Coles, Woolworths, and Costco: Are their paid memberships worth it?

With the cost of living soaring and way exceeding our incomes, it's no surprise many SDC members are looking for ways to save as much money as possible on their grocery bills.

It's understandable, then, if you're exploring the paid membership options available from supermarkets like Woolworths, Coles and Costco.

Are these memberships worth it? Before you sign up, check out the latest info on what each of these programs offers and if shelling out extra every month or year is worth it.



First up is the Coles Plus membership. Is it worth it for $19 a month? You get a one-month free trial, and here's what you get:
  • Free delivery for orders of $50 or more, except for remote areas (usually costs between $2 and $15).
  • Earn two Flybuys points per dollar spent at Coles (online and in-store) and at First Choice Liquor and Liquorland (normally one point per dollar).
  • Get 10 points per dollar spent on liquor purchases online at Coles, First Choice Liquor, and Liquorland (normally one point per dollar).
  • Enjoy free Click & Collect Rapid on orders of $30 or more (usually $5).


Screenshot 2023-11-03 at 2.56.56 PM.png
Coles, Woolworths and Costco all offer paid membership programs, but what do you get and are they worth it? Credit: Shutterstock.



The main benefit of Coles Plus is the free delivery, which can save you money, especially if you frequently have groceries delivered on weekends.

For instance, if you usually pay $11 for a two-hour delivery slot on a Friday, Saturday, Sunday, or Monday, getting two deliveries a month will cover the membership cost.

However, if you prefer mid-week deliveries (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) with a six-hour delivery window, you'll only pay $2 per delivery, making a Coles Plus membership less worthwhile.

Remember that spending over $250 already qualifies for free delivery, so consider your typical shopping habits to determine if Coles Plus is a good fit.



Now, let's talk about Woolworths Delivery Unlimited. It's $15 a month or $119 a year, and you get a 30-day free trial. With Woolworths Delivery Unlimited, you receive:
  • Free delivery on Woolworths orders of $75 or more for same-day or next-day delivery (usually costs between $5 and $15).
  • Free standard shipping on Everyday Market orders of $50 or more (typically costs $10).
  • Delivery Now orders over $75 cost $10 (usually $15).
  • You earn two Everyday Rewards points per dollar spent on Woolworths and Everyday Market orders (normally, it's one point per dollar).
Whether it's worth it depends on how often you shop for groceries online, your spending habits, and delivery preferences.

If you usually spend between $100 and $150 and choose next-day delivery within three hours, you'd pay $12 for delivery. Ordering twice a month would save you money (based on the $15 monthly fee).

If you generally spend over $250 and are okay with next-day delivery in a three-hour window, you'd get free delivery already.



Next up—is Woolworths Everyday Extra worth the cost? This membership costs $7 per month or $70 annually, including a 30-day free trial. Here’s what you get with it:
  • 10% discount on one shopping trip per month at Woolworths (in-store or online), with a maximum saving of $50 per month.
  • 10% discount on one shopping trip per month at Big W (in-store or online), with a maximum saving of $50 per month.
  • Two Everyday Rewards points for every dollar spent at Woolworths and Big W, both online and in-store (usually, it's one point per dollar).
  • Exclusive subscriber-only offers and freebies are delivered to your inbox and app.
If you regularly shop at Woolworths, it's likely a good deal. To cover the $7 monthly fee, you must apply the 10% discount to a shopping trip worth $70 or more.

Considering the average Australian household spends about $160 per week on groceries, meeting this threshold should be quite manageable.

For maximum savings, plan and use the discount for your most expensive monthly shopping trip or switch to doing larger, less frequent shops instead of weekly ones.

1699196079497.png

Finally, is a Costco membership worth it?

Costco offers two membership options: Gold Membership for $65 per year and Gold Star Executive Membership for $130 per year, which is relatively affordable compared to other options. However, there is no free trial available.

With the standard Gold Membership, you can shop at all Costco locations worldwide. On the other hand, the Gold Star Executive Membership includes extra benefits such as an annual 2% reward of up to $1,000 on eligible Costco purchases and access to exclusive offers and additional discounts.

But is it worth it? To break even on the $130 Gold Star Executive Membership, you must spend $6,500 at Costco in a year, which averages to about $125 per week. (Keep in mind that this calculation doesn't consider any other potential savings.)

