Frequently Asked Questions

Costco is primarily a wholesaler. Business membership is our basic membership and costs $55 per year. This entitles you to make two separate transactions at the register, one for business (to produce a tax receipt) and one for your personal shopping. Gold star membership is $60 per year so for just $5 extra, individuals can also join and shop at wholesale prices. Gold star members are only able to make one individual transaction per shop. Both membership types include a free household card.

We also offer a fax and/or e-mail and pull transactions for business members purchasing pallet quantities. Contact your nearest warehouse for details. 

Prices and operating hours are the same.

Costco is a membership warehouse club and you will need a membership to visit and shop at Costco. Costco memberships are fully guaranteed. We would suggest that you sign up for a membership and come and give the Costco experience a try. If you are not satisfied, we will refund your membership fee in full.

Costco is a membership warehouse club and you will need a membership to visit and shop at Costco. Members pay a nominal annual fee and in return are able to take advantage of shopping at wholesale prices for the highest quality products which are available exclusively to our members. Costco memberships are fully guaranteed. Please sign up for a membership and come and give us a try. If you are not satisfied, we will refund your membership fee in full.

Thank you for signing up for Costco and apologies that you did not receive a confirmation.

Please take a piece of photo ID showing your current residential address along to the membership counter at the warehouse and we will take your photo then print your card. We do not currently mail out membership cards.

Once you have completed the application and click on submit. The website should take you to the payment screen. If you are not moving on to the payment screen, it may be that all the fields have not been completed. Please try again, taking particular care with the phone number section, where the phone number needs to be input with no spaces eg. 0294697999. Please note that you can also sign up at the warehouse.

Please key your phone number with no spaces, for example: 0269467999.

Please let us know as soon as you can so we can cancel your card. You can then take a piece of photo ID showing your current residential address along to the membership counter at the warehouse. The membership team will be able to print you a new card.

Costco cards are non-transferable. Only the member whose name and photo are on the back is able to use the card. The second card is a free household card and it is not possible to designate an employee to use this. The primary member can nominate any immediate family member over the age of 18 years of age at the same address to be the household card holder. All members will require photo ID showing the same residential address at the time of sign up. It is possible to register more than one business membership. For example, if you have three employees who will be shopping, you can sign them up under the same business name, each employee would require their own card in order to shop. Each card will be $55.

Each cardholder can bring in two guests over age 18 years (we do not count children under 18 years.) Please note that guests cannot shop or pay for items, only members are able to shop at Costco.

The free card that we offer is a household card and can only be issued to a member of your immediate family resident at the same address as the primary member. Please stop by the membership counter at the warehouse and let them know that you would like to add a cardholder. Please note that they will need to provide photo ID when they collect their card, which shows the same residential address as the primary member.

Please note, an online account is not created automatically when you sign up at a warehouse. You will need to create an online account to renew your membership if you have never used your membership card online.

You can renew your membership online or at the register when you shop. You will not receive new membership cards each year.

Memberships renewed within 2 months after expiration of the current membership year will be extended for 12 months from the expiration date. Memberships renewed more than 2 months after such expiration will be extended for 12 months from the renewal date.

Since our members pay a fee to shop at Costco, we allow only Costco members to shop. Your picture appears on the card because your membership card can be used only by you and is non-transferable. Your picture also prevents unauthorised use should your card ever be lost or stolen.

General hours for warehouses are:

Monday - Friday 10:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Saturday 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.*

Sunday 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Check with your Please see the local warehouse for hours on public holidays.

* Hours may vary. Please see the Locations page for specific hours including fuel station trading hours.

Staffing the doors is our most effective method of maintaining accuracy in inventory control. It benefits both us and our members. This practice assists in checking that you received everything you paid for and were not overcharged or undercharged for any item.

You may pay by cash, EFTPOS, Visa or MasterCard.

The answer is two-fold. Firstly, the majority of our members typically purchase a large quantity of products during their shopping visits to our warehouses. Around the world, the typical member purchases an average of 14 items each and every time. Secondly, operating an express checkout line adds additional overhead costs, thereby driving up our cost of doing business.

We are trying to adhere to a no-frills policy. This means keeping our costs as low as possible. Dressing rooms take employees to staff them as well as floor space that could be better utilised. However, remember our return policy. If something does not fit, just bring it back for a full refund.

Costco is a cash and carry warehouse club and does not currently offer an online shopping service or a delivery service. Business delivery is available at our Docklands Warehouse.

On Membership: We will refund your membership fee in full at any time if you are dissatisfied.

On Merchandise: We guarantee your satisfaction on every product we sell and will refund your purchase price. This is in addition to your rights under the Australian Consumer Law.

Exceptions:

• Diamonds: l.00ct or larger: Members returning a diamond over l.00ct must also present all original paperwork (IGI and/or GIA certificates) at which time they will receive a Jewellery Credit Memo. Refunds will be approved upon positive verification. This process may require 2-5 business days.
• Refunds on all watches will be approved upon positive verification. This process may require 2-5 business days.
• Special Order Kiosk and Custom Installed Programs: Custom product (s) manufactured to our members personal and unique specifications cannot be returned or refunded except for warranty repair/replacement due to failure to meet specifications.
• Hearing Aid Products: Hearing aid products may not be covered by the 100% Satisfaction Guarantee and are covered by the terms of the purchase agreement signed at the time of purchases.
• Costco may in future restrict its return policy regarding other products. Restrictions will be shown at time of purchase.

Please return the item to the membership counter for a full refund upon your next visit. It is helpful if you have your receipt.

Costco Travel and costco.com are currently only available to Costco members who permanently resident in North America.

Our coupons are available on our website at www.costco.com.au/coupons. We also hand them out at the warehouse.