I'll Bet You Didn't Know About These 4 Perks of Being a Costco Member

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A lot of the people I know shop at Costco for things like groceries and cleaning supplies. And I'll say that the bulk of the purchases I make at Costco generally fall into these categories. I mean, it's not as if I'm going to the store every week to buy sports equipment or a new camera.

But there are plenty of benefits that come with joining Costco that extend beyond the realm of saving money on food and household essentials. Here are some perks you may not realize are available to you.

1. Extended warranties and tech support when you buy electronics

If I'm going to be shelling out hundreds of dollars or more for a new laptop or TV, I want to make sure I'm not going to run into an issue 15 months after the fact. At Costco, that's less of a concern.

First, Costco is known to stock high-quality products, so your chances of buying a dud may be lower than at a big-box store. But still, sometimes, things happen. So you can take comfort in the fact that electronics purchases at Costco come with a free second-year warranty on top of the more standard one-year warranty you'll find elsewhere.

Granted, I wouldn't want to drop $950 on a laptop to have it go kaput after two years, either. But at least I know I'm protected up to that point.

Plus, when you buy electronics at Costco, you get free tech support. So if you feel bad asking your tech-savvy neighbor for help setting up yet another device, you can turn to Costco for assistance first.

2. Discounted gift cards

Some people will tell you that gift cards are a bad idea. Why purchase a $25 gift card to a restaurant chain and tie your money up in that piece of plastic when you could just wait until you're in the mood to dine there and pay cash on the spot?

But while gift cards may not be the most financially savvy purchase in general, at Costco, they make a lot of sense for one big reason: They're discounted.

As one example, right now, you can buy $100 worth of gift cards to TGI Friday's for $79.99 at Costco. So while I wouldn't tell you to spend $100 on $100 worth of gift cards just to keep those cards for yourself, if you dine at that restaurant often, then this is a deal worth snagging. Or you can put the "gift" back in "gift cards" and buy some discounted ones for friends' and family members' upcoming birthdays.

3. Great deals on travel -- and help finding the right trip

Costco Travel offers a host of affordable vacation packages, from theme parks to cruises. But it's not just that you can save money by booking your trip with Costco. If you need help finding the right vacation, Costco can help with that, too.

Costco's travel specialists know their stuff. When I was shopping around for a specific cruise, they helped me navigate my choices and pick the right itinerary. It was sort of like having my own personal travel agent.

4. Lifetime maintenance for tires

Buying tires at Costco can save you money over time. That's because tire purchases from Costco essentially come with free maintenance for life, from balance checks to rotations. And if you get a flat, that's covered, too.

Also, Costco members can pump air into their tires for free when their pressure gets low. And this perks applies whether those tires were purchased at Costco or not.

Clearly, there are some less-obvious benefits of a Costco membership that are worth taking advantage of. If you're already a paying member, make sure you're getting that extra bang for your buck. And if you've been on the fence about joining Costco, knowing that these perks exist might prompt you to take that leap.

We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team. Maurie Backman has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Costco Wholesale. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy .