Costco gripe

[Deleted]

Why are they sooo pushy about the Executive Gold membership?  I get harassed every time I go because they want me to upgrade my Gold member card.

Every time I check out, random person come up and says "ohhh has anyone ever talked to you about the benefits of the Executive Gold membership?"  Every time I say, yes, many time and decline politely and every time they continue into their sales pitch anyway.   I'm rude now; I've over it; leave me alone.

Why do they care so much; they must get some kind of kick back for upgrading people or something?

If I want to pass on the additional $55 fee for "2% cash back" then let me!  I've done the math, we're a family of 2 and it's not happening. 

Does anyone else get this??   Grrr

[Deleted]

This has never ever happened to me.

[dexteroni]

This has never happened to me at Costco, ever. It sounds super annoying and I would not be polite after hearing it so many times either. In fact, I would probably complain to a manager about it.

[ginger]

This hasn't happened to me either. Actually, I think it would probably embarrass Costco corporate.

You might consider emailing corporate, but I can't decide if it's overkill or not.

[Deleted]

Seriously?? Interesting. It must be some kind of sales incentive within my local store or something..that never ends. I get asking people once but then flag the account that they declined and leave them alone!

[bunch]

I've never been asked either. I agree that I'd email corporate.

[fuddyduddy]

Weird. I've never been asked, either.

[Deleted]

Jan 20, 2013 16:44:27 GMT -5 @blushnbashful said:

Seriously?? Interesting. It must be some kind of sales incentive within my local store or something..that never ends. I get asking people once but then flag the account that they declined and leave them alone!

They do it t my Costco too. It got really annoying. I did get the executive last year and I barely broke even. I'm going to cancel it. Not looking forward to dealing with that again though. 

[Roc A Bee]

I've never been asked, but I have a friend who works for SAMs and they have to ask. Maybe your store is doing that?

[Deleted]

Ok I found this forum post & am feeling better than I'm not alone. Apparently there is a sticker they can put on your card to flag it so they quit asking you. Bring on the sticker!

forums.welltrainedmind.com/topic/328821-costco-executive-membership/

[pugz]

interesting about the sticker! I have also never been asked at either of the Costcos that I frequent

[CloudBee]

I have never experienced this.

[dapotato]

this has never happened to me.

in fact, there have been a few years our checker didn't note that our membership was about to expire (plus mailed notices were sent to a permanent address we didn't check that often), and we didn't know to even renew our normal membership until the next time we tried shopping there.

[fromage]

I have been asked many many times. I share a card with my mom and we eventually decided that with our combined purchases, it is worth it for us. Plus Costco will refund you the difference between Gold membership and Executive membership if you don't break even in rewards. I have to agree, though, that it was annoying to be asked over and over and over. 

[zeewifeandmama]

This has never happened to us.

[bluelikejazz]

I think your membership must be flagged. Have you ever bought anything "big" there? Like a computer or TV. If you're close to breaking even or earning money on the Gold membership (or have been in years past) your membership gets flagged. Then when they scan your card when you check out, a salesperson is notified and will come talk to you.

FWIW, I've never been approached, but my mom is almost every time I go to Costco with her.

[macmars45]

Jan 20, 2013 16:37:53 GMT -5 @blushnbashful said:

Why are they sooo pushy about the Executive Gold membership?  I get harassed every time I go because they want me to upgrade my Gold member card.

Every time I check out, random person come up and says "ohhh has anyone ever talked to you about the benefits of the Executive Gold membership?"  Every time I say, yes, many time and decline politely and every time they continue into their sales pitch anyway.   I'm rude now; I've over it; leave me alone.

Why do they care so much; they must get some kind of kick back for upgrading people or something?

If I want to pass on the additional $55 fee for "2% cash back" then let me!  I've done the math, we're a family of 2 and it's not happening. 

Does anyone else get this??   Grrr.

The bolded is H and I as well. Every time we go they pitch it to us as well. I just say no politely and that's that.

