Member terms and conditions and privacy policy
Terms and conditions
We look forward to serving you as a Costco member. Your membership and the privileges and conditions of membership are described below. If you have any questions, please ask our member services personnel at any Costco membership counter, or contact your local warehouse.
Membership
- Any use of a Costco Wholesale Australia membership card is subject to the Costco Wholesale Australia Member Privileges and Conditions.
- Membership is available to all qualifying individuals 18 years of age and over.
- Costco reserves the right to refuse membership to any applicant and membership is revocable without cause.
- Membership is subject to any and all rules adopted by Costco including our privacy policies and practices, and they may be amended from time to time without notice.
Membership cards and fees
- Membership fee is for a period of twelve (12) months from the date of enrolment of the primary cardholder and entitles you to acquire products and services at any Costco location worldwide.
- Your card is valid at any Costco warehouse worldwide.
- Your membership card must have a card number and your photo to be valid. If your photo is not on your card, stop by the membership counter to have your photo taken and added to your card.
- If your card is ever lost or stolen, your picture prevents unauthorised use.
- Report lost or stolen cards to any Costco membership counter immediately, or contact your local warehouse.
- Memberships may be terminated at Costco’s discretion. Cards remain the property of Costco and must be returned upon request.
- Cards are not transferable.
- A free household card is available to a primary cardholder’s spouse, domestic partner or immediate family member over the age of 18 and living at the same address. You must only provide the householder member's details where you have their consent to do so. Household cardholders will be asked to present proof that they live at the same address as the primary cardholder.
- Business Primary cardholders can add up to 6 affiliate member cards. The Affiliate cards will be charged $65 for 12 months, prorated to the time of joining up until 2 months before expiry.
- You may bring up to two guests into the warehouse each time you shop. Though only Costco Members may purchase items. This includes electronic and cash payments.
- You will be required to show your membership card when entering any Costco warehouse and when checking out at a payment register. Photographs of membership cards cannot be used in warehouses in lieu of an actual membership card.
- Gold Star Members may purchase items in one transaction.
- Business and Executive Members may purchase items in two transactions.
Renewing, adding or deleting cards
- The primary member must authorise renewal or cardholder changes, including additions or deletions and is responsible for the membership.
- You will receive a renewal notice each year. Renewal fees are due no later than the last day of the month your membership expires.
- Membership renewal must be completed for all cardholders (including affiliate cards) on the membership when the renewal is processed.
- 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.
For new members from 01/02/2023, and for members who have opted in to automatic renewals:
- Your membership will renew automatically each year, unless you notify us that you do not want your membership to automatically renew.
- In conjunction with automatic renewal, we will update your card on the day that it expires. We will remind you of this payment before the expiry of each membership year, and we’ll contact you afterwards to confirm that the automatic renewal was successful. In processing your automatic membership renewal, we will use the most recent credit card information we have.
- You can opt out of automatic membership renewals, and may instead renew your membership in accordance with the paragraph below.
For members for whom automatic membership renewals do not apply:
- You will receive a renewal notice each year. Renewal fees are due no later than the last day of the month your membership expires. You may remit your renewal fee online at costco.com.au or at any Australian warehouse.
- Membership renewal must be completed for all cardholders on the membership when the renewal is processed. 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.
Executive Membership Terms and Conditions
Executive Members receive an annual 2% reward of up to $1,000* on qualified Costco purchases. Terms, conditions, and exclusions apply.
How to qualify for the annual 2% reward and other Executive Member privileges:
Upgrade to an Executive Membership and receive an annual 2% reward. The Executive Membership fee is $130 per year. The upgrade fee is $65 per year. We will prorate the upgrade amount based on the months remaining in your current membership up until 2 months prior to your membership expiry.
Purchases made prior to upgrading are not eligible for the 2% reward. At your next renewal, you will be billed a total of $130 for your Executive Membership. To upgrade, visit the membership counter at any Costco warehouse.
Earning the 2% reward
- Costco Executive Members receive a 2% reward on qualified purchases (excluding GST) see calculation of 2% reward below.
