Shopping Costco.com

How to Shop

Shopping at Costco.com is easy. There are three simple steps to finding the item you are looking for:

1. Browse the Home page, which displays the categories available and links to special offers. Click a category to see the selection of items available within that category. Click the item and you will see a detailed explanation of the item's features. Or, search for specific items by entering a brand name, an item description, or keywords in the "Search" window displayed on every merchandise page. You will be given a list of items that best match your search criteria..
2. When you find something you want to purchase, click "Add to cart." The number of items in your cart will be displayed in the top right corner of the page. You can view or change the contents of your cart at any time by clicking "Cart." 
3. When you're finished shopping, click "Check out." You will be forwarded to our login page where you will enter your e-mail address and password.
    

Registration
If you have not registered on Costco.com before, you will need to complete the "New Registration" section found on the Log-in page. Enter your e-mail address, password and, if you are a member, the membership # found on your membership card. If you have a Costco - American Express co-branded card, your membership number is located on the back of your card to the right of your picture and will say "Costco Membership Number."

Then click the "Register" button to create an account.

You will then see a page displaying the contents of your shopping cart. On this page, you also have the opportunity to upgrade your ship method to “Express” if that option is available for the item(s) in your cart.

To complete the checkout process:

1. Click Continue Checkout.
2. Enter your shipping information and click on Payment Page.
3. Enter your payment information or select Bill Me Later as your payment method.
4. Click on Review Order.
5. Click the Complete Purchase button to complete your order.

After completing your purchase, you will immediately receive an order-received e-mail. Then, when your order has been sent for fulfillment you will receive another e-mail confirmation. Once your item(s) have shipped, you will also receive another e-mail verifying the actual ship date. It will include instructions on how you can track the shipment of your order online, if tracking is available.
 

My Account
"My Account" is where shipping and billing information is stored. Additionally you will be able to make changes to your shipping or billing address, address book, or change your current password.   

Shipping Address Book
If the merchandise will be sent to an address other than the billing address, enter the address information under the shipping information area of "My Account." This information will be updated automatically and stored in your personal address book for future purchases. Your address book can store and maintain up to 99 names and addresses.   

Need Help Placing an Order?
If you are experiencing problems with placing an order, please review our system requirements, send us an email at customer service, or call us at 1-800-955-2292.   

Shipping Information
Currently, Costco.com offers shipping in the United States only. We do not currently deliver to PO boxes, international addresses, or a few limited geographic areas within the U.S. 

For our Canadian members, please visit us at http://www.costco.ca.

Shipments to Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico will incur additional shipping charges that will be quoted to you at time of checkout. 

We plan to expand service to more areas in the future. Please check our site regularly for updates  

Delivery Methods
Costco.com provides various shipping methods. As you shop, each product page describes the standard shipping method for the item.   

Package Delivery Standard and Express Delivery
Most merchandise can be delivered by package carriers such as UPS (United Parcel Service), Federal Express, or USPS (United States Parcel Service). These carriers deliver your merchandise directly to your door.

Large-item Delivery
Contracted freight carriers deliver merchandise that is too large or too heavy to ship via package carriers. Contracted freight carrier's telephone you when your merchandise arrives at their terminal to set up a delivery appointment. They provide curbside delivery, but they are not responsible for bringing the merchandise into your home, uncrating, installing or removing package materials.   

White-glove Delivery
Other merchandise requires special handling or setup. Our "White Glove" carriers deliver this merchandise. They will unpack, inspect, and set up your merchandise in the room of your choice. Also they will remove all packaging materials.

Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico
Not all products sold on Costco.com can be shipped to Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico due to shipping limitations. For products that can be shipped to Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico, an additional shipping charge will be incurred which will be quoted to you at time of checkout. Please review the product page to see if shipping to these locations is available for a specific item.

To inquire about items not currently enabled for Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico,  please click here. Please include the item number and your delivery address in your inquiry. We will contact you with a freight quote.

Multiple Delivery Addresses

1. If you are sending merchandise to multiple ship-to-addresses, please begin by entering the list of ship-to-addresses into your "Address Book" located in "My Account." This information will be updated automatically and stored in your personal address book for future purchases. Your address book can store and maintain up to 99 names and addresses.
   
   
2. Add the item(s) you wish to order to your cart and proceed to checkout.
   
   
3. Click on the "Ship to Multiple Addresses" button near the top of the shipping address information page of the check-out process.
   
   
4. The items you have in your cart will be listed individually with the ability to choose a ship-to address one line item at a time.
   
   
5. You will also have the opportunity to add a customized "Gift Message" to each item with gift message capability at this point in the check-out process.  

International Shipping
Currently, Costco.com offers shipping in the United States only. 

For our Canadian members, please visit us at http://www.costco.ca.

We plan to expand service to more areas in the future. Please check our site regularly for updates

Passage of Title
Passage of title (or transfer of ownership) on the merchandise you order will occur once you receive the merchandise.

