Membership fee increases to $65 per year in US as of September 1. Whatever their higher class membership is called increases to $130.
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/costco-raises-annual-membership-fee-202829281.html
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As long as they donāt dump the hearing aid centers or hot dogs I am OK with that.
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Bloomberg claimed the price of hot dogs hasnāt gone up over the years.
At Costco we use to be able to get a Hot Dog or Polish Sausage - and could also get the additional sauerkraut. Those went away. The prep stand use to include fresh chopped onions, that is gone too.
Bloomberg NYC has lost over 50% of its terminal subscribers, its bread and butter, over the last 36 months. Also lost a hefty amount of its news subscriptions. I often need to fact check Bloomberg with sources.
My guess is the Have Yachts Bloomberg staff donāt really understand the Costco Have Nots.
Costco seems more crowded now as people under 30 are appreciating saving money.
Yes, I will pay Costco the higher price, relative to the āno counted in inflationā cost of food, energy, utilities, fees, taxes, insurance, ā¦ it is way below the other price increases. 
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Given the several thousands of dollars one saves by buying hearing aids (and getting followup service for years) at Costco, the additional $5 per year for the privilege is worth it!āin my view.
A reminderāone needs NO membership at Costco to visit and EXPLORE the idea of hearing aids from them. You only need to be a member to BUY them and then annually to continue to have access to followup care.
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Several years ago I was told I didnāt need to be a member for follow-up care. I never tried it as their gasoline saves me enough money to be worthwhile as does a staple or two.
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I like that:
Cheapest hearing aid prices Evah!
Youāre just on the hook for a service contract for $1300 over the next ten years. Pretty cute.
Thatās interestingā¦.my practice is the same as yours. 
At least at our Costco you need to be a member to get a hearing test. Iād never been a member until I explored hearing aids but gas, and a couple of items definitely make the membership worthwhile.
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My rebate this year was $685, and it is always more than the membership fee. Doesnt work for everyone but works for us. Our two daughters also have their memberships.
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Since my partner and I both have the āCheapest hearing aids Evah!ā their āten year service contractā goes down to $650 eachā¦ a great deal!. And yes we have their higher end membership 
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Hearing aids, glasses, allergy medicine, and gas, if you purchase nothing else at Costco you have more than made up for the membership fees
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(post deleted by author)
News: The sky is falling
Details: Itās only $5.
Iām good with that.
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It is %8.33. What else hasnāt gone up that much over the years. LOL
If you apply that to the hot dog it would be $1.62.
Costco has 132 million members. So thatās only a pidly $660 million extra a year in pure profit. Chump change for us but over half a billion for Costco
Iāve been an executive member for nearly 20 years when I joined and was told if I didnāt recoup the extra fee, they would refund me the membership fee. Since then, every year, I have been paid back much more than the extra cost, and get back even more by using their credit card. Besides HAs, I buy as much as I can there, e.g. eyeglasses, tires, gas, clothes, food etc. And I look there first whenever I need something different. When I hear about inflation complaints, I think complainers should buy more from Costco. Costco may not always have the same premium brands, but goods are high quality, sold at unbeatable prices. Complainers who contend food is too expensive should rationally buy more at Costco instead of Ralphās. I think the best way to beat inflation is to buy at Costco.
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I joined Costco in 2018 to purchase my KS8S. I dropped my membership and continued to get annual hearing checks (recently changed to every two years) and get click domes and wax guards at no cost. I can enter without a membership card. I just tell the person at the entrance, Iām going in for a hearing aide check. I can go in to have my aids cleaned and have domes and wax guards changed on a walk-in basis. Recently I joined again to checkout the new aids. KS8S were made by Rexton so I think Iāll try the Reach. I find it more convenient to shop elsewhere for everyday items like food, gasoline,etc.
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