- Reward is capped at and will not exceed $1,000 for any 12-month period.
- Only purchases made by the primary and active primary household cardholder on the account will apply toward the reward.
- Any items that have earned rewards and are then refunded, will lose the rewards earned. Refunds will be calculated on the most recent purchase of the item.
- The reward is not guaranteed to be equal to or greater than the Executive upgrade fee paid.
- Limit one Executive Membership per household or business.
- Purchases made prior to upgrade do not qualify for the 2% reward.
- If, at any time, the primary household cardholder is removed from the account, their purchases will not apply toward the reward.
Calculation of 2% reward
Reward is approximately 2% of pre-tax (GST) purchases (less refunds) of most merchandise purchased through: front-end registers, most ancillary business registers at Costco warehouses and Costco websites in Australia.
Rewards are not calculated:
- On purchases of fuel, bullion, pharmacy, Costco Shop Cards, charitable donations and at food courts.
- On membership fees.
- On miscellaneous fees, deposits and taxes, including sales tax and shipping; where prohibited by law or regulation.
- On purchases made by anyone other than the account's Primary or Primary Household Cardholder.
- And on certain other categories as determined at Costco's discretion, which may change without notice.
Issuing the 2% reward
- The 2% reward is issued by email to the primary member approximately 10 days prior to the member’s renewal date and reflects the reward earned up until the issue date.
- Purchases made after this date will be added to the following year's reward calculation.
- A member must be a current, paid Executive Member at the end of the membership year to be entitled to the reward.
Using the 2% reward
The reward notification is emailed to the primary member. Rewards totalling less than $1 will not be sent. The reward will be available to the primary member at the front-end registers and may be redeemed toward purchases of most merchandise through the front-end registers (not currently available at self-checkout) at Costco warehouses in Australia.
Rewards may not be used:
1.
Toward purchases of Shop Cards and Gift of Membership.
2.
Toward purchases that are not recorded through Costco's front-end registers, such as purchases at fuel stations, Food Courts, and online at Costco.com.au.
3.
On purchases of services.
4.
Where prohibited by law or regulation; or on certain other categories as determined at Costco's discretion, which may change without notice.
5.
Rewards may not be redeemed for cash.
6.
Regulatory restrictions on rewards are subject to change at any time.
Refund or Downgrade from Executive Membership
To receive a refund for the current Executive upgrade fee, the membership must be cancelled or downgraded to a Gold Star or Business Membership. Any 2% reward accrued and issued and not yet redeemed, will be forfeited. Any 2% reward redeemed will be subtracted from the refund and forfeited to the extent it exceeds the amount of any refund. Any additional savings and services exclusively for Executive Members will be discontinued.
Return Policy For Change Of Mind*
- On membership: we will refund your membership fee in full at any time for any reason if you are dissatisfied.
- On merchandise for change of mind: should you change your mind for any reason regarding the purchase of any merchandise, we will refund the purchase price at any time on every product we sell with the following exceptions:
*Exceptions
-
Certain Electronic goods (purchased on or after [August 31st 2020])
For electronic goods, Costco Wholesale’s return policy for change of mind only applies for 90 days from the date the member receives the following goods: televisions, projectors, major household appliances (including refrigerators, freezers, rangehoods, cooktops, microwaves, dishwashers, washers and dryers), computers, touchscreen tablets, smart watches, cameras, aerial cameras (including drones) security cameras, camcorders, MP3 players, cellular phones and portable air conditioners.
-
Gift Cards
Gift Cards cannot be refunded or returned, unless otherwise required by law (including ACL)
-
Diamonds and watches
Members returning a diamond l.00ct or larger must present all original paperwork (IGI and/or GIA certificates). Refunds on all watches and diamonds 1.00ct or larger will be approved upon positive verification of authenticity of merchandise. This process may require 2–5 business days.
-
Bullion
Our return policy for change of mind does not apply to bullion purchases due to the price and market volatility. The purchase of bullion is instead covered by the terms of the purchase agreement signed at the time of purchase.
