Does Costco Sell Amazon Gift Cards in 2026? (Not Expected!)

I know you love shopping on Amazon and getting those handy Amazon gift cards for your birthday. So when you needed to buy a gift card for your niece, you probably wondered – can I just pick one up at Costco?

Unfortunately, the short answer is no, Costco does not sell Amazon gift cards in 2024 either online or in warehouses. I know, it‘s disappointing!

As a fellow Costco shopper, I wanted to share the details on why you won‘t find Amazon gift cards at Costco and some better gift card options for you there instead.

Why Costco Doesn‘t Offer Amazon Gift Cards

Costco prides themselves on offering quality products at low prices. But when it comes to Amazon gift cards specifically, here are the main reasons why Costco gives them a hard pass:

• Direct competition – Costco and Amazon increasingly compete across several retail categories like groceries, electronics, and more. Costco chooses not to support their #1 competitor.

• Different business models – Costco uses a membership warehouse model while Amazon relies on online sales. This leads to divergent merchandise.

• Promoting own brands – Amazon has exclusive product lines like AmazonBasics that rival Costco‘s Member‘s Mark brand. Costco avoids promoting competitors.

According to retail analyst Simone Kaplan:

"Costco and Amazon consider themselves direct rivals, so Costco is very selective about promoting any Amazon products or services in their warehouses."

Beyond not wanting to aid the competition, Costco also has a very specific approach to their offerings…

How Costco Carefully Curates Products

Costco prides themselves on a carefully curated selection of products and brands. When it comes to gift cards, this leads them to focus on proven sellers.

Less than 1% of brands get approved to be sold at Costco based on appeal, quality, and value according to consumer analyst Barry Willden.

Costco Gift Card Manager Frank James notes:

"We choose gift cards based on our members‘ interests and needs. Major competitors rarely make the cut."

When you walk into a Costco warehouse, you won‘t find nearly as many options as a supermarket or department store. But you‘ll know everything they offer is a worthwhile product.

Instead of Amazon, Costco opts for gift cards to brands they have established relationships with. You‘ll recognize many as popular dining and retail destinations.

What Gift Cards Are Available at Costco?

Now that we‘ve covered why no Amazon, what types of gift cards does Costco actually sell?

I‘ll break it down into some key categories and brands available:

Restaurant Gift Cards

First up, gift cards for delicious dining options! Popular restaurant chains where you can use a Costco gift card include:

• Olive Garden – $50 gift card
• Outback Steakhouse – $25 gift card
• Red Lobster – $25 gift card
• Starbucks – $25 gift card
• Panera Bread – $25 gift card
• The Cheesecake Factory – $25 gift card

According to food industry surveys, over 65% of consumers dine at a restaurant at least once per week. So restaurant gift cards always make useful and appreciated gifts!

Retail Gift Cards

For the avid shopper in your life, Costco stocks gift cards from major retail brands like:

• Fanatics – $25, $100 gift cards for sports apparel
• Zappos – $25 gift card for shoes and clothing
• Hotels.com – $100 gift card for travel stays
• Spafinder – $25, $50 gift cards for spa treatments
• 1-800-Flowers – $25 gift card for flowers, gifts

Entertainment Gift Cards

Help friends and family enjoy movies, games, streaming, and more with entertainment gift cards from:

• PlayStation Store – $25, $50 gift card
• Xbox Live – $25 gift card
• Nintendo eShop – $20, $35 gift card
• Hulu – $25 gift card
• Netflix – $25, $50 gift card
• Fandango – $25 gift card for movie tickets

Over 40% of Costco members regularly use streaming services like Netflix and Hulu according to a consumer survey. So entertainment gift cards make practical gifts Costco shoppers love.

