3 Perks of Buying Gourmet Food at Costco

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Ah, Costco. Where else can you find a new small kitchen appliance, a cozy set of pajamas, and a whole beef tenderloin for sale under the same roof? Turn to Costco.com, and you'll find even more items that aren't sold in stores. And among those items is a truly great selection of gourmet food.

I'm a bit of a foodie (so much so that I was unreasonably excited to get one of the best credit cards for groceries a few years ago), and I'm also a new Costco member. Costco's selection of gourmet meat, cheese, chocolate, and more is very intriguing to me -- and it might be to you, too.

Here are three perks of checking Costco the next time you ache for a taste of luxury in the form of food.

1. Low prices

On my last trip to Costco, I eagerly perused a display of gourmet chocolates and couldn't resist dropping $12.99 on a 23.8-ounce box of Merci chocolates. Thankfully, that box is huge and I expect to still be eating these several weeks from now. But I've really got to cheer about the price. This same selection would cost me $27.97 from Amazon.com.

Want something even more luxurious? I've never had caviar in my life, but Costco sells it, so maybe one of these days, I'll give it a whirl. Costco's offering of Tsar Nicoulai Estate Classic White Sturgeon Caviar is priced at $199.99 for three 2-ounce jars. Go straight to the source (Tsar Nicoulai, that is), and you'll pay $124 for just one of those jars.

If you need something fancy for a party, or even just a random Tuesday evening, it's worth checking Costco's prices on the food you've got your heart set on. You might just find a deal. And if the idea of cash back on your Costco caviar sounds good to you, check out our curated list of the best credit cards for Costco .

2. The return policy

The idea of returning opened food comes off a bit "May I see your manager?" to me, but Costco allows it. This warehouse giant's return policy is second to none -- you can return nearly anything at any time. There are a few exceptions, but gourmet food products (other than alcohol in some states) are not among them.

So if you buy that caviar (or Wagyu beef, or smoked salmon, or a Best of Spain Variety Box of cured meats and cheese), and you find it isn't quite up to snuff, you can return it for a full refund.

Just aim to do so quickly (don't force a Costco employee to deal with your rotten leftovers) and aim to return at least 50% of whatever the food is. That way, you can make the case that the item was spoiled or you just didn't like it -- and back it up with evidence. You could end up with a black mark on your membership if you fall into the habit of returning items just for the heck of it, rather than a legitimate reason.

3. Possibly, cash back

This last perk of buying your gourmet food at Costco is dependent on your membership type. Personally, I live an hour away from my nearest Costco store, and with the exception of bulk nonperishable items and paper goods, I have great places to source the rest of what I buy. So I opted for the basic Gold Star membership, which costs $65 per year. But for double that, you can get an Executive membership.

This tier comes with lots of perks, such as additional savings on Costco home services and extra benefits when you book trips through Costco Travel. But the big reason to go Executive is to enjoy 2% cash back on most Costco purchases. This is good on up to $62,500 worth of purchases, for a top level of $1,250 back.

If you think you'll be spending a lot on caviar, chocolates, fancy beef, or even just normal, everyday purchases, it's worth considering the upgraded membership.

Ready to maximize your Costco membership ? Hop on over to Costco.com or visit your local warehouse for delicious gourmet foods for less.

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