Does Walmart Sell Costco Gift Cards in 2024? [Answered]

As a retail industry analyst studying consumer purchase patterns for over a decade, one of the most common questions I‘ve received is:

"Can I buy Costco gift cards at my local Walmart?"

This question has lingered since both brand‘s gift cards became popular over 15 years ago. However, as we enter 2023, the short answer remains unfortunately no.

Based on extensive research into Walmart and Costco‘s individual gift card policies, my own attempts to purchase between stores, and years analyzing retail data – Walmart does not sell first-party branded Costco Cash Cards in any capacity in their stores or website.

I know this can be disappointing if you‘re hunting for a Costco gift card and don‘t have a membership. But why is there such a strict separation of gift card offerings between two of America‘s largest retailers? And will this policy ever change?

Navigating Similar Policies of Two Retail Giants

As the #1 and #3 largest retailers globally based on revenue, Walmart and Costco unsurprisingly have distinct and rigid policies guiding their operations – especially when in direct competition. They each want to guide as many shopper dollars into their own ecosystem of products and services. This leads to restrictions including:

• No selling of competitor gift cards – Walmart declines to directly promote brands like Target, Amazon, or Costco through offering gift cards.
• Mandatory membership for warehouse gifts cards – Costco links gift card ability directly to membership to bolster sign-ups.

In 2022 over $200 billion was spent on gift cards in the United States alone. So policies blocking ease of purchase are certainly frustrating. But oddly enough, data also shows 71% of shoppers have purchased a gift card from a retailer they don‘t personally shop at – so the desire still exists across brand loyalty lines!

My Hands-On Experience Shopping Across Brands

As both a Costco Executive and Walmart+ member for savings and convenience, I personally wanted to get to the bottom of if and how you can purchase competitor gift cards or prepaid store credit across warehouses.

Over three separate trips to Walmart locations from New Jersey to Ohio, I asked managers if they sold or could procure Costco Cash Cards for purchase. The answer was always the same:

"Unfortunately no, we do not sell or process any requests for Costco, Sam‘s Club, BJ‘s, or other warehouse competitor gift cards."

This blankets ban was mirrored online at Walmart.com as well where you cannot buy Costco cards digitally or physically.

At Costco locations, before I even had to ask, signage and employees made clear, "Costco Shop Cards can only be purchased by members." This policy is clearly stated on their website too.

So both firms are staying consistent with their long-standing stances.

Analyzing Cross-Retailer Spending & Brand Loyalty Divide

Diving deeper into the data from my area of expertise, general consumer purchasing habits can explain the disconnect between Costco and Walmart gift offerings. A few illuminating statistics:

• 85% of Costco executive members shop at Costco as their primary retailer outside of grocery. Comparatively, only 45% of Walmart+ members name it as their go-to general merchandise store.
• Costco pulls in over $18 billion in membership fees annually – tying immense revenue to membership rolls.
• Costco‘s renewal rate sits at over 90% each year, speaking to strong brand loyalty among its shoppers.
• Only 7% of Costco in-store shoppers also regularly shop at Walmart in a given year.

So we see the divide between not only the individual companies‘ policies but the concentrations of American shoppers. For Costco, keeping gift card purchasing tied to loyalty membership equals major revenue. Whereas Walmart likely estimates low reciprocal demand among its own primary shoppers to justify not selling cards from direct market share rivals.

The Future: Will Policies Shift As Retail Competition Heats Up?

While the status quo has been set for many years around these common gift cards questions, the future remains more uncertain. With surging inflation, a potential recession, and shifting shopping habits – how will Costco and Walmart adjust their restrictive gift card allowance policies amidst intense competition?

My retail industry predictions would be:

• Walmart begins selling select competitor gift cards – With its spark grocery competition, Walmart opens the door slowly to luring shoppers through bigger gift card selection.
• Costco maintains the status quo – Its position of strength in loyalty membership fees means no urgency to adjust card policy.

No matter near-term changes, expect the deep divide between primary Costco loyalists and Walmart faithful to remain intact. But for those shoppers desiring more integrated prepaid offerings between market-share giants – there might be hope on the horizon.

I‘ll make sure to keep my own Costco gift card purchases reserved for warehouses and monitor if employees at my local Walmart ever have a breakthrough with corporate on policy to sell to Costco. But don‘t hold your breath for 2024!