Key Takeaways

  • Coles, Woolworths and Costco all offer paid membership programs with benefits such as free delivery, extra reward points, and monthly discounts.
  • Is Coles Plus worth it? It depends on your grocery shopping habits, with the primary benefit being free delivery for orders over $50, making it advantageous for those who frequently get groceries delivered, especially on weekends, but less so for mid-week deliveries or high spenders over $250.
  • Whether Woolworths Delivery Unlimited is worth it depends on your online grocery shopping frequency, spending habits, and delivery preferences, with potential savings if you spend between $100 and $150, making it advantageous for those who order groceries twice a month.
  • For $7 per month or $70 per year, you get monthly discounts, extra rewards points, and subscriber-only offers, making Woolworths Everyday Extra worthwhile if you spend at least $70 on groceries each month.
  • The cost of Costco membership varies, with a Gold Membership priced at $65 per year and a Gold Star Executive Membership at $130 per year, offering additional perks. However, to justify the higher fee, you'd need to spend $6,500 annually.

We hope you found this article helpful, members! So, which one of these memberships are you considering? For current members, how are your experiences with these programs?

Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.
 
Sponsored
You can save the cost of your Costco membership in one swoop by buying a new pair of spectacles. I just paid $1400 for a pair from OPSM and a similar pair from Costco was $560 with exactly the same lenses.
 
I shop weekly at either woolworths or Coles, it's whoever has the best specials and best offers for flybuys or woolworths rewards card.

I also shop at Costco every 3 to 4 weeks stocking up on paper towels, 2kg Nuttelex butter for $10, and so many other good buys including the freshest of meat .
My daughter purchased a membership and added me and next time I will purchase it and add her. Costco is a 25 minute drive from me but us definitely worth it.
We also purchased a great gift for our grandson a couple of weeks ago
 
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With the cost of living soaring and way exceeding our incomes, it's no surprise many SDC members are looking for ways to save as much money as possible on their grocery bills.

It's understandable, then, if you're exploring the paid membership options available from supermarkets like Woolworths, Coles and Costco.

Are these memberships worth it? Before you sign up, check out the latest info on what each of these programs offers and if shelling out extra every month or year is worth it.



First up is the Coles Plus membership. Is it worth it for $19 a month? You get a one-month free trial, and here's what you get:
  • Free delivery for orders of $50 or more, except for remote areas (usually costs between $2 and $15).
  • Earn two Flybuys points per dollar spent at Coles (online and in-store) and at First Choice Liquor and Liquorland (normally one point per dollar).
  • Get 10 points per dollar spent on liquor purchases online at Coles, First Choice Liquor, and Liquorland (normally one point per dollar).
  • Enjoy free Click & Collect Rapid on orders of $30 or more (usually $5).


View attachment 33815
Coles, Woolworths and Costco all offer paid membership programs, but what do you get and are they worth it? Credit: Shutterstock.



The main benefit of Coles Plus is the free delivery, which can save you money, especially if you frequently have groceries delivered on weekends.

For instance, if you usually pay $11 for a two-hour delivery slot on a Friday, Saturday, Sunday, or Monday, getting two deliveries a month will cover the membership cost.

However, if you prefer mid-week deliveries (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) with a six-hour delivery window, you'll only pay $2 per delivery, making a Coles Plus membership less worthwhile.

Remember that spending over $250 already qualifies for free delivery, so consider your typical shopping habits to determine if Coles Plus is a good fit.



Now, let's talk about Woolworths Delivery Unlimited. It's $15 a month or $119 a year, and you get a 30-day free trial. With Woolworths Delivery Unlimited, you receive:
  • Free delivery on Woolworths orders of $75 or more for same-day or next-day delivery (usually costs between $5 and $15).
  • Free standard shipping on Everyday Market orders of $50 or more (typically costs $10).
  • Delivery Now orders over $75 cost $10 (usually $15).
  • You earn two Everyday Rewards points per dollar spent on Woolworths and Everyday Market orders (normally, it's one point per dollar).
Whether it's worth it depends on how often you shop for groceries online, your spending habits, and delivery preferences.

If you usually spend between $100 and $150 and choose next-day delivery within three hours, you'd pay $12 for delivery. Ordering twice a month would save you money (based on the $15 monthly fee).

If you generally spend over $250 and are okay with next-day delivery in a three-hour window, you'd get free delivery already.



