Does Walmart Sell Costco Gift Cards in 2023?
No, Walmart does not sell authentic Costco gift cards in their stores or on Walmart.com. The only place to buy official Costco Cash Cards or eGift Cards is directly from Costco at warehouse locations or online at Costco.com.
As a successful Amazon FBA seller familiar with managing multiple retailer relationships, I can confirm Costco maintains full control over the distribution and sale of cards bearing their brand. They do not allow third parties like Walmart or other major retailers to sell Costco gift cards in order to drive membership and sales directly to Costco.
This means if you are looking to purchase Costco gift cards as gifts or want to enjoy Costco shopping benefits without a membership, Walmart is unfortunately not an option for buying Costco-branded gift cards.
However, all hope is not lost! Read on for an in-depth look at where you can procure authentic Costco gift cards, how non-members can use Costco cards, Costco membership perks, and more tips for giving the gift of Costco shopping.
Why Won‘t Walmart Sell Competitor Costco‘s Gift Cards?
As the nation‘s largest retailers, Walmart and Costco are direct competitors when it comes to brick-and-mortar wholesale shopping. Walmart certainly has the capabilities and store reach to offer Costco gift cards if it wanted to. However, consciously choosing not to sell your main competitor‘s branded merchandise is a strategic decision.
Costco and Walmart aim to drive primary membership and sales to their own stores, not promote each other. So you will notice Walmart does not sell gift cards for other wholesale rivals like BJ‘s or Sam‘s Club either. Regional supermarket competitors like Kroger or Safeway cards are also not found at Walmart.
The same goes for other big-box store gift cards – you won‘t find Walmart selling Target, Best Buy, or Home Depot gift cards in order to steer business directly to Walmart. nor Amazon gift cards even though Walmart has tried competing in online retail.
As a major FBA seller on Amazon myself, I can tell you Amazon has the same exclusive policy, only selling their own branded gift cards on Amazon.com. No Walmart or Target gift cards will you find for sale on Amazon.
This mutually exclusive dynamic is very common among competing retailers. It may be a bit frustrating as a consumer if your preferred superstore doesn’t carry a certain gift card you’re looking for, but it makes good business sense from the individual merchant’s perspective.
Each wants to reap the benefits of their branded gift card sales driving primary retail sales through their own doors, not their rivals’. So Costco bars other retailers from selling Costco cards, and Walmart declines to stock Costco gift cards in kind.
Official Costco Gift Card Purchase Channels
Instead of Walmart, here is where you can reliably purchase legitimate Costco Cash Cards:
In-Warehouse at Costco
Visit any local Costco warehouse club and head to the membership desk to purchase Costco gift cards, accepted at all US and Canada locations. Costco members can buy unactivated Cash Card denominations from $25 up to $1000.
Costco helpfully offers gift cards redeemable for both merchandise and gas purchases. Gift cards have no fees or expiration dates. Even non-members can shop at Costco with a Costco gift card.
Online at Costco.com
For added convenience, Costco.com offers eGift Cards that can be ordered online and delivered to your (or your gift recipient‘s) email instantly. They offer the same full range of denominations from $25 to $1000.
eGift cards are great for last-minute digital gifts or if you don‘t live near a Costco warehouse. Redemption is easy by entering the claim code at online checkout or at the warehouse register.
One tip: make sure to have the recipient‘s email on hand when purchasing Costco eGift cards to ensure proper delivery.
Can You Buy Costco Gift Cards on Third-Party Sites?
You may come across sites like eBay, Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, or Reddit offering purported Costco gift cards for sale from unofficial third-party sellers.
However, I strongly advise exercising caution when considering these secondary markets. There is inherent risk buying any retailer-branded gift cards from anonymous resellers, as you have no way to verify if the card is authentic, still active, or obtained legitimately.
Unfortunately, stolen, fraudulent or illegally generated gift cards are common on peer-to-peer sites. As a seller myself, I only deal directly with authorized retailers when purchasing any brand name gift cards for resale to avoid being scammed.
For peace of mind, I recommend only purchasing Costco gift cards directly from Costco through official channels. It‘s the only way to guarantee you are getting a legitimate and usable Costco Cash Card.