-
Special order kiosk and custom installed programs
Customised products which are purchased through special order kiosks or custom installed are manufactured to our members’ specifications and our return policy for change of mind does not apply to these purchases.
-
Hearing aid products
Our return policy for change of mind does not apply to hearing aid products which are instead covered by the terms of the purchase agreement signed at the time of purchase.
Our return policy for change of mind does not limit any of your rights under the Australian Consumer Law.
In the future, Costco may further restrict its return policy regarding other products. Restrictions will be shown at the time of purchase.
Prices
- Each item is marked with an item number or a UPC Code. The price of the item, along with the description and identifying number, is posted above the item.
Payment
- We welcome cash, debit/ATM cards, VISA & Mastercard and Applepay.
- Costco does not accept manufacturers’ discount coupons or other retail establishment discount coupons (other than those distributed by Costco).
- Costco does not accept cheques.
- For online purchases, all card payments are subject to authorisation by your card issuer. If your payment is not authorised, or for any other reason we are not able to take payment when we attempt to do so, we will not fulfil your order. For each order, our payment processor will make a pre-authorisation of no more than $1. We will generally release this immediately on successful pre-authorisation, however our payment processor may take longer (generally 2-8 days) to give effect to the release.
General policies
- Members are welcome to bring their children and up to two guests into the warehouse, however, only Costco members may purchase items.
- Parents are responsible for their children and should not leave them unattended.
- Members are responsible for their guests and other family members.
- It is Costco's intent to provide a shopping environment free from all forms of harassment and discrimination for employees, applicants, independent contractors, members and suppliers. We do not condone any form of harassment or discrimination.
- Costco reserves the right to inspect any carrier or container of any kind including without limitation any bag, backpack, briefcase, trolley, pram, stroller or buggy upon entering or leaving the warehouse and to refuse entry to anyone at our discretion.
- To ensure that all members are correctly charged for the merchandise purchased, all receipts and merchandise will be inspected as you leave the warehouse.
- Shirts and shoes are required.
- Liquor and tobacco sales cannot be made to minors.
- Animals are not permitted in Costco warehouses unless admission is required by applicable law.
- Only Costco trolleys are able to be used in the warehouse. Other retailer's trolleys are not designed for bulk goods and will not be allowed into the warehouse.
Privacy
- We respect your right to privacy and our Privacy Statement outlines our policies and practices in detail.
- Please obtain a copy from our membership counter, or view/read the privacy statement at costco.com.au
Enquiries
Privacy Policy
Last updated: April, 2020
This Privacy Policy explains how Costco Wholesale Australia Pty Limited ACN 104 012 893 (“Costco”, “we” or “us”) processes personal data about you when you visit our warehouse stores, purchase products or services from us, use our website (located at www.costco.com.au) or any mobile app we operate, contact customer service, or otherwise interact with us. We encourage you to review our Privacy Policy from time to time to make sure you understand how we process personal data about you and the choices you have with respect to such processing.
Please note that we provide additional or different privacy notices in connection with certain products, services or programs. This privacy policy does not apply to any third party services or websites that display or reference a different privacy policy. In addition, personal data that you provide when you visit Costco’s warehouses or websites, or use Costco’s apps, outside of Australia are governed by the privacy policies of the Costco entities in those other countries.
We may change this Privacy Policy from time to time. If we make changes we will notify you by revising the date at the top of this policy.
Your ability to make informed choices about how we process personal data is important to us. This Privacy Policy describes how you can make choices about how we use or otherwise process your personal data.
1. WHAT IS PERSONAL DATA?
Personal data is data related to an identified or identifiable individual.
2. WHAT PERSONAL DATA IS COLLECTED BY COSTCO?
We collect information, including personal data, when you sign up for or renew your Costco membership, visit a warehouse, place an order, sign up for membership or shop online, make a purchase, return or exchange, sign up for certain products and services such as rebates, a Costco cash card or credit card, and other business and consumer services, access and use our website, apps or kiosks, sign up to receive new, notifications or other communications from us including marketing and promotional materials from us, participate in a survey or promotion, enter into a contest or sweepstakes, fill out a form, communicate with us via email or phone, or otherwise interact with us. We automatically collect information about you when you access or use our services or do business with us. For the purposes set out in this Privacy Policy, we collect the following personal data:
a
Identification data, such as your name, title, marital status, photograph (for your membership card or certain regulated purchases), date of birth, identity document (national identification card, drivers’ license or other proof of age, foreigner identification number, passport or residence permit, and/or tax identification number, ABN (Australia Business Number), and of course your Costco membership number.
b
Contact data, such as your address, email address, home phone number, and mobile phone or other phone number for contact purposes.
c
Transactional data, which includes information about individual purchases and returns, payment information, product details, date and locations of the purchase, account notes recorded in connection with your transactions with us or other questions or issues and other information you provide to us in connection with a transaction.
d
Electronic data, which includes the IP address used to access our website, mobile device ID, type of browser, and browsing and usage activity on our website and apps. We automatically collect electronic data when you access and use our website and apps, including by using cookies, pixels and local storage. We collect information about the computer or mobile device you use to access our Services. This may include the hardware model, operating system and version, unique device identifiers, and mobile network information. We may use this information to facilitate your online purchases or personalize your shopping experience. We use cameras in and around warehouses to capture video and images. We may use these videos and images for security, fraud, loss prevention, law enforcement or incident reporting, or other operational purposes, such as analyzing traffic patterns.
e
Location information, about your general location when you access or use the Services, visit our warehouses, or turn on your Bluetooth, Wi-Fi or other geolocation functionality on your device. If you enable location services on your device, we collect more precise geolocation information. This lets us serve you location-based ads, notify you of products and services available in your area, and provide location-based services or functions. You can opt-out of the collection of precise geolocation information at any time
3. WHAT PERSONAL DATA DOES COSTCO RECEIVE FROM OTHER SOURCES?
We may receive information about you from other sources that we may combine or link with information we have about you. For example, we may receive information from:
a
Primary Accountholders. When a Costco member adds additional household members to his or her membership account, we collect names, addresses, phone numbers and email addresses from the member about these individuals. In addition, we collect information that the primary account member has access to, such as transaction history on the membership including purchases by household members.
b
Other Companies You Engage With. In some cases, we also receive personal data, such as contact information, from third parties that support us with specific processes, such as records correction, fraud prevention, delivery services and the offering of special promotions or products. We combine this data with the other personal data we collect directly about you to operate our business, including administer your membership, provide you with and deliver products and services, prevent fraud, provide special offers and promotions and ensure our records are accurate and up-to-date.
c
Vendors, Product Suppliers and Service Providers. We receive various types of information, including identification, contact and transactional information from our vendors, product suppliers and service providers.
We use this information to help us operate our business, including correcting or updating our records, preventing fraud, delivering products and services and providing special offers and promotions.