Next up—is Woolworths Everyday Extra worth the cost? This membership costs $7 per month or $70 annually, including a 30-day free trial. Here’s what you get with it:
  • 10% discount on one shopping trip per month at Woolworths (in-store or online), with a maximum saving of $50 per month.
  • 10% discount on one shopping trip per month at Big W (in-store or online), with a maximum saving of $50 per month.
  • Two Everyday Rewards points for every dollar spent at Woolworths and Big W, both online and in-store (usually, it's one point per dollar).
  • Exclusive subscriber-only offers and freebies are delivered to your inbox and app.
If you regularly shop at Woolworths, it's likely a good deal. To cover the $7 monthly fee, you must apply the 10% discount to a shopping trip worth $70 or more.

Considering the average Australian household spends about $160 per week on groceries, meeting this threshold should be quite manageable.

For maximum savings, plan and use the discount for your most expensive monthly shopping trip or switch to doing larger, less frequent shops instead of weekly ones.


Finally, is a Costco membership worth it?

Costco offers two membership options: Gold Membership for $65 per year and Gold Star Executive Membership for $130 per year, which is relatively affordable compared to other options. However, there is no free trial available.

With the standard Gold Membership, you can shop at all Costco locations worldwide. On the other hand, the Gold Star Executive Membership includes extra benefits such as an annual 2% reward of up to $1,000 on eligible Costco purchases and access to exclusive offers and additional discounts.

But is it worth it? To break even on the $130 Gold Star Executive Membership, you must spend $6,500 at Costco in a year, which averages to about $125 per week. (Keep in mind that this calculation doesn't consider any other potential savings.)

Key Takeaways

  • Coles, Woolworths and Costco all offer paid membership programs with benefits such as free delivery, extra reward points, and monthly discounts.
  • Is Coles Plus worth it? It depends on your grocery shopping habits, with the primary benefit being free delivery for orders over $50, making it advantageous for those who frequently get groceries delivered, especially on weekends, but less so for mid-week deliveries or high spenders over $250.
  • Whether Woolworths Delivery Unlimited is worth it depends on your online grocery shopping frequency, spending habits, and delivery preferences, with potential savings if you spend between $100 and $150, making it advantageous for those who order groceries twice a month.
  • For $7 per month or $70 per year, you get monthly discounts, extra rewards points, and subscriber-only offers, making Woolworths Everyday Extra worthwhile if you spend at least $70 on groceries each month.
  • The cost of Costco membership varies, with a Gold Membership priced at $65 per year and a Gold Star Executive Membership at $130 per year, offering additional perks. However, to justify the higher fee, you'd need to spend $6,500 annually.

We hope you found this article helpful, members! So, which one of these memberships are you considering? For current members, how are your experiences with these programs?

Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.
I would never entertain any "service" where a fee is charged on top of purchase price of goods - so, none of them. Neither do I pay bank or credit card fees! I do, however, collect Flybuys and Everyday Rewards points and Drake petrol discount dockets, using all of them.
 
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With the cost of living soaring and way exceeding our incomes, it's no surprise many SDC members are looking for ways to save as much money as possible on their grocery bills.

It's understandable, then, if you're exploring the paid membership options available from supermarkets like Woolworths, Coles and Costco.

Are these memberships worth it? Before you sign up, check out the latest info on what each of these programs offers and if shelling out extra every month or year is worth it.



First up is the Coles Plus membership. Is it worth it for $19 a month? You get a one-month free trial, and here's what you get:
  • Free delivery for orders of $50 or more, except for remote areas (usually costs between $2 and $15).
  • Earn two Flybuys points per dollar spent at Coles (online and in-store) and at First Choice Liquor and Liquorland (normally one point per dollar).
  • Get 10 points per dollar spent on liquor purchases online at Coles, First Choice Liquor, and Liquorland (normally one point per dollar).
  • Enjoy free Click & Collect Rapid on orders of $30 or more (usually $5).


View attachment 33815
Coles, Woolworths and Costco all offer paid membership programs, but what do you get and are they worth it? Credit: Shutterstock.



The main benefit of Coles Plus is the free delivery, which can save you money, especially if you frequently have groceries delivered on weekends.

For instance, if you usually pay $11 for a two-hour delivery slot on a Friday, Saturday, Sunday, or Monday, getting two deliveries a month will cover the membership cost.

However, if you prefer mid-week deliveries (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) with a six-hour delivery window, you'll only pay $2 per delivery, making a Coles Plus membership less worthwhile.

Remember that spending over $250 already qualifies for free delivery, so consider your typical shopping habits to determine if Coles Plus is a good fit.



