Costco Connection - March 2008

COSTCO SERVICES
Update
Current news for Costco members
To learn more about the complete suite of Costco services,
click on the “Services” link at costco.com or call 1-800-220-6000.
SERVICE UPDATE
A new look for
the card

COMSTOCK

PRACTICAL TIPS

Start with that tax refund

AMERICANS ARE SAVING less money than they did just a couple of years ago, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. That’s a bad trend at a time when life expectancy favors living into one’s 90s, which requires good retirement planning.

Saving money requires discipline, and young people often procrastinate about the future. “I’ll save when I’m making more money” is an often-heard excuse, but many people don’t realize that spending increases at the same rate as earnings. That’s why retirement saving needs to be initiated and made routine at as young an age as possible.

Tax refunds and other rebates or cash awards are a good way to kick-start a savings program. Saving is a habit that becomes more and more rewarding. The challenge is to just get it started.

COSTCO EXECUTIVE Members with Costco American Express Cards will be receiving new cards in the mail with a slightly different look.

The cards, which serve as both Costco membership cards and American Express credit cards, are specially designed for Costco Executive Members. They have a new black design on the back, while the front design is the same. The member’s account number and Costco membership number stay the same.

The new cards will make it easier for Costco warehouse employees to recognize Executive Members at the door, says Sandy Torrey, who oversees the program for Costco.

“All the benefits and the value of these co-branded cards remain the same,” says Sandy. The new cards will be mailed to members across the country over the next several months.

A money market account from Capital

One is an excellent savings vehicle.

“Costco members are looking for a great deal, and Capital One’s money market rate has historically been one of the best in the nation” says John Gleason, Costco services manager. “Just as important, there are no account fees to reduce the great rate.”

Capital One money market accounts feature free ATM cards, checks and online transfers to and from other bank accounts (withdrawal limits apply). Executive Members also receive an additional benefit on their first Capital One Direct Banking account opened through Costco. For details, go to costco.com and enter

“savings account” in the search box, or call toll-free 1-866-551-1422.

SPECIAL EVENT
Wallet savings
deadline

PROVIDER SNAPSHOT

ValueWeb now a Hostway company

LAST YEAR HOSTWAY became one of the ■ Averaging 20 gigabytes per second
largest Web hosting companies in the world of sustained Web traffic
with the acquisition of Affinity Internet—the ■ Approximately 90 petabytes ( 1,024
provider of Value Web, Costco’s small-business terabytes) per year of transmitted data
Web site service. Costco members are now Hostway’s Value Web is a great value for
serviced by an industry leader. Costco members. A professional Web site for
Consider these Hostway stats: a business costs as little as $14.95 per month
■ Serving more than 600,000 domain for Executive Members, $17.95 for Gold Star
names and 2 million Web sites and Business members, after one-time setup
■ Hosting online transactions exceeding fees. Free phone support is provided, 24/7.
$1 billion per year For more information, go to costco.com
■ More than 76 million e-mails processed and enter “Value Web” in the search box,
daily, more than 27 billion per year or call toll-free 1-800-346-1543.

FOR COSTCO MEMBERS, March
30 is the end date for the 2008
Wallet coupon book. Don’t miss
special savings on several of the
most popular Costco Services.
See the back pages of the
Wallet, or go to costco.com
and click on “Services,” then
on “Wallet Offers.”