Answers to frequently asked questions about Costco Gift Cards (also known as Shop Cards) are detailed below to help you understand everything you need to know.
What are Costco Gift Cards?
Costco gift cards, officially known as Costco Shop Cards, are prepaid cards offered by Costco that function as an excellent alternative to cash or credit cards within their stores and online. These cards come with several benefits: they have no expiration dates, can be reloaded with additional value, and are available in various denominations to suit different gifting and spending needs.
To purchase a Costco Gift Card, you need to be a Costco member. You can buy them at any Costco warehouse location or online at Costco.com. When you order a Costco Shop Card online, you have the option to have it shipped to a physical address or sent digitally via email, depending on your preference.
A notable feature when purchasing through Costco.com is the ability to include a personalized gift message during checkout, making it a thoughtful gift option. Furthermore, for added convenience, Costco members can easily reload their existing Costco Shop Cards at any Costco warehouse.
One of the significant advantages of Costco Gift Cards is their usability. Both Costco members and non-members can use these cards to make purchases at any Costco location across the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico. They are also accepted for online purchases at Costco.com. You can easily check your Costco Gift Card balance online to keep track of your spending.
Costco Gift Cards are versatile and can be used towards Costco memberships as well as for purchasing merchandise, offering flexibility in how they can be used.
What is a Costco Digital Gift Card?
A Costco Digital Gift Card is the electronic version of the physical Costco Shop Card. Delivered via email, it offers a convenient, paperless way to shop at Costco. You can redeem a Costco Digital Gift Card by displaying it on your smartphone at checkout or by printing out the email and presenting the physical copy.
Costco Digital Gift Cards are available for purchase on Costco.com and are often used for promotional purposes and various other applications. If you receive a Digital Shop Card from [email protected], you can be assured it is a legitimate card ready for use.
These digital gift cards offer wide usability, as they can be used for shopping at any Costco warehouse location as well as online at both Costco.com and Costco.ca. However, it’s important to note that currently, Costco Digital Gift Cards cannot be used at Food Court kiosks within Costco warehouses.
Are Costco Gift Cards Refundable?
Costco Gift Cards, whether physical Shop Cards or Digital Shop Cards, are non-refundable. This policy is important to consider when purchasing these cards, either for yourself or as a gift, as they cannot be returned for cash or credit once purchased, except where required by law.
Where Can I Use My Costco Gift Card?
Costco Gift Cards are widely accepted across Costco’s retail ecosystem. You can redeem both physical and digital Costco Gift Cards at any Costco warehouse located in the United States, Canada, or Puerto Rico. Furthermore, these gift cards are also valid for online purchases made through Costco’s websites: Costco.com in the US and Costco.ca in Canada.
Redeeming your Costco Gift Card online at Costco.com is a straightforward process:
- During the online checkout process, look for the “Costco Shop Card” section. Click on “Add” to proceed. You will then be prompted to enter your unique Costco Shop Card number. This number is located on the back of physical Costco Shop Cards. For Digital Costco Shop Cards, the card number and PIN are provided in the email receipt you received.
- After entering the card number, you will need to enter the four-digit PIN to finalize the redemption process.
You can also easily check your available balance of your Costco Gift Card during the checkout process online, which helps in managing your spending.
Can Costco Gift Cards Be Redeemed for Cash?
Generally, Costco Gift Cards, in both physical and digital formats, are not redeemable for cash. However, there are exceptions based on state and provincial laws regarding cash redemption for gift cards with low balances. Specifically, certain jurisdictions mandate cash back for gift card balances below a certain threshold.
Here’s a breakdown of the states and their respective cash back limits for Costco Gift Cards:
- Balance less than $10: California (CA)
- Balance less than $5: Colorado (CO), Hawaii (HI), Maine (ME), Massachusetts (MA), Montana (MT), New Jersey (NJ), Oregon (OR), Washington (WA)
- Balance less than $3: Connecticut (CT)
- Balance less than $2.50: Texas (TX)
- Balance less than $1: Rhode Island (RI), Vermont (VT)
If your Costco Gift Card balance falls below these state-specific limits, you may be eligible to receive the remaining amount in cash.
