What to Know About Costco's $45 Gift Card for New Members

Costco is giving new members a $45 digital Shop Card when they sign up for a Gold Star or Executive membership, according to a deal detailed by Fox News. The warehouse retailer is pitching the offer squarely at holiday shoppers, timing it for the stretch between Thanksgiving and Christmas when grocery lists and gift lists tend to merge into one long receipt.

Fox News deals writer Nusrat Sultana described the familiar pull of a Costco run in the piece: "If you've ever walked into Costco for milk and eggs and left with a cart full of household essentials, snacks you didn't know you needed and maybe even a new TV, you know how quickly a shopping list can grow." The gift card, Sultana wrote, is meant to offset some of that spending during the holiday season.

What is Costco offering new members?

The offer is straightforward: sign up for a new Costco membership and receive a $45 digital Shop Card, redeemable in-store or online, according to Fox News. The card functions like store credit that can be applied toward groceries, gas, electronics or other purchases at Costco, the outlet reported.

Which membership tiers qualify?

Two tiers are eligible for the promotion: Gold Star, Costco's standard individual membership, and Executive, the retailer's upgraded tier that comes with additional member rewards, per Fox News. The report did not list annual membership prices for either tier, so shoppers comparing the deal against membership cost should check Costco's own signup page for current rates before enrolling.

By the numbers

• $45 — value of the digital Shop Card offered to new sign-ups
• 2 — membership tiers eligible for the promotion (Gold Star and Executive)

How does the $45 Shop Card work for holiday shopping?

Fox News framed the card as a way to blunt the cost of holiday entertaining and gift-buying, noting that members can put it toward groceries, gas, electronics and household essentials. The report describes it as a digital credit rather than a physical card, meaning it is applied to a member's account rather than mailed.

What else comes with a Costco membership?

Beyond the sign-up bonus, Fox News points to the retailer's standard member perks — savings on groceries, gas, electronics and household essentials — as part of the pitch for joining before the holidays. The article is published on Fox News's deals vertical, which carries a standard disclosure: Fox News may earn a commission on purchases made through its referral links, and the deals content is produced by a team that operates independently from the Fox News newsroom.

What should shoppers watch for before signing up?

• Confirm whether the $45 Shop Card applies to both Gold Star and Executive tiers or only one, by reading the full terms on Costco's signup page linked from the Fox News deal page.
• Check current annual membership fees, which were not specified in the Fox News report, before calculating whether the card offsets the cost of joining.
• Verify how and when the digital card is issued — immediately at signup or after a waiting period — since the report does not specify a timeline.
• Watch for an expiration date on the promotional offer, since holiday-timed retail deals typically run for a limited window.

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