Costco Membership Price Increasing

RSmith on 28/04/2023 - 10:40
Last edited 28/04/2023 - 12:28 by 1 other user

Just received the following email… Another price rise

Dear valued member,

Thank you for being a Costco member. As of 1 June 2023, there will be a few changes to Costco membership.

We endeavour to provide exceptional value to our members in every product and service we offer. For the first time since Costco Australia opened in 2009, we will introduce a modest increase to our membership fees. This will cover the rising cost of our business operations, and allow us to keep offering the best value possible. The increase will be from $60 to $65 per year for Gold Star Membership, and from $55 to $65 per year for Business Membership.

Along with this, we will offer some new membership options. Business Members will now be able to add an affiliate cardholder to their membership for an additional fee of $65. We think this will be a fantastic practical benefit for business owners who need employees living at a different address to shop for them.

Would you still continue your membership?

Poll Options

  • 150
    Yes
  • 163
    No
General Discussion

Related Stores

Costco Wholesale
Costco Wholesale

Comments

  • RichardL on 28/04/2023 - 10:44
    +53

    Business Members will now be able to add an affiliate cardholder to their membership for an additional fee of $65.

    That's just paying full price for another membership…

    • TNTomer on 28/04/2023 - 10:48
      +17

      Better value to get them to apply for their own individual membership which allows their household partner to go as well.

    • burningrage on 28/04/2023 - 10:55
      +7

      Ikr! They must have done the research and concluded that members are sheeps.

    • Pumpkin_rrr on 29/04/2023 - 08:56
      +2

      Yep I saw that too, and wonder which smart person comes out with this idea?

      • hasher22 on 29/04/2023 - 13:59
        +3

        From a business perspective, it makes sense to add another person to the account as the other person may/can't sign up on their own business account due to no ABN/ACN when filling out the form. As they said "for business owners who need employees living at a different address to shop for them"

        I assume the extra fee of $65 will just be a tax deduction to the business instead of the other employee signing up under a personal account. Or maybe the employee can sign up for a personal account and they get reimbursed the fee and that would still count as a business expense?

        • Pumpkin_rrr on 29/04/2023 - 18:47

          Yep the said Employee can just sign-up as an Individual for the same fee.
          Hence I cant really see the rationale of charging the same fee to add an Employee.

          • hasher22 on 29/04/2023 - 20:39
            +1

            @Pumpkin_rrr: Yeah, all I can think of it's just a business expense, but the employee is better off getting a personal account and the business pays for it.

            The only other thing I can think of with the extra employee, if Costco had a policy if the employee is no longer working in the business, there is no transfer of ownership cost to the new employee but I highly doubt Costco would do that?

          • browser on 01/05/2023 - 09:59

            @Pumpkin_rrr: For tax purposes, invoices over $1,000 must show buyer identity, ideally that should be the name of the company. Even for under $1,000, it's generally a good practice to show a name, though not a requirement.

            Other reasons are warranty and returns. Beware of warranty implications, some products maybe considered as commercial use when sold to a business.

  • [Deactivated] on 28/04/2023 - 10:49
    +10

    Would you still continue your membership?

    It's $5 p.a …… crazy sums!

    Who in their right mind would pay that?

    • RSmith on 28/04/2023 - 10:51
      +17

      As other have pointed in other threads that the value doesn't seem to be there when you compare supermarket specials. Especially for people who go to a Costco that doesn't have a petrol station.

      • [Deactivated] on 28/04/2023 - 10:55
        +1

        I figure that the non-OzBers, who already have membership, wouldn't think twice for $5.

      • AustriaBargain on 28/04/2023 - 11:01
        +12

        What if you compare chickens? You pay $14 for a 500gram roast chicken at Colesworth, vs $7 for a 1kg roast chicken at Costco. And the Costco chickens are juicy, whereas the Colesworth chickens are so dry they give me hiccups when I eat the meat. Plus those huge muffins for 90 cents each. Costco isn't cheaper on a lot of products, but they are much cheaper on a lot of key staples.

        • [Deactivated] on 28/04/2023 - 11:11
          +14

          chickens are so dry they give me hiccups when I eat the meat.

          Explain this phenomenon

        • spackbace on 28/04/2023 - 11:30
          +10

          Muffins and roast chickens are key staples now?

          Interesting

        • cookie2 on 28/04/2023 - 14:23

          I didn't really find any staples cheaper (bread, milk, spreads, flour) . I agree with @RSmith that the value isn't there. Not for me anyway, 2 person household, no petrol station at my local and I'm not interested in buying 3 dips at once or large quantities of everything.
          In saying that, I did like the alcohol selection and I truly miss those great value pizzas and free refills at the cafeteria.

          • AustriaBargain on 28/04/2023 - 14:48

            @cookie2: 2L iced coffee is cheaper at Costco. You must be looking at the wrong staples.

            • RSmith on 28/04/2023 - 14:59

              @AustriaBargain:

              2L iced coffee is cheaper at Costco. You must be looking at the wrong staples.

              Yeah, I buy it instead of milk.

