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A lot of people join Costco so they can fill up their cars on the cheap and save money on products like groceries and paper towels. But one of the best — and less obvious — deals at Costco is the store’s selection of gift cards. If you’ve never purchased a gift card from Costco before, here are three important things to know.

1. Costco’s gift cards are discounted

The main benefit of buying gift cards at Costco is that you can purchase them at a price that’s below their face value. Here are some of the fantastic restaurant gift card offers Costco has available today (Nov. 6):

• $100 of TGI Friday’s gift cards for $79.99
• $75 worth of Subway’s gift cards for $59.99
• $100 worth of IHOP gift cards for $79.99
• $100 worth of Domino’s gift cards for $74.99

But it’s not just restaurants you can buy gift cards to. Costco also sells gift cards for entertainment venues like bowling alleys and movie theaters, among other things. It pays to browse the store or look online and see what additional deals catch your eye, especially with the holidays coming up.

You may find a wider selection of options at Costco.com. And many of the site’s gift cards can be delivered to you electronically so you get them right away.

2. They can’t be returned

Costco’s return policy is one of the most generous ones out there. You can typically return almost any item at any time for any reason.

But gift cards are one of the rare Costco purchases that can’t be returned. Once you buy one, you’re stuck with it. For this reason, be careful when buying gift cards to places you don’t normally go to.

For example, Costco is currently selling $100 worth of Dave & Buster’s gift cards for $79.99. You might tell yourself that’s a good deal to grab because your kids like going there. But if the closest one is 90 minutes away and you haven’t been to Dave & Buster’s in ages because of that, your $100 in gift cards might sit unused in your wallet.

3. You can earn 2% on gift cards with an Executive membership

The benefit of upgrading to an Executive membership at Costco for $130 a year (versus $65 for a basic membership) is getting to earn 2% cash back on your purchases. And that extends to gift cards. If you spend $79.99 on a $100 gift card, not only are you saving $20, but you’re also earning $1.60.

What’s more, if you use the right credit card to buy your gift cards at Costco, you can bank extra rewards that put more cash in your pocket. Click here for a list of the best credit cards for Costco shoppers.

Costco’s gift cards are one of the store’s best lesser-known deals. It pays to take advantage of them for the discounted prices and cash back rewards. But be careful to only buy gift cards you know you’ll use. Otherwise, instead of saving money at Costco, you could end up wasting money and getting stuck with gift cards that don’t do you any good.

Top credit card to use at Costco (and everywhere else!)

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Add on the competitive 0% interest period and it’s no wonder we awarded this card Best No Annual Fee Credit Card.

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Motley Fool Money does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from Motley Fool Money is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.Maurie Backman has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Costco Wholesale. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.