How to Check Your Costco Gift Card Balance?
Checking your Costco Gift Card balance is a simple process that can be done online. Costco members can easily verify their balance by visiting the Costco website.
Here are the steps to check your Costco Gift Card balance online:
- Go to the Costco homepage, Costco.com. Scroll down to the bottom of the page where you will find the “Costco Shop Card Balance” link, usually located in the footer section. You can also directly access the balance check page here.
- Once on the balance check page, you will be prompted to enter your Costco Shop Card number. This number is printed on the back of your physical Costco Shop Card.
- Next, enter the four-digit PIN. This PIN is also located on the back of your Costco Shop Card, typically next to or below the card number.
- After entering both the card number and PIN, click the “Check Balance” button. Your current gift card balance should be displayed immediately on the screen.
The process for checking the balance of a Costco Digital Shop Card is identical. You will use the Shop Card number and PIN that were provided in the email containing your digital gift card.
Can Costco Gift Cards Be Reloaded Online?
Currently, Costco does not offer an online option to reload Costco Gift Cards, whether they are physical Shop Cards or Digital Shop Cards. If you wish to add more value to your Costco Gift Card, you need to do it in person at a Costco warehouse.
To reload your card, simply visit any register at a Costco warehouse. A Costco team member will be able to assist you with reloading your Shop Card at the checkout.
While online reloading is not available, you can always conveniently check your Costco Gift Card balance online at Costco.com to keep track of your funds.
What is the Daily Purchase Limit for Costco Gift Cards?
Due to regulatory requirements, Costco has implemented a daily purchase limit on gift cards and similar items. The total value of Costco Gift Cards that any individual can purchase is capped at $10,000 per day.
This limit is cumulative and applies to all Costco Gift Card purchases made within a single day, regardless of whether the purchases are made in-person at a warehouse, online through Costco.com, or a combination of both. This measure is in place to comply with financial regulations and prevent potential misuse.
Where is My Costco Gift Card Order?
For physical Costco Shop Card orders, processing typically begins on the next business day following your order. Delivery times for USPS First Class Mail are estimates and not guaranteed, generally taking around 7 to 10 business days for arrival. If you opted for expedited shipping during your purchase, you can track your shipment using FedEx tracking services. For any inquiries or further assistance regarding your physical Shop Card order, you can contact Costco customer service at 1-800-955-2292.
Digital Costco Shop Card orders are generally processed much faster. Most digital orders are fulfilled within 2 hours, although it may occasionally take up to 24 hours for complete processing. If you need to resend the email containing your digital gift card, you can use the tracking link provided in your “Orders & Purchases” section on the Costco website.
My Costco Digital Gift Card Has Not Arrived, What Should I Do?
If you are expecting a Costco Digital Gift Card and it hasn’t arrived in your inbox, there are a few steps you can take to troubleshoot the issue.
First, it’s advisable to check your email spam or junk folder. Sometimes, Digital Shop Card emails might be mistakenly filtered out of your main inbox. Look for an email from [email protected].
If you purchased the Digital Shop Card through Costco.com, you can utilize the “Track My Package” feature located within your “Orders & Purchases” section on the website. This tool allows you to resend the digital gift card email to yourself.
If you did not purchase the Digital Shop Card directly from Costco.com and are still unable to locate the email, it is recommended to contact Costco customer service for further assistance. They can help track your order and ensure you receive your Digital Shop Card.
Can I Change the Value or Cancel a Costco Gift Card Transaction?
Unfortunately, all Costco Gift Card transactions are considered final. Costco does not offer the option to change the value of a Shop Card once it has been purchased, nor can you cancel the transaction after completion.
