I've actually suggested, not fully seriously, that my employer give us the option of taking part of our pay in Costco gift cards.

A Costco member can buy and load gift cards, and then give them to a non-member, and that card will admit the non-member to Costco stores and allow them to buy things there on the card.

Some of us wouldn't use Costco enough to justify buying a membership, but would like to use them occasionally, and this gift card hack would allow that.