Retail Australia: Costco new range to offer cars
Costco is taking a leap into the unknown by adding cars and motorbikes to its long list of cut-price offerings.
With many people across Australia doing it tough the discount retail giant is offering its members the chance to save thousands of dollars on a new vehicle as part of the initiative.
The cars are available to Costco members online from website Autoreviewa in a partnership dubbed ‘Autoconnect’.
“Autoconnect is the newest addition to our suite of Costco Services, which offer members savings beyond the warehouse,” Costco managing director Patrick Noone said in a statement.
“This service gives members the exclusive opportunity to see if they can save when purchasing a vehicle.”
At the moment the offer is only open to Queenslanders with Victoria and NSW to follow in November.
“We are also working together to roll this service out across Australia by the end of the year,” Mr Noone confirmed.
The discount will be available to all levels of membership, Costco confirmed, with a standard membership at the discount giant costing $65 a year.
However, Executive Members could unlock up to $600 in additional savings in the form of Shop Cards.
After selecting their vehicle online, customers will need to input their Costco member number before paying a fully refundable $400 deposit.
Once payment is finalised, delivery can be arranged to a customer’s home or to a Costco store.
The main types of vehicles available are wagons and utes, with a couple of motorcycles also available at knock down rates.
Autoconnect plan to substantially increase the range of vehicles on offer over the coming months to include smaller cars and Electric Vehicles.
More Coverage
Most customers reacting on social media seemed to welcome the addition of cars to Costco’s range, although one couldn’t resist making a cheeky dig at the company’s reputation for offering things in bulk.
“Do I have to buy 10 of them at once?” the shopper wrote on Facebook.
Vehicles are already available at Costco in the USA, but it remains to be seen what the uptake will be as Australia grapples with a cost of living crisis.
ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7r7HWrGWcp51jrrZ7xaKlmqaTmnyuu82esGibn6jBpLuMr5ynrKWnsrR5yKerqGWknbJuwc2kpaivnmLEqsDHZpmrmZ6Zeq%2Bx1mapmqaXmnyvsdasZKysn6fGcIWSmplybWZqsXZ9xJ5vm3BpaoNzfJVrmZ2clGyCda6T