‘Gotta get membership,’ says Costco fan as new Lays flavor exclusive to chain – but shoppers say Trader Joe’s is better

A NEW option of Lay's chips inspired by Korean flavors is debuting exclusively at Costco.

Some fans have joked that they will get a Costco membership to buy the chips.

The honey butter chips are described as sweet and buttery on the bag.

"Where's that damn Costco trial membership?" wrote food blogger Markie Devo in a Facebook post.

"Now I gotta get a membership," commented one person.

There is no exact date when the chips will hit shelves, but some shoppers commented that they had already seen them in stores.

"This is one of the top sought-after Costco items around me right now!" added another shopper.

One shopper compared the new flavor to a popular snack from Trader Joe's.

"I have had honey butter chips before from Trader Joe's, and they were amazing," they wrote.

SHOPPING HACK

If you don't want to commit to a Costco membership but want to try the new chips, there is a little-known way to get around the rule.

TikToker Tiff Bish (@tiffjessup) explained that she orders from both Costco and Sam's Club without a membership via Instacart.

She loves the Island Way Sorbet sold at Costco, but it isn't enough for her to spend money on a membership.

Plus, she has a Sam's Club membership, and she thinks it's a waste of money to have both.

Tiff warned that Instacart isn't cheap — she had to pay a $9.99 delivery fee for a $22 purchase — but it was worth it to free up some time from her busy day.

"Costco employee here, she's 100% right!" commented one viewer.

Someone else offered another way to shop without the annual commitment.

"You can also have someone buy you a Costco gift card and it’ll get you in without a membership!" they wrote.

Costco membership sharing guidelines

Costco has strict rules for membership use that shoppers must follow and they've been cracking down on offenders in recent years.

• Primary Member Use: Only the primary cardholder can use this Costco membership card. Sharing it for purchases is not allowed as the photo on the card must match the person using it.
• Household Card: Each primary member can add one free household cardholder who lives at the same address. This person will receive their own membership card and can shop at Costco independently.
• Guest Policy: Members can bring up to two guests per visit to Costco. However, only the member can make purchases. Guests must be accompanied by the member.
• Authorized Cardholder: For an additional fee, you can add an authorized cardholder, such as a family member or friend, who doesn't reside at your address. They will receive their own card and can shop independently.

Credit: Costco

An anonymous employee confirmed to GoBankingRates how to get a Costco Cash Card.

"By having a member purchase it for you, this card serves as your golden ticket to enter the store and enjoy a shopping spree without needing your own membership," they said.

However, these cards can't be used at gas stations or Costco's food court.

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