Costco

[kenny]

Brick and mortar store are dropping like flies.
But not Costco.

So, how do they do it?

 

[PastryGirl]

I love Costco. Great customer service and high-quality items. That is how they do it.

 

[kenny]

... high-quality items. ...

+1

Sometimes I don't bother researching a product.
I figure, Costco is selling so why bother?

2 things I don't like about Costco:
1. Those friggin free sample things cause traffic jams.
2. While I LOVE their fresh $4.99 whole rotisserie chicken, sometimes they have broken wing bones. It bothers me because I wonder whether they broke while the bird was still alive.

 

[stracci2000]

I couldn't possible pay a fee for the priveledge of shopping in a store.......

I guess that's how they stay open.

 

[kenny]

I couldn't possible pay a fee for the priveledge of shopping in a store.......

I guess that's how they stay open.

FWIW we have Costco's upgraded "Executive membership".
Then my VISA card is the one Costco offers through Citi.
It gives me a discount on every Costco purchase.
They mail me a check every spring that (for me) isy hundreds of dollars.
That more than pays for Costco's annual membership fee.

Their return policy is superb.
You don't even have to keep the receipt; they just look it up your purchase.
I love saving on Costco's large bulk sizes, especially since we have one of those Food Saver vacuum bag sealers.

 

[stracci2000]

FWIW I have Costco's upgraded "Executive membership".
Then my VISA card is the one Costco offers through Citi.
It gives me a discount on every Costco purchase.
They mail me a check every spring that (for me) isy hundreds of dollars.
That more than pays for Costco's annual membership fee.

Their return policy is superb.
You don't even have to keep the receipt; they just look it up your purchase.

Eeeeee, Kenny!
They got you with their credit card!
I have a credit card but I don't use it, cause I don't want any debt.

 

[PastryGirl]

+1

Sometimes I don't bother researching a product.
I figure, Costco is selling so why bother?

2 things I don't like about Costco:
1. Those friggin free sample things cause traffic jams.
2. While I LOVE their fresh $4.99 whole rotisserie chicken, sometimes they have broken wing bones. It bothers me because I wonder whether they broke while the bird was still alive.

Ugh yes, people line up for those samples! They just stand there waiting like a herd of I don't know what.

 

[LilAlex]

Sometimes I don't bother researching a product.
I figure, Costco is selling so why bother?

I don't say this about a lot of places but I have said this about Costco. They have good buyers. I am less impressed over the past decade but maybe I have gotten crankier and more jaded; with a young family and few spare hours for research, it was easy to just toss their one offering (flashlight, small kitchen appliance, etc.) into the cart.

We love Costco -- mostly for food. In that sense, I think it's like other grocery stores in that the benefits of online ordering and home delivery seldom outweigh the downside.

Their wine selection (i.e., wine buyer) is amazing in our region. We heard from a friend in the hospitality industry (who is also a licensed master sommelier -- I think that's a thing) that you simply can't go wrong with any of their wines -- and that has been our experience. Helped me branch out a bit, as in "Ooh, this sounds good!" Couple years ago, they starting carrying my favorite special-occasion Pinot Noir and we bought almost the whole bin. Just enjoyed a few bottles with a crowd last week for a milestone life event!

 

[canuk-gal]

I don't say this about a lot of places but I have said this about Costco. They have good buyers. I am less impressed over the past decade but maybe I have gotten crankier and more jaded; with a young family and few spare hours for research, it was easy to just toss their one offering (flashlight, small kitchen appliance, etc.) into the cart.

We love Costco -- mostly for food. In that sense, I think it's like other grocery stores in that the benefits of online ordering and home delivery seldom outweigh the downside.

Their wine selection (i.e., wine buyer) is amazing in our region. We heard from a friend in the hospitality industry (who is also a licensed master sommelier -- I think that's a thing) that you simply can't go wrong with any of their wines -- and that has been our experience. Helped me branch out a bit, as in "Ooh, this sounds good!" Couple years ago, they starting carrying my favorite special-occasion Pinot Noir and we bought almost the whole bin. Just enjoyed a few bottles with a crowd last week for a milestone life event!

Ya booze. I've marveled (shaking my head, this is here??? ) and enjoyed the selection.

Otherwise I don't shop there.

 

[kenny]

Eeeeee, Kenny!
They got you with their credit card!
I have a credit card but I don't use it, cause I don't want any debt.

Neither do I.

You can use your CC, but just do what I do ...
Pay in full every month; you'll never have any debt, or pay any interest.
There are a couple of us out there.

So, they don't "got" me.
Rather, I got them.

 

[kenny]

BTW, you don't need a membership to just use their pharmacy.

Might save someone some $$$$.

 

[kenny]

Ugh yes, people line up for those samples! They just stand there waiting like a herd of I don't know what.

... and some bring all 78 members of their extended family.

 

[stracci2000]

Neither do I.

You can use your CC, but just do what I do ...
Pay in full every month; you'll never have any debt, or pay any interest.
There are a couple of us out there.

So, they don't "got" me.
Rather, I got them.

 

[diamondyes]

BTW, you don't need a membership to just use their pharmacy.

Might save someone some $$$$.

Cautionary tale:
In my city I know a bunch of doctors and they said be cautious of the cheapest pharmacy (speaking of Costco) - they said they are so busy they make tons of mistakes. They are the cheapest, though!

