6 Little-Known Perks of the Costco Shopping App

It's no big secret that Costco is hands-down, second-to-none, dead last, in its adoption of digital and mobile technology. True, its website has come a long way since the days when it offered little navigational help and basically left you up a creek without a paddle -- or a kayak (or a CLIF bar). Even today, its website can feel as dizzying as a first-time experience at a foreign bazaar. 

Perhaps it was with those low expectations that I recently downloaded the Costco shopping app and found myself not entirely disappointed. I guess I'm not alone: on the Apple App Store, the Costco Shopping app has 4.9 stars, while Google Play reviewers have given it a cumulative 4.7 stars. Could we all be deluded? I suppose. But if pressed, I'd say the following six perks were a nice surprise. 

1. Check your rewards balance 

If you're an Executive member, the Costco app will give you an estimate on how much cash back you're earning. You can find it by clicking on "Account," then navigating to the "2% Reward" tab under "My Wallet." Costco even has a cool rewards gauge that shows you how close you're getting to $1,000 in rewards (the maximum you can earn in a 12-month period). 

2. Compare gas prices 

Your Costco app uses your location to show you gas prices at warehouses near you. Just click on the "Warehouses" tab at the bottom of your screen and click on the location where you shop. Costco itself admits that the prices aren't updated frequently, so it may be a few pennies off. But in my experience the app has been surprisingly accurate. 

3. Find promotions and ongoing sales 

The headliner perk on the Costco Shopping app is the deals it'll push to your phone. No more wandering around the warehouse hoping to find something that's below full price. With the Shopping app, you can narrow down ongoing sales into five categories: 

• In-Warehouse and Online Savings
• While Supplies Last
• Treasure Hunt
• What's New 
• New Lower Prices 

The app also lets you "swipe to clip" certain deals as if you're adding them to a coupon box. It's not the most advanced technology -- it doesn't, for instance, pick up on my spending habits and send me customized coupons -- but I like having all my favorite Costco deals in one place. 

4. Store my membership card 

That's right. No more visiting the service counter when you forget your card. Once you sign in to your Costco account on the app and verify your identity, you can pull up your digital membership card on the spot. The app will even let you add your Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi if you have one. 

5. Make shopping lists 

The Costco shopping app lets you make custom shopping lists. The feature is so easy to use, in fact, I've been using it for other grocery stores, not just Costco. You can also make a shopping list of Costco products found online and have it synchronized within your app. That way, if you see something you like online, you can check its availability in the warehouse. 

6. Look up receipts 

The Costco Shopping app gives you an easy way to find old receipts. Just go to "Account," then navigate to "Orders and Purchases" to find receipts for online and warehouse orders. While you don't need a receipt to return items to Costco, having the bulk of them could be useful for personal finance management, as you can get an overview of how much you're spending at Costco per month. 

All in all, the Costco shopping app isn't poorly built. It has a long way to go -- for instance, it could use a scan-and-go feature -- but for the average Costco shopper it can add value to your shopping experience.