Now, let's talk about Woolworths Delivery Unlimited. It's $15 a month or $119 a year, and you get a 30-day free trial. With Woolworths Delivery Unlimited, you receive:
  • Free delivery on Woolworths orders of $75 or more for same-day or next-day delivery (usually costs between $5 and $15).
  • Free standard shipping on Everyday Market orders of $50 or more (typically costs $10).
  • Delivery Now orders over $75 cost $10 (usually $15).
  • You earn two Everyday Rewards points per dollar spent on Woolworths and Everyday Market orders (normally, it's one point per dollar).
Whether it's worth it depends on how often you shop for groceries online, your spending habits, and delivery preferences.

If you usually spend between $100 and $150 and choose next-day delivery within three hours, you'd pay $12 for delivery. Ordering twice a month would save you money (based on the $15 monthly fee).

If you generally spend over $250 and are okay with next-day delivery in a three-hour window, you'd get free delivery already.



Next up—is Woolworths Everyday Extra worth the cost? This membership costs $7 per month or $70 annually, including a 30-day free trial. Here’s what you get with it:
  • 10% discount on one shopping trip per month at Woolworths (in-store or online), with a maximum saving of $50 per month.
  • 10% discount on one shopping trip per month at Big W (in-store or online), with a maximum saving of $50 per month.
  • Two Everyday Rewards points for every dollar spent at Woolworths and Big W, both online and in-store (usually, it's one point per dollar).
  • Exclusive subscriber-only offers and freebies are delivered to your inbox and app.
If you regularly shop at Woolworths, it's likely a good deal. To cover the $7 monthly fee, you must apply the 10% discount to a shopping trip worth $70 or more.

Considering the average Australian household spends about $160 per week on groceries, meeting this threshold should be quite manageable.

For maximum savings, plan and use the discount for your most expensive monthly shopping trip or switch to doing larger, less frequent shops instead of weekly ones.


Finally, is a Costco membership worth it?

Costco offers two membership options: Gold Membership for $65 per year and Gold Star Executive Membership for $130 per year, which is relatively affordable compared to other options. However, there is no free trial available.

With the standard Gold Membership, you can shop at all Costco locations worldwide. On the other hand, the Gold Star Executive Membership includes extra benefits such as an annual 2% reward of up to $1,000 on eligible Costco purchases and access to exclusive offers and additional discounts.

But is it worth it? To break even on the $130 Gold Star Executive Membership, you must spend $6,500 at Costco in a year, which averages to about $125 per week. (Keep in mind that this calculation doesn't consider any other potential savings.)

Key Takeaways

  • Coles, Woolworths and Costco all offer paid membership programs with benefits such as free delivery, extra reward points, and monthly discounts.
  • Is Coles Plus worth it? It depends on your grocery shopping habits, with the primary benefit being free delivery for orders over $50, making it advantageous for those who frequently get groceries delivered, especially on weekends, but less so for mid-week deliveries or high spenders over $250.
  • Whether Woolworths Delivery Unlimited is worth it depends on your online grocery shopping frequency, spending habits, and delivery preferences, with potential savings if you spend between $100 and $150, making it advantageous for those who order groceries twice a month.
  • For $7 per month or $70 per year, you get monthly discounts, extra rewards points, and subscriber-only offers, making Woolworths Everyday Extra worthwhile if you spend at least $70 on groceries each month.
  • The cost of Costco membership varies, with a Gold Membership priced at $65 per year and a Gold Star Executive Membership at $130 per year, offering additional perks. However, to justify the higher fee, you'd need to spend $6,500 annually.

We hope you found this article helpful, members! So, which one of these memberships are you considering? For current members, how are your experiences with these programs?

Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.
Pay for services are you kidding boosting their profits 📈 yes crazy 🤪
 
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Well when you have to have a service you do expect to pay I order on line It would cost me petrol to get to where I need to go ( I am regional Victoria ) and being disabled helps me as no lifting and bending allowed So $19 a month for delivery is worth it How much more would I be paying in petrol alone
 
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I also live in rural Victoria and it is way cheaper paying membership to a supermarket than the cost of petrol and time it would take me to get to the nearest supermarket. Unfortunately there is no Costco within cooee of me and I've never been to one so can't comment on them.
 
We use Costco for fuel. Generally save up to 15c per litre for diesel. When you have 180 litre fuel tank, the savings add up very quickly.
 
I joined Costco for the fuel prices. I fill a 100 litre tank every 4 days and I calculate that I save around $20 each time. So for me it’s a no brainer
 

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