[doctorsbaby]

They do that at our normal store occasionally but (and this is big in my opinion!) they scan your card first, their little hand held scanner figures out what your cash back would have been since the last renewal and tell you that number. I've seen them scan plenty of cards and just move it, so I assume that those people wouldn't gain anything on the executive membership.

I upgraded ours because our cash back after 10 months was up to about $150. I also like the guarantee that if you don't break even, they will give you the money back. 

[Nonny]

I only been asked one, actually while I was still in line waiting to unload, and they scanned my card and saw how much we spent annually, and then immediately said, "Oh, you don't spend enough to make it worth it. Would you like help unloading your cart?" And that was that.

[Deleted]

Jan 20, 2013 17:20:43 GMT -5 bluelikejazz said:

I think your membership must be flagged. Have you ever bought anything "big" there? Like a computer or TV. If you're close to breaking even or earning money on the Gold membership (or have been in years past) your membership gets flagged. Then when they scan your card when you check out, a salesperson is notified and will come talk to you.

FWIW, I've never been approached, but my mom is almost every time I go to Costco with her.

Yes, this must be it.  There was a year we made several big one-time purchases but a normal year for us won't be worth it, not even close. But they hone in on that one year I guess.  Plus they exclude gas and alcohol purchases which is probably a big % for us!

[martygras]

This happens to us regularly. We bought a TV one year and barely broke even with the exec membership. I'm interested in the sticker though because it absolutely drives me nuts to be harassed about upgrading our membership.

[Deleted]

I imagine someone bugged DH into it as we had an Executive Membership for a while. He's not the type to upgrade like that without being bugged. We went back to a regular this last Renewel time. We did not shop there (family of 5) enough to make up the fee. But in the years prior we probably would have...when we were buying big screen TVs & other big ticket items.

[rubytue]

Occasionally they come around scanning cards while you are in line. They were doing this while I was there yesterday, but the lady took one look at my cart and moved on without scanning. I guess she figured if I was only buying 5 things, it wasn't worth it. Little did she know we are there 3-4 times per week lol

Oh, and at 3-4 times per week, plus tires and gas, we get the executive even for a family of 2 + dog.

[kate1482]

This has happened to us but they aren't pushy about it. (For what its worth we shop at the Costco next to their corporate office)

[Deleted]

It happened to us when we had a big ticket item in our cart (a tv). We did upgrade and have kept the upgrade since; it has always paid off. If it doesn't, they will refund you the difference. You have to ask but they will do it.

I would feel very annoyed if I was harangued about this in the store, too. Sorry it's happening to you.

[goaskalice]

Our Costco was doing this around the holidays. I heard the cashier tell the lady who was trying to upgrade people, "she has a business membership"- the way she said it made it sound like that means they don't bug us to upgrade? The customers before and after me were asked.

[audette]

Huh. I've never even seen someone get asked about this. Certainly hasn't happened to us. But, we have a business membership provided by my employer, so I doubt "upgrading" the membership is a big deal, and they probably would approach the person that signed up the company rather than non-decision-making me...

[biogirl21]

Someone asked us once but he stopped talking to us after he scanned our card, lol. If we ever buy something big there I think I'd upgrade the trip before. There's a couch that I really want.

[sarahbear]

This happened to me about 6 times last year and it was really pissing me off because even when I nicely declined they would give me attitude. It finally stopped. I think their "upgrade drive" probably ended. It happened at 2 different locations too. Ugh.

[womet]

Jan 20, 2013 18:18:34 GMT -5 @carmensandiego said:

It happened to us when we had a big ticket item in our cart (a tv). We did upgrade and have kept the upgrade since; it has always paid off. If it doesn't, they will refund you the difference. You have to ask but they will do it.

I would feel very annoyed if I was harangued about this in the store, too. Sorry it's happening to you.

We've nearly always had the Executive membership, because they will refund you the difference if you don't get $55 back at the end of the year. We're only 2 (plus 3 pets) and it's always been beneficial for us. 

But I agree that it would be annoying if they kept hounding you about upgrading.