4. HOW DOES COSTCO USE PERSONAL DATA?
In general, we use personal data to operate our business, process your requests and transactions, provide you with high-quality service, tell you about opportunities we think will be of interest and administer your membership account. The specific purposes for which we process your personal data are set out below:
a
To create, maintain and renew your membership;
b
To provide products and services to you, which includes processing payments and rebates, process, fulfil, ship and deliver your orders, sending notifications (via email or SMS/text message) related to your purchases, and processing exchanges and returns;
c
To respond to queries or complaints from you, including if you contact our customer service team;
d
To tell you about our membership programs and benefits and provide you with membership benefits, news, product recommendations, promotional information, contests, sweepstakes, coupons, offers and other marketing communications about Costco and third-party products and services via email, direct mail and phone calls. The marketing communications we send you may be tailored based on your membership account details and purchase history so we can provide you with information and offers we think will be of particular interest to you. For more information about opting out of promotional communications from us, see “Direct marketing opt-out” in Section 11 ;
e
To communicate with you about your experience with us and the products and services you purchase, which includes sending you information about your orders (e.g., email and SMS notifications related to status, shipping, delivery and pick-up), cash card balance, security alerts, support and administrative messages, surveys and information about product quality issues;
f
To communicate with you about product recalls and provide other health, safety and consumer protection notices;
g
To comply with our legal obligations, including our tax obligations, those related to the prevention of fraud and money laundering, and those required for you to benefit from rights recognized by law;
h
To analyse your use of our website and apps, including to monitor and analyse trends, usage and activities in connection with our services and warehouses and to personalize your online experience based on your preferences, interests and browsing and purchasing history;
i
For internal management purposes, including planning, resource allocation, policy development, quality improvement, monitoring, audit, evaluation and reporting, claims and risk management, improving your experience, determining your satisfaction and for any other purpose permitted by law;
j
For legal, security and safety reasons. This may include protecting our rights and the rights of our customers and members. To detect, investigate and prevent fraudulent transactions and other illegal activities and protect against harm to the rights, property or safety of Costco and our members, customers, employees or the public, including by using video surveillance systems, addressing legal and regulatory compliance obligations; and
k
For any other purpose described to you at the time the information is collected.
5. HOW DOES COSTCO SHARE PERSONAL DATA WITH THIRD PARTIES?
We share personal data about you including with third parties as follows:
a
Our Service Providers.We share personal data with companies that perform services for us (web hosting, information technology, payment processing, product fulfilment, product delivery and shipment, installation and warranty services, claims processing, direct mail and email distribution, marketing, and the provision of data analytics, claims management, loss adjustment, security, insurance, audit, accountancy, legal and advisory services). We share personal data to provide customer service and resolve complaints, identify, investigate and prevent fraudulent transactions, communicate with you, provide recall or emergency notices, analyse date or member activity, design and execute our marketing campaigns, administer our promotions and provide advertising services. Please note that since some of these service providers are located abroad, certain disclosures imply a transfer of your personal data outside Australia as described in Section 6 .
b
Third-Party Suppliers. We share personal data with companies that we partner with to provide you with certain products and services, such as manufacturers or distributors who ship products directly to you. If you purchase, apply for or request certain products or services provided by a third party, we will share your name, membership number and other personal data as is necessary for the third party to deliver the product or service to you. We are not responsible for any additional information you provide directly to these third parties and encourage you to become familiar with their privacy and security practices and policies before disclosing any additional personal data to them. To the extent we offer a co-branded credit card, we may share your contact information and the aggregate amount of your Costco purchases with the relevant credit card provider.
c
Primary Costco Account Holder. If you are a Costco member, each membership account has an individual primary account holder who is authorised to designate and remove add-on members and make other account management decisions. Please be aware that information about all activities occurring under the account, including transactions completed by add-on members, will be available to the primary account holder. Similarly each online subscription account has a primary subscriber; information relating to all activities occurring under the online account is available to the subscriber of record. If you designate an administrator for your account, we share contact information for account members with that administrator. If your employer purchased your membership, we may share your name, address and membership level with your employer.
d
Third Party Services. You may purchase products and services offered by us through third parties, such as financial, travel and other business and consumer services ("Third Party Services"). If you purchase, apply for or request Third Party Services, information you provide will be shared with the third party offering the Third Party Service. See Section 9 for more details about Third Party Services.
e
Our Affiliates and Entities that Belong to Costco's Corporate Group. We share personal data with our corporate affiliates. Since our affiliates are located abroad, please note that disclosures to certain affiliates require the transfer of your personal data outside Australia as described in Section 6.
f
Fraud Control. Costco works with services providers and belongs to associations that share a limited amount of personal data for fraud control purposes, such as all or part of a payment card number, an IP address or a device ID.
g
Compliance with Law. We also disclose personal data when we are legally authorised or required to do so to comply with applicable law, regulations or legal process (including requests from authorities and courts), to respond to claims (including inquiries by you in connection with your purchases at Costco), or to protect the rights, property or personal safety of the Costco companies, our shoppers, members, our employees or the public.
