3 Costco Perks You Aren't Taking Advantage of -- But Should Be

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Costco has a reputation for being a great source of low-cost groceries and household essentials -- think things like paper towels, laundry detergent, and cleaning supplies. And for the most part, when I shop at Costco, these are the sort of things I'm buying.

But as a long-time Costco member, I've discovered that there are far more perks the store has to offer than just discounts on food and cleaning products. Here are a few benefits I try my best to take advantage of -- and I highly recommend that you do the same if you've been missing out thus far.

1. Cheap gas

My car is a minivan, so it's unfortunately not all that fuel efficient. For this reason, I aim to time my Costco shopping when my tank is getting near empty. And there's a reason for that.

In my neighborhood, buying gas at Costco can easily save me $0.10 to $0.20 per gallon or more, depending on how prices are trending. Now the difference in price may not be exactly the same where you live. But all told, Costco is known for being a source of low-cost gas. So it pays to try to fuel up while you're there.

2. Discounted gift cards

For many years, I shopped at Costco without stopping to look at the gift card section. But one day, I needed a gift in a pinch and decided to check it out. And I discovered an amazing thing I didn't know before -- Costco's gift cards are offered at a price that's below their face value. This means you can save big time by purchasing your gift cards there.

Case in point: Right now, Costco has the following restaurant gift card deals available:

• $100 worth of TGI Friday's gift cards for $79.99
• $75 worth of Subway gift cards for $59.99
• $100 worth of IHOP gift cards for $79.99
• $100 worth of Chuck E. Cheese gift cards for $74.99

And these are just a few examples. So I highly recommend checking out Costco's gift card selection in stores or online.

3. An extremely generous return policy

The first time I had to return a purchase to Costco well after the date I brought it home, I was nervous. I assumed that since it had been more than 90 days, I'd be told I wasn't eligible for a refund.

But when I talked to a customer service representative, they couldn't have been nicer. They explained that it was no problem at all and told me that with limited exceptions, you can bring any item back to Costco at any time for a refund.

I learned later on that Costco's amazing return policy even applies to partially eaten food. I once had some cheese go bad on me ahead of its expiration date. When I brought back my half-eaten pack for what I guessed would be a 50% refund, Costco gave me a 100% refund without a hassle.

So if you have Costco purchases you end up not using, or if you have any issues with food purchases, don't hesitate to bring them back. There's no sense in losing money when Costco is so great about refunds.

There are plenty of good reasons to shop at Costco . But make sure you take the opportunity to reap these benefits that come with your annual membership.

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