Brand Name General Gift Cards

You can also find general use gift cards at Costco for major retailers that work like prepaid cash cards:

• Starbucks – $25 gift card
• Nordstrom – $25, $100 gift card
• The Home Depot – $25 gift card
• Nike – $25 gift card
• Southwest Airlines – $50 gift card
• Uber – $25 gift card

Gift Card Selection Comparison

Here is a quick table summarizing the key gift card options you‘ll find available at Costco:

Gift Card Category	Sample Brands	Common Denominations
Restaurant	Olive Garden, Starbucks, Cheesecake Factory	$25, $50
Retail	Zappos, Hotels.com, Spafinder	$25, $50, $100
Entertainment	Xbox, Netflix, Fandango	$20, $25, $50
General	Nordstrom, Home Depot, Southwest Airlines	$25, $50, $100

As you can see, Costco sticks to major brand names shoppers know and love. Cards typically come in $25 or $50 amounts, though some reach $100.

Who Do Costco Gift Cards Appeal To?

Costco‘s lineup attracts gift givers across a few key shopper types:

Brand Loyalists

Devoted fans of Starbucks, Olive Garden, Zappos, and other brands will appreciate a Costco gift card to fuel their favorites.

Experience Givers

Those who enjoy giving memories often buy Costco restaurant or entertainment cards for a date night out or family fun.

Impulse Shoppers

Shopaholics enjoy Costco‘s mall brand retail cards to browse and splurge.

Office Gift Givers

Co-workers exchange Costco gift cards as easy, crowd-pleasing corporate gifts.

So while Costco doesn‘t cater specifically to hardcore Amazon fans, their options appeal to many shopper types seeking brand name gifts.

Alternate Options for Amazon Gift Cards

I know you love the convenience of Amazon and were hoping to grab gift cards at your go-to retailer, Costco.

While Costco won‘t sell them directly, here are some of the best places to purchase Amazon gift cards instead:

• Amazon.com – Obviously Amazon sells their own gift cards in various designs and denominations. You can buy digital cards or physical cards to give as gifts.

• Amazon Books – Visit Amazon‘s retail bookstores in select cities to buy gift cards in person.

• Grocery stores – Major chains like Kroger, Safeway, and Albertsons carry Amazon cards for quick one-stop shopping.

• Drug stores – Swing by CVS, Walgreens or Rite Aid to add an Amazon gift card to your basket.

• Big box retailers – Target, Best Buy and other major stores sell Amazon cards.

• Online – eBay, Raise, and other digital retailers offer electronic Amazon gift cards.

So it may take an extra stop, but you have quite a few convenient options for purchasing Amazon gift cards beyond Costco.

Buying Gift Cards in Bulk

As a loyal Costco member, you likely appreciate buying items in bulk for value and convenience.

If you need to purchase a large quantity of gift cards for a business, event, or office, here are some options beyond heading to Costco:

• Buy Amazon or Visa gift cards in smaller amounts from local retailers
• Purchase bulk Mastercard or Visa gift cards to use anywhere from Costco
• Order gift cards for your business through Amazon Business accounts
• Use a gift card provider like GiftCards.com for large custom orders

Just keep in mind Costco‘s gift card selection focuses on individual shoppers, not bulk purchases. But with a little planning, you can buy enough gift cards wholesale for your needs.

The Final Verdict on Amazon Gift Cards at Costco

We‘ve covered a lot of ground here! To summarize:

No, you cannot buy Amazon gift cards at Costco warehouses or Costco.com in 2024. Costco avoids promoting major competitor Amazon through gift card sales.

Instead, Costco offers gift cards from leading restaurants, retailers, entertainment services, and brand names they partner with. You‘ll find options for loyal brand fans, experience givers, shoppers, or office gifts.

While no Amazon at Costco, buying Amazon gift cards is easy through Amazon itself, grocery and drug stores, big box retailers, and online sellers.

I hope this guide gave you the full low-down on grabbing Amazon gift cards beyond your usual Costco trip. Now you can find the perfect gift card for anyone…even if they aren‘t a fellow Costco aficionado!