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If you don’t know about Costco photo center hacks (like me, who has been unaware for years!) you are missing out on a lot! Costco offers top-notch photo services and there are multiple techniques that you can use to save money!
Costco allows you to take photos, passport photos, get them printed, have them delivered to you for free and also avail of services like photo gifts (mugs, calendars, etc). These facilities are available at all the Costco photo centers where you can get ink cartridges refills and have videos converted to digital format at reasonable prices.
Hacks That Work At Costco Photo Center (2023)
Costco offers a number of photo-related services that you can use to your advantage. However, since most of them have not been marketed before, a majority of the shoppers are not aware of how these hacks work. Well, that is about to change!
Can You Use Costco App For Quick Uploading?
Customers don’t need to visit Costco Center kiosk physically but instead, they can use Costco app to upload the photos directly.
The app can be used anywhere in the world. You just need to create an account and then sign in to access the Photo Center. However, the sign up requires membership number.
So once the Costco members have successfully signed in, they can upload, crop or edit the photos. The process is quite simple and straightforward.
Does Turning Off Auto-Correct Get You Better Pictures?
Auto Correct feature can be turned off for better quality and employees at Costco kiosk can help you figure out how that works.
According to many professional photographers, Auto Correct features can seriously downgrade the quality of the photo that you get. Therefore, it is recommended that you turn it off.
You can visit the Costco kiosk and request the staff there to find where to turn it off.
Can Costco Members Avail Free Photo Deliveries?
Costco member can receive prints and photos without visiting the store as long as they pay the shipping charges.
Costco does offer delivery of pictures and photos. Typically, the shipping is free of cost but if your order is bigger than 11 x 14, you may have to pay standard shipping charges.
- For standard shipping, 25 prints are free and over this count are free as well for sizes smaller than 11 x 14.
- For delivery within 2 days, 1-25 prints will cost you $14.99 for prints smaller than 11 x 14.
- If you want them delivered within 2 days, each additional print after 25 prints will cost you $2.99 for sizes smaller than 11 x 14.
- For overnight delivery, 1-25 prints will cost you $19.99 for prints smaller than 11 x 14.
- If you want them delivered overnight, each additional print after 15 prints will cost you $5.99 for sizes smaller than 11 x 14.
- For sizes larger than 11 x 14, the standard shipping for 1 – 10 prints will be $3.99 and each additional print after 10 will cost you 99 cents.
- For sizes larger than 11 x 14, delivery within 2 days will cost $14.99 for 1 – 10 prints and each additional print will cost you $2.99.
- Similarly, for sizes larger than 11 x 14, overnight printing of 1 – 10 prints will cost you $19.99 and each additional print will cost $5.99.
Can Costco Convert Home Videos To Digital Format?
Costco can help you convert home video tapes to digital format with a starting price of only $19.99 for the first 2 hours of conversion.
Digital format is a reliable way to preserve a video forever. Costco understands that and therefore, offers this service at quite a reasonable cost.
At Costco, you can convert VHS, BetaMax, Hi-8, Digital8, DVCAM and MiniDV formats. Moreover, it also converts 8 mm and 16 mm film, older slides and even printed photos to digital output.
Does Costco Photo Center Provide Passport Photos?
Yes, Costco provide 4 passport pictures for only $5.99.
This is quite surprising that Costco provides passport photos at rates much cheaper than most of the other independent photo labs.
Moreover, you can get the picture taken and then spend sometimes in the aisles (You may want to check out Costco TV or laptops and computers at the store as you pass time). On your way out, Costco will have the pictures ready for you!
Costco Extensive Image Gallery
Costco photo center has a huge art and image gallery that you can browse and choose any for custom-sized printing.
The gallery is open to all users. You can browse, select any photo that you like, provide Costco with a custom size and get it printed for home decoration!
For example, you can get items like a glossy Ko Hong Island poster of 20 x 30′ print for only $9.99. Furthermore, customers can avail discount coupons to further reduce the price.
Costco Photo Center Hacks For Copyrighted Photos
Costco employee may let copyrighted photos slip through if they are not attentive which may can use to their advantage.
However, I should mention that this really depends on employees on the shift. Some may turn down your request to produce copyrighted pictures.
Does Costco Refill Empty Ink Cartridges?
Costco refills empty inkjet cartridges for $7 to $10 depending on the brand.
It is no surprise that getting a refill at Costco will save you many dollars.
Costco currently deals with cartridges from HP, Canon, Epson and Brother. You only have to take the cartridges to Costco’s photo center and wait for the staff to refill it. It may take up to an hour to get the job done.
Why Does Not Costco Develop Old Film?
Costco realized that majority of the people are opting for digital photos and therefore, it stopped developing old films.
Large stores like Costco need to stay on top of purchase and customer trends to ensure success and profit.
Costco used to offer film development but when large number of people shifted to digital photos instead, it stopped the facility at most of its locations.
There are many stores that still let you develop films. These include mainstream names like Walgreens, Rite Aid, CVS or Walmart. Here I would like to point out that Walmart does not own Costco and therefore, you can not expect to get same services at both stores.
Can You Get Photo Gifts At Costco?
Costco does offer photo gift services such as printing of photo mugs, photo books or personalized calendars.
Luckily, Costco is very competitive when it comes to pricing of these products. You can get a phot mug here for just $8.99. It offers personalized calendars for $9.89 and photo books for $19.99.
These prices are quite reasonable as compared to other online services like Snapfish, Shutterfly or TinyPrints.
Why Do Pro Photographers Use Costco?
Photographers rely on Costco photo service as the product output is really good!
Costco final product has been found to be better than what actual, stand-alone photo shops have to offer.
This may be because most of the shops are often bias with their parents. Costco may not offer this as a dedicated service but it is COSTCO after all, doing everything as perfectly as possible!
Key Takeaways
- Customers don’t need to visit Costco Center kiosk physically but instead, they can use Costco app to upload the photos directly.
- Costco member can receive prints and photos without visiting the store as long as they pay the shipping charges.
- Costco can help you convert home video tapes to digital format with a starting price of only $19.99 for the first 2 hours of conversion.
Update: Costco photo center has not been making considerable profit over the past few years. Therefore, Costco has closed few of these and may eliminate more centers in the future.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How to receive really good prints at Costco?
Costco suggests you to turn off Auto-correct feature if you want to get the best quality print.
Why is Costco closing its photo centers?
Costco has realized that many people are now resorting to digital photos on social media. This has led to decreased use of photo reprints. To make its business more cost-effective, Costco has drastically decreased the number of photo centers that it operates.
Can I use Costco photo pickup service right now?
Costco officially disclosed all its photo centers in 2021. Therefore, you can not pick up photos at Costco anymore.
Can you get passport pictures taken at Costco?
When Costco photo centers were active, it used to take passport photos. However, it no longer provides this service since they have shut down the centers completely.
