If you've been on the fence about signing up for a new Costco membership, the wholesale club is trying harder to get you on their side. In a LivingSocial promo that started Tuesday, Sept. 9, Costco will throw in several freebies for new customers who buy a $55 membership.
Similar to a Sam's Club's promo last year, Costco will throw in a $20 Costco cash card, and coupons for a free apple pie, rotisserie chicken and a 30-pack of bathroom tissue that will be mailed in 4 weeks after signing up. Costco also throws in three free months of identity theft protection. Read the fine print on that one--service through Identity Guard automatically renews for $13.49 a month unless you call to cancel. I am guessing that you can avoid that hassle if you never enroll in the first place. Enrollment is probably not automatic.
The warehouse club says the value is $146 for $55. Last November Sam's Club offered a similar membership offer for $45 with free pie, chicken and scalloped potatoes worth $85. Costco's offer is apparently worth more because of the $42 for ID Protection. And 30 rolls of TP ought to be worth $15 or so.
It's good for one year and it can be used anywhere in the U.S. The membership voucher has to be activated by Dec. 15.
The promo is expected to continue for seven days, according to LivingSocial, but it could be terminated earlier. It is not valid for renewals of existing memberships.