          • mattmel96 on 29/04/2023 - 08:04
            +2

            @cookie2: 3L 'homebranded' milk is cheaper at Costco than my local Aldi, Woolies or Coles.

            • cookie2 on 29/04/2023 - 23:14
              -1

              @mattmel96: Family of 2 here. It's not cheaper if it's in excess. 3 litres is just that.

          • Ronan2001 on 30/04/2023 - 14:58

            @cookie2: Who goes to Costco for bread and milk?!? Take a look at the fridge and freezer section; there are so many products that are not available in your normal supermarket.

        • tabitha731 on 29/04/2023 - 09:04
          +2

          This is possibly true for a lot of food items, but most people couldn’t justify spending over 30 minutes driving to the nearest Costco then another 10-20 minutes trying to fund parking in the area. Convenience outweighs the membership costs… plus many times items on special at colesworth is a lot cheaper than costco.

        • Sinnerator on 29/04/2023 - 09:23
          +1

          Coles roast chicken were good then 3 months ago went dry, my woolies is still delicious ~1KG and $11

      • prodrome on 28/04/2023 - 11:49
        +4

        I can buy dishwasher tablets, cooking oil, coffee beans, razors and other high priced items at Costco/Aldi without getting ripped off year round.

        If I shop at Woolworths or Coles, I have to check everything carefully (including that the product matches the pricing on the shelf) and shop on a particular week to avoid paying triple-a-sane-retail price.

        Supermarket 'specials' might be cheaper, but they are not free and take a lot of work.

        • cookie2 on 28/04/2023 - 14:30
          +3

          It doesn't take work but it does take planning and a bit of thought to note what you need for future, this can be an adjustment if it's different to how you normally do(no offence meant by this). I mean you know you'll need razors so buy what you'll need for a while and then take note when you're running low. Most weeks I take a few minutes of work time to flick through the catalogues for Coles and Woolworths to get an idea if anything is on sale that I may or may not need immediately.

      • oshin on 28/04/2023 - 14:18

        They do have petrol stations and they're worth it for Diesel

        • cookie2 on 28/04/2023 - 14:30

          Not all. Eg. Docklands

      • Mythreesons on 29/04/2023 - 11:20
        +3

        The fuel there is often 30 cents or more a litre cheaper than most service stations, we save just by filling our cars up. We also live close to a Costco.

        • bamzero on 30/04/2023 - 14:03

          You talking about diesel right, seems thats when it's usually worth it. Comparing todays prices Costco diesel is 166.7 vs Woolies 186.9

          For ULP that we use there's not often much in it though, Costco 168.7 vs Woolies 173.9 today (and given we always have access to a 4c off voucher and pay with 3% discounted Wish card effective price is 164.8). Sometimes the gap is a little bigger, though Costco is a further trip and out of the way so usually still not enough to make it worthwhile.

      • unhuman on 29/04/2023 - 13:44
        +1

        If you fill fuel few times a year, you get 65 buxs back. I don’t really shop at Costco but fuel is comparatively cheaper

    • RichardL on 28/04/2023 - 11:09
      +1

      It's a 18% increase for Business Membership.

      • [Deactivated] on 28/04/2023 - 11:09

        Can't they claim it though?

        • deme on 28/04/2023 - 11:36
          +3

          Do you know how tax works?

    • iDroid on 30/04/2023 - 20:31

      Uuuuuum… THAT'S 1.369 CENTS A DAY!!!!!!!

      Are you rich or something?

      • [Deactivated] on 02/05/2023 - 11:02

        something

  • djkelly69 on 28/04/2023 - 11:03
    +9

    Still worth it just for the hotdogs/pizza in my opinion.

    • AustriaBargain on 28/04/2023 - 11:08
      +2

      And those huge sundaes. The iced boba tea is legit too.

    • RichardL on 28/04/2023 - 11:10
      +2

      Some location has the 'restaurant' located outside the warehouse, so you don't need a membership to purchase the food.

      • melbourne guy on 28/04/2023 - 13:34

        Which Aussie locations have the restaurant outside of the warehouse? All 4 in Melbourne have theirs inside.

        • RichardL on 28/04/2023 - 14:00
          +5

          The two stores that I frequent in NSW (Crossroads and Lidcombe), has the restaurant located 'outside' the warehouse entry.

          • For Crossroads, you have to enter via the exit/service desk (technically located inside but just say you need to visit the service desk if asked)
          • For Lidcombe, it's located at the top of the ramps before you enter the warehouse.
        • AustriaBargain on 28/04/2023 - 14:50
          +1

          Adelaide has it outside. It's still in the same warehouse structure, but they only check memberships for the shopping area entrance, not for the food court entrance/warehouse exit. You place your order on the touchscreens so no one checks memberships there. I guess they kinda fine with non members stopping in just to eat. They get a view of all the fabulous things they can buy, if they got a membership, from the dining area.

        • FutureTech on 29/04/2023 - 14:45

          Canberra

    • 6079 Smith on 28/04/2023 - 13:22

      I was of the impression that non members could use the restaurant ? Or has this changed in the last few years?

      • melbourne guy on 28/04/2023 - 13:31
        +1

        You still need to flash a costco card to get through the front door but no card required to purchase from the food court.