Payment
All prices and dollar amounts on this site are in United States dollars. Costco.com accepts the following forms of payment:

• American Express (the preferred credit card of Costco.com)
  To apply for the Costco American Express Credit Card, click here.
• Visa
• Master Card
• Discover Card
• Costco Credit Card
• Online Gift Certificates
• Costco Cash Card
• Bill Me Later

Some electronic transactions may require extended processing in addition to credit card authorization. You will be notified by a Costco.com customer service representative if extended processing is required to complete your transaction request through our web site. All credit cards must be valid, authentic and you must be authorized to use them. If the charge is not authorized or accepted, we reserve the right to cancel your order without

Redeeming an online gift certificate is easy! Just follow these simple steps:

1. Visit our website at www.costco.com.
   
2.  Select an item you would like to purchase and click on "Add to Cart."
   
3.  When you are satisfied with your order, click "Check Out."
   
4.  Enter gift certificate validation number on the "Payment" page in the "Gift Certificate Number" entry field.
   
5.  Complete the check out process. The gift certificate will be deducted automatically from the total amount of your order.

The Electronic Gift Certificates are not refundable or redeemable for cash unless the remaining balance is less than $10.00.

Click to view terms and conditions of online gift certificates.

Online Gift Certificate Balance
Online Gift Certificate Balance represents the remaining balance on gift certificates you have received. Every time you make a purchase with your gift certificate, the balance will change accordingly.    

Online Credit Coupon
Online Credit Coupons are subject to the following terms and conditions: Your Online Credit Coupon can be used only by you and only for purchases from Costco.com in U.S. dollars. They are not redeemable at any physical Costco warehouse. This Online Credit Coupon will apply only to merchandise shipped and billed to a U.S. address. This Online Credit Coupon may be used only once, at any time of day. Online Credit Coupons may not be sold and will not be replaced if lost, stolen or destroyed. Any unused portion is forfeited and is not redeemable for cash. Cash redemption value 1/20 cent. Void where prohibited. Maryland residents may redeem an Online Credit Coupon for cash prior to expiration.   

Costco Cash Card
Versatile and convenient, Costco Cash cards can be used in our warehouses, gas stations and on Costco.com. They are issued in increments ranging from $25.00 to $1,000.00 U.S.D. With thousands of items to choose from, Cash cards make great gifts for clients, friends and family.   

Using the Costco Cash Card
Using a Cash card online is easy. Simply follow these steps:

1. Select an item you would like to purchase and click on "Add to Cart."
   
2. When you are satisfied with your order, click "Check Out."
3. Enter the Costco Cash card number on the 'Payment' page in the Costco Cash card entry field, along with the Card PIN.
   
4. Complete the check out process. The entire balance will be applied to the order amount, and any remaining balance will be available for future purchases.

Membership Requirements
Costco is a membership warehouse club, dedicated to bringing our members the lowest possible prices on quality, brand-name merchandise. Costco members not only receive the best possible prices at Costco.com, but can also shop at any of the Costco Wholesale locations worldwide! Costco members need to enter their membership number during the registration process in the My Account section. Non-members will be charged a 5% surcharge over the member's posted product prices (except for prescription drugs and gift certificates). If you are not a member, we encourage you to join. For more membership information, click here.   

Sales Tax
In accordance with applicable state and local laws, we are required to charge sales tax in localities where Costco has operations. Costco does not benefit from the collection of sales tax and we remit all taxes collected directly to the appropriate taxing jurisdiction.

As a general rule, it is the laws of the state of delivery that determine whether sales tax will be due on your transaction. The appropriate sales tax amount will be displayed on the check out section of the site.

If we are legally required to collect sales tax on merchandise you order, the tax amount will be added automatically to your purchase price. On rare occasions an error in our state sales tax database may cause the sales tax charge to be incorrect. If this happens, at any time up to two years from your date of purchase you may contact customer service for a refund of tax overcharges. This right to a refund is your exclusive remedy for sales tax errors.

Sales tax is charged, on both merchandise and related shipping and handling charges, for orders delivered to addresses within the following states:

• AL, AK (Juneau ONLY), AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, HI, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, MD, MI, MN, MO, NC, NE, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, PA, PR, SC, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA and WI

• ID, MA and UT

Be advised that, because Costco's shipping and handling charge is a combined charge, this charge is subject to sales tax in many of the states where a separately stated shipping charge might normally be nontaxable.   

Security
To ensure that information entered on Costco.com is secure, we have implemented a security protocol called SSL. (Secure Socket Layer) SSL encrypts all information entered on our site before it is sent over the internet. SSL prevents eavesdropping and ensures data integrity during communications. For further information please view our privacy statement. 

Encryption is the process of taking the characters you enter at your computer keyboard and scrambling them into bits of code before transmission. The bits are securely transmitted over the internet to be deciphered when received by Costco. To anyone else, the information would be unreadable.