If you wish to increase the value of a Costco Gift Card, the only option is to make a new, separate transaction to purchase an additional gift card with the desired value. Therefore, it’s important to be certain of the desired value at the time of purchase.
Trouble Viewing My Digital Costco Gift Card Email, How to Access?
If you are experiencing difficulties viewing your Digital Costco Gift Card email, it could be due to settings in your email system or browser that are blocking images or pop-ups. These settings can sometimes interfere with the display of your Digital Shop Card.
To resolve this, first, look for a link within the email that says “via web browser”, usually located in the upper right corner of the email. Clicking this link should open your Digital Shop Card in your web browser, bypassing any email display issues.
Additionally, check if you have any pop-up blockers enabled in your browser. These blockers can prevent the Digital Shop Card from displaying correctly. Temporarily disable any pop-up blockers; this is often indicated by a yellow notification bar just below the browser tabs. After disabling the blocker, refresh the page or click the “via web browser” link again.
What to Do If My Costco Gift Card is Lost or Stolen?
Costco is not responsible for lost or stolen Costco Gift Cards. Unfortunately, if your physical Costco Shop Card is lost or stolen, it cannot be replaced. Treat your physical gift cards like cash and keep them secure.
For Digital Costco Shop Cards, if you have misplaced the email, you can try to locate the original email in your inbox or check your spam/junk folders. The email contains a link that allows you to access your Digital Shop Card.
If you purchased the Digital Shop Card on Costco.com, you have the option to resend the email to yourself through the tracking link available in your “Orders & Purchases” section on the Costco website.
If you did not purchase the Shop Card from Costco.com and no longer have the original email, you will need to contact Costco customer service for assistance. They may be able to help based on your purchase details, but replacement is not guaranteed.
Can I Transfer My Digital Costco Gift Card to Someone Else?
Yes, you can easily transfer your Digital Costco Gift Card to another person. The simplest way to do this is by forwarding the original Digital Shop Card email to the intended recipient. The new person will then have access to the gift card and can use it for their purchases.
This makes Costco Digital Gift Cards a convenient and transferable gift option.
Can I Transfer My Digital Costco Gift Card Balance to a Physical Card?
Yes, you can transfer the balance from your Digital Costco Shop Card to a physical Shop Card. To do this, you need to visit your local Costco warehouse. At the warehouse, you can use your Digital Shop Card to purchase a physical Costco Shop Card of the same value.
This option provides flexibility if you prefer to have a physical card instead of using a digital version for shopping in-store.
When Will I Receive My Promotional Costco Gift Card?
If your online purchase at Costco qualified you for a promotional Costco Shop Card, the delivery timeframe for receiving the promotional card will be specified in your order confirmation email.
Review your order confirmation email carefully to find the details regarding when you should expect to receive your promotional gift card. Delivery times for promotional cards can vary depending on the specific promotion and may be separate from your main order delivery.
Can I Use My Costco Gift Card for Instacart Same-Day Delivery Orders?
No, Costco Gift Cards cannot be used as a payment method for Same-Day Delivery orders powered by Instacart. If you are placing a Same-Day Delivery order through Instacart for Costco, you will need to use a different accepted form of payment. You can find a list of accepted payment methods on the Instacart/Costco Same-Day Delivery help page.
If you wish to use your Costco Gift Card to pay for your order, Costco recommends using their 2-Day Delivery service available on Costco.com. Costco Gift Cards are accepted for 2-Day Delivery purchases.
Can I Use My Costco Gift Card on Costco Next?
No, Costco Gift Cards cannot be used as a form of payment on Costco Next. Costco Next is a special online platform that offers items directly from select vendors, and it operates with different payment processing systems. Therefore, Costco Gift Cards are not accepted for purchases made through Costco Next.
For more information about Costco Next and accepted payment methods, you can visit the Costco Next section on the Costco website or refer to their customer service FAQs.