        • 6079 Smith on 28/04/2023 - 13:34

          What if you walk in the exit door towards the service desk?

          • melbourne guy on 28/04/2023 - 13:35
            +1

            @6079 Smith: I've tried that once before as a non-member. The people checking receipts pulled me up.

        • RSmith on 28/04/2023 - 13:35
          +7

          You can tell the gatekeepers that you are enquiring about the membership and they will let you go the membership counter and the food court is usually in the same section. So no need for a card.

  • Jumpingmanjim on 28/04/2023 - 11:09
    +3

    They better not increase the price of the hotdog.

  • Ryanek on 28/04/2023 - 11:13
    +3

    That's like 3 hot dog meals

    • AustriaBargain on 28/04/2023 - 11:42

      With 3x unlimited refills.

      • RSmith on 28/04/2023 - 12:44
        +1

        How many times do you refill? Or do you take the cup home and bring it back to refill on subsequent visits to Costco?

        • AustriaBargain on 28/04/2023 - 13:02

          I barely fill it once. I buy coffee and boba frozen iced tea or other drinks I actually want. I will fill it with Pepsi Max for the trip home though, if I eat before shopping I'll leave the empty cup in my cart and fill it on the way out. You can't just buy a hotdog, only a hotdog with unlimited refills so you have to get the cup.

  • deme on 28/04/2023 - 11:36

    8.33% increase

    It's designed to make you think these price rises due to greed are normal

  • godofpizza on 28/04/2023 - 12:11
    +2

    i haven't renewed my membership since last year.
    If i really need something from costco i'll travel with family who have a membership already. Petrol is cheaper with costco, but i find that there's station neaybe that are a few cent more and have less crowds.

    other than that, i'll wait for sales at the local supermarket.

    • mattmel96 on 29/04/2023 - 08:06
      +3

      Depend son the fuel cycle. For Premium 98 during the peak, Costco can be up to $0.50 a litre cheaper. A couple of tanks at that differential and you have easily saved your membership.

  • melbourne guy on 28/04/2023 - 12:28
    +2

    I live close enough to one, shop there often enough and purchase enough items that it justifies the $60 (now $65) fee for me. What intrigues me is the discount "Costco services" (insurance, finance & utilities) and the executive membership, which costs double the current membership price based on the US scheme (so it would be $130) but gets you 2% of what you spend in a year back as a reward up to $1000 (If you spend more than $3250 per year at Costco it's a no brainer), plus extra costco services benefits.

    • ozbs25 on 29/04/2023 - 10:03

      I'm really interested in the Executive Membership too.

    • burningrage on 29/04/2023 - 13:43

      Executive membership??? Is this real?

      • ozbs25 on 29/04/2023 - 14:52

        It's part of the Membership Update email. I will more than likely get one but will have to see the fine print before making a final decision.

  • onetwothreefour on 28/04/2023 - 13:16
    +3

    My local one is close to an hour away, I signed up this year for the first time but I don't think it's worth the drive up there as the prices aren't that great compared to Colesworth.

  • ECE on 28/04/2023 - 14:03
    -6

    They need to change their name to CostMore 🤣😷

  • 87percent on 28/04/2023 - 14:08
    +2

    LPT I read recently.

    Get a member to buy you a gift card, and then when you check out, don’t use the gift card and instead use a credit card.

    • cookie2 on 28/04/2023 - 14:35
      +5

      Wait, but from memory you need to show the membership card when purchasing.

    • activ8newbs on 28/04/2023 - 14:35
      +2

      I don't get it

    • AustriaBargain on 28/04/2023 - 14:53
      -1

      Do you still get the member discount? The price tags on things often have "price $30, member price $28.50" or whatever.

  • KaTst3R on 28/04/2023 - 14:58
    +2

    The only things that are cheap are hotdogs, roast chicken, some of the clothes in the middle section. Everything else per unit basis is priced similar to WoolColes. I stopped renewing my membership that expired at the start of the year.

    • Ryanek on 28/04/2023 - 16:04
      +3

      Its all about the petrol mate

      • CocaKoala on 29/04/2023 - 17:17
        +4

        Only if you don't know how to fly a chopper.

  • MeesusEff on 28/04/2023 - 18:36
    +2

    To me, the best part about it is snagging the crazy marked down rebates. Skechers shoes for $8, 1.2kg hotdogs for $6, 800gm pipis for $5, 1kg yogurt for $1 etc. The pizzas are pretty good value too.

    • smpantsonfire on 29/04/2023 - 23:31
      +1

      Can you tell me what’s in the hotdogs at $5 a kilo?

  • VincentQQ on 29/04/2023 - 06:41

    I do not get the value of business member in Australia. Anyone can explain?

    • mattmel96 on 29/04/2023 - 08:08

      Depends on your business.

      Business membership can be written off against expenses, and for some strange reason, until now it was $5/yr cheaper.

    • Pumpkin_rrr on 29/04/2023 - 09:02

      Biz Member can pay with 2 different Credit Cards, assuming you go there alone.
      Can bring 2 guests.
      Can also click back GST.
      Other than that I can see much benefit.

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