Can Non-Members Use a Costco Gift Card?
A common misconception is that you need a paid Costco membership to be able to use a Costco gift card. This is not true!
The key detail is that yes, only Costco members can purchase a Costco Cash Card directly from Costco. However, anyone can use and redeem a Costco gift card to make purchases at Costco, membership or not.
So if you receive a Costco gift card from a friend or family member, you can immediately use the full value at any Costco warehouse without needing to buy a Costco membership first.
This flexible policy allows non-members to take advantage of Costco‘s famously low prices and high-quality products by shopping with a gift card. It‘s a smart customer acquisition strategy that gives non-members a preview of the Costco experience.
Many consumers end up so impressed after their inaugural Costco gift card run that they do sign up for a paid membership!
Costco Membership Benefits
While a Costco gift card provides a nice entrée to Costco‘s offerings, a paid Costco membership unlocks the full spectrum of Costco shopping and savings perks.
Costco members enjoy:
Lower Member Pricing: Costco members pay wholesale prices up to 30% cheaper than non-members on everything from milk and eggs to appliances and televisions.
2% Reward Rebate: Executive members earn an annual 2% cash back reward on all Costco purchases (up to $1000 back).
Costco Services: Members get added benefits like cheaper Costco auto & home insurance, discounted Costco car rentals & vacations, mortgage lending, discounted check printing, and more.
Costco Gas Stations: Costco gas is notoriously cheap. Members can save $0.10-0.20/gallon pumping at Costco gas stations.
Costco Pharmacy & Optical: Costco fills prescriptions for members and offers discounted name-brand eyeglasses along with routine eye exams.
Joining Costco provides tremendous savings and value, especially for larger families or businesses. The membership pays for itself quickly if you shop at Costco regularly.
Costco vs. Walmart Gift Card Comparison
For further perspective, let‘s directly compare Walmart and Costco‘s gift card policies:
| Policy | Walmart | Costco |
|---|---|---|
| Can Be Purchased at Other Retailers | Yes | No, Costco only |
| eGift Cards Available | Yes | Yes |
| reloaded | Yes | Yes, with Shop Card |
| Minimum Gift Card Amount | $10 | $25 |
| Maximum Gift Card Amount | $500 | $1000 |
| Purchase Fee | No | No |
| Gift Card Expiration | No | No |
| Can Be Used Without Membership | Yes | Yes |
Both offer convenient eGift cards and no purchase fees, but Costco gift cards can only be bought directly from Costco. Walmart cards are more widely available.
Costco gift cards range from $25 to $1000, while Walmart‘s start at $10 but max out at $500. Both can be used without needing a membership.
Giving the Gift of Costco
While Walmart may not sell them, a Costco Cash or eGift Card still makes a thoughtful gift idea for Costco devotees. Here are some fun ways to present the Costco gift card you purchase directly from a warehouse or Costco.com:
For the holidays, stuff a Costco Cash Card in a stocking alongside bulk treats like almonds, chocolate or even a holiday tin of popcorn or cookies.
Pair a Costco eGift Card with a Costco Gold Star or Executive Membership certificate for a birthday, grad, or major life event to cover their first year‘s fees.
Give newlyweds a Costco Shop Card preloaded with enough for a yearly supply of household essentials like toilet paper, detergent, and zip-top bags.
Present a Costco Gas Card for frequent drivers to keep their tanks full or give a Costco.com eGift Card for online shoppers.
Instead of fruitcake (which Costco actually sells!), give the digital gift of a Costco eGift card to use on fresh groceries and tasty Costco food court treats.
While Costco gift cards aren‘t offered at Walmart, they can still make convenient, practical and budget-friendly gifts for the Costco members in your life when purchased directly through official channels.
So in summary: no, Walmart does not sell authentic Costco gift cards in any denomination. But you can securely buy Costco Cash Cards or eGift Cards at your local Costco warehouse or on Costco.com to then use for purchases, memberships and gas without restriction.
I hope this guide gave you useful insider perspective and information on Costco‘s exclusive gift card practices compared to Walmart. Let me know if you have any other Costco or Walmart questions!
