2007, 11:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by delboyuk2005uk

can you get me a card?

The problem with someone adding you to their members list is that Costco hold the main card holder responsible for any financial shortfall that may occur. I doubt if any current member would be willing to add a stranger (I mean no offence) to their account as they could be out of pocket if, for example, a cheque was to bounce.

Quote:

The primary member will be liable for returned cheques written by an additional cardholder.

http://www.costco.co.uk/Membership_h..._condition.htm

breakersrevenge · 06-10-2007, 8:26 AM

I think you may find it hard for someone to help you.

The last thing I want is the Inland Rev asking why did I buy all this gear??!!
Thats if your business ever gets investigated!!!!