h
Corporate Transactions. Personal data may be disclosed or transferred as part of, or during negotiations of, any merger or sale of company assets or acquisition to third parties involved in such transactions.
i
Business Customer Insights. There may be instances when we provide information relating to our business customers to various suppliers such as tobacco companies, so they can conduct market studies and other promotional activities. In the case of tobacco products, the information we provide is the business customer’s name, address, the brand name of the tobacco products purchased and the amount of tobacco products purchased.
j
Consent. We also share personal data with third parties, other than those described above, when we have your consent to do so.
6. DOES COSTCO TRANSFER PERSONAL DATA OUTSIDE AUSTRALIA?
Your personal data will be transferred to countries outside of Australia. For example, we transfer personal data to our corporate affiliates, located in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and Mexico, for the purposes described in this Privacy Policy. We also transfer personal data to service providers that process and store personal data for us in the United States, Canada and other locations (as an example, Google and Microsoft process personal data for us in various data centre locations, including those listed at http://www.google.com/about/datacenters/inside/locations/ and https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/global-infrastructure/regions/, respectively).
7. HOW DOES COSTCO PROTECT PERSONAL DATA?
We take reasonable steps to protect personal data from misuse, interference and loss, and from unauthorised access, modification or disclosure. However, we are unable to guarantee the security of your personal information. If you have reason to believe that your interaction with us is no longer secure, please let us know. With regard to credit card data, we are required to process and maintain payment card data in accordance with the data security rules adopted by credit card companies such as Visa, MasterCard and American Express.
8. HOW LONG DOES COSTCO RETAIN PERSONAL DATA?
Costco will retain your personal data for as long as necessary to achieve the purposes for which such data was collected, unless a longer retention period is required under applicable law. For example, we need to keep records about our members’ purchase histories in order to honour our returns policy. If you want to return an item you bought from us several years ago, we need to be able to confirm when and where you bought it.
9. THIRD PARTY SERVICES
If you purchase, apply for or request Third Party Services, information you provide will be shared with the third party offering the Third Party Service. In turn, information you provide to these third parties may in turn be shared with us along with information about your use of the particular Third Party Service. We are not responsible for any additional information you provide directly to these third parties, and we encourage you to become familiar with their privacy and security practices and policies before disclosing information to them.
10. WHAT PERSONAL DATA RIGHTS DO YOU HAVE?
Subject to certain limitations and exceptions, you have a number of legal rights in relation to the processing of your personal data, including:
a
A right of access: You have the right to request access to, or a copy of, the personal data we process about you.
b
A right of rectification: You have the right to request that we correct or supplement inaccurate or incomplete personal data we process about you.
To exercise these rights, please use the contact details in Section 13 below.
11. DIRECT MARKETING OPT-OUT
We give you the opportunity to opt-out of receiving certain information or to request that certain information not be shared with third parties. Your choice to opt-out will not apply to other people, including those on your membership.
If you do not want to receive promotional information or information about member services, you can: (a) visit us at our Membership desk at any Costco warehouse location; (b) call us at 02-9469-7999; (c) e-mail us at membership@costco.com.au or (d) write us at Costco Wholesale Australia Pty Ltd, Australian Home Office, 17-21 Parramatta Road, Lidcombe NSW 2141.
For emails, you also have the option of utilising the unsubscribe facility.
Please note, even if you opt-out of communication with Costco, Costco may use your contact details, including your e-mail address, to alert you about product recalls or safety issues.
12. CHANGES TO THIS PRIVACY POLICY
We reserve the right to change this Privacy Policy from time to time. If we make changes, we will notify you by revising the date at the top of this policy
13. QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS
If you have any questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or would like to contact us for any reason, including inquiries or complaints about the handling of your personal data, please write to us at:
Costco Wholesale Australia Pty Ltd
Australian Home Office
17-21 Parramatta Road
Lidcombe NSW 2141