 

[ItsMainelyYou]

We won't have a Costco in Maine until 2024/2025.

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

+1

Sometimes I don't bother researching a product.
I figure, Costco is selling so why bother?

2 things I don't like about Costco:
1. Those friggin free sample things cause traffic jams.
2. While I LOVE their fresh $4.99 whole rotisserie chicken, sometimes they have broken wing bones. It bothers me because I wonder whether they broke while the bird was still alive.

We stopped buying KFC for that reason

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

We won't have a Costco in Maine until 2024/2025.

i only saw my first one last night on a tv series from Melbourne called Colin from accounts
we have one in Auckland but thats a long way away for any kind of shop

 

[yssie]

Oddly enough we’ve stopped buying from Costco. We still love everything we got (and boy, have we still “got” from our bulk shopping days ) But after the animals started needing specialist everything - food and toys and treats - we just sort of found ourselves never going. 2023 is the first in about fifteen years that we haven’t renewed our membership.

I have a feeling we’ll be back whenever we run out of tin foil and Kirkland socks - but that might not be for a couple more years

 

[dk168]

I love Costco!

I don't have an account with them as there isn't a store near me - the closest is about an hour's drive away.

I just love browsing in their stores. Visiting my mum in Vancouver usually involves a trip to a Costco, which was the highlight of my visits.

I now hitch a ride with a friend who goes to Costco with her friends on shopping trips in her big car with an empty boot.

Yes to try the food samples, and I love their hot dogs! Apparently, they do not sell the hot dog sausages on their own, however, they have a similar product that one can buy. And yes, I asked them about it!

Items I usually buy: green tea tea bags, ready to eat crispy seaweeds, Madeleines, and whatever tasty looking snacks they have on offer such as nuts and crisps/chips!

I LOVE Costco!

DK

 

[missy]

Costco is my favorite place to shop for food and miscellaneous items. And I love their pharmacy because the pharmacists are nice and accommodating and happy to go out of their way to try getting you meds other pharmacies/pharmacists might not

We get our gas there too. It's more reasonably priced than anywhere else by us

We love Costco and one of my rules is if we ever move we must be within 20/25 minutes of a Costco.
True requirement of mine

Oh and @stracci2000 we have their executive membership and honestly we come out ahead every year which I know means we spend too much there lol but girl, it's worth it. And like Kenny we always pay the CC immediately so there is no interest/debt etc. In fact I use their CC for many other purchases. Definitely worth it. For us.

 

[wildcat03]

We have a membership. I buy diapers on sale. I previously bought at Target. I estimate I have cut our diaper budget in half since switching. Not everything is a great deal, but the diapers definitely are! I also love the free shipping - sometimes I don't get to the warehouse but the diapers are the same price shipped to my door as they are in warehouse.

 

[smitcompton]

Hi,

I have been reading of late about people who are getting creative about expensive weddings. Some have used the McDonalds menu for their food. I suggest a Costco chicken for each guest. That should satisfy any appetite. Order some sides and wine from Costco and you can have an inexpensive but tasty wedding. Would any of you contemplate such a thing? I think it could be fun.

Annette
FDR said a chicken in every pot (during hdepression)

AC says -- A Chicken on every plate.

 

[Asscherhalo_lover]

Another executive member here with the CC who never pays interest FWIW if you upgrade to executive and your rewards don't cover the cost of it they'll refund you the difference!

 

[canuk-gal]

HI:

I must be the only nutcase who doesn't have a membership!!!

cheers--Sharon

 

[kenny]

... I must be the only nutcase who doesn't have a membership!!! ...

UH OH!
This is a serious problem.

What are we going to do with you?

 

[stracci2000]

HI:

I must be the only nutcase who doesn't have a membership!!!

cheers--Sharon

I'm the other nutcase!
I want to avoid bills, not acquire new ones.

 

[canuk-gal]

I'm the other nutcase!
I'm not paying to shop in their store.

two peas in a pod (or nuts in a shell )

 

[Dee*Jay]

Hi,

I have been reading of late about people who are getting creative about expensive weddings. Some have used the McDonalds menu for their food. I suggest a Costco chicken for each guest. That should satisfy any appetite. Order some sides and wine from Costco and you can have an inexpensive but tasty wedding. Would any of you contemplate such a thing? I think it could be fun.

Annette
FDR said a chicken in every pot (during hdepression)

AC says -- A Chicken on every plate.

My ex was SUCH an avid fan that friends actually called him Costco! Believe me if he'd thought of this chicken idea we'd surely have had a wedding--and reception--rather than eloping!

 

[YadaYadaYada]

We used to be on a family member’s account, years and years ago. On one hand I really liked the quality of products at Costco, as well as their business model, they pay their employees a wage that is above industry standard.

However, it always felt like a huge thing to go to Costco, a bit of sensory overload and let’s face it, it’s very easy to wander over into the middle aisles and throw things in the cart that you weren’t anticipating buying. We don’t have a membership now, but we have three major grocery stores (including Aldi) and another being built in town, so it’s more convenient to go to one of those stores than to make the 20 minute drive one way to Costco

 

[dk168]

HI:

I must be the only nutcase who doesn't have a membership!!!

cheers--Sharon

Neither do I, however my mum and a nice friend are members, and I love shopping in Costco with them.

DK