Services That Save Money at Costco
via Daily Finance
I have a confession: My family loves shopping at Costco (COST). I know that not everyone shares our affinity, though most people know you can save money shopping at the warehouse giant. What some see as excess, like a 1-gallon drum of pickles, others see as a way to save money at home through strategic purchasing. Of course, this must be done wisely so as to avoid running into issues of waste or buying too much just to get a deal.
What many don’t realize is that Costco offers items or access to other vendors that allow you to save money on travel and small business services. I’ll only cover nonbusiness offerings here.
Insurance
Shopping around for cheaper insurance rates is one of the hallmarks of saving money. This is especially the case if you haven’t compared rates in several years. Ameriprise offers discounts — up to $515.16 for auto insurance — to Costco members. Discounts also apply for home, renters, umbrella and specialty insurance. The executive membership includes roadside and home lockout assistance. Many credit cards offer the former, as does AAA, but few offer the latter. It’s not something you’d want to need, but if it’s free, then it’s better than having to pay extra for it.
Car Rentals and Travel Benefits
My family and I are planning a cross country road trip with our three young children in a few weeks. As we checked around to rent a minivan, the best rates were $1,200 for three weeks — including a discount for being USAA members.
Then a representative of one rental car company asked if we were Costco members. The rate then fell to $950. Of course, we were quick to jump on the savings.
The Costco rental car program is part of a larger partnership program offering discounts on hotel rooms, travel packages, cruises and other aspects of travel.
Buying a Car
I hate car shopping. It’s something about the negotiations and seedy salespeople. When we were looking to buy a new car several years ago, we looked into the Costco car buying program. We eventually went our own route, but if you hate haggling, you might want to check it out.
Costco works with a third-party car buying service that works with dealerships. It is important to point out that the service handles the negotiations, but nothing in regards to financing or trade-ins.
There have not been any reported studies, but in everything I’ve read from members indicates that they can usually get cars at prices several hundred dollars below Kelley Blue Book value, if not lower. Executive members get 15 percent off parts, service and accessories at participating dealerships, regardless of whether you bought your car through the program or not.
Banking
As I mentioned previously, Costco offers a wide array of small-business services, including business and personal banking. Costco offers personal check printing for up to 50 percent off what you’d pay through your bank. Executive members qualify for an additional 20 percent off.
If you’re looking to open an online investment account, Costco has a partnership with ShareBuilder. You get a quarterly 10 percent rebate on transaction charges and an account opening bonus of $55. Executive members get additional 25 percent quarterly rebate on transaction charges.
Event Tickets
My family and I have looked into discount tickets from Costco for sporting events, museum admission and concerts. Many of these events tend to be in larger cities.