Costco anyone?

[turnkey4099]

My nearest is 50 miles one-way. I make 2 or 3 trips a year and usually can cover my membership in one or at most 2 trips. Just on paper goods alone the savings are great. Yes, there is the drawback of huge packages on most things but non-perishable goods get used up eventually.

My usual bill at the check-out runs $200 and up. I didn't check the gas price last Sunday as the only way you can get it is by using a card - I don't do that.

Harry K

 

[JRobyn]

The "policy" for gas prices at various Costcos in the Atlanta area is to beat the local market by at least 4-5 cents/gal. So the Costco price varies a good bit depending on what the local stations are charging. It's a lot more (by 5 - 10 cent/gal) in the Sandy Springs burb than up in Alpharetta!

They have by far the finest meats around for the price, and the seafood vendor that comes in every other Friday has outstanding quality and price (incredibly fine Dungeness crabs for $3.99/lb!!!)

 

[jinman]

There has been a Costco in Southlake, TX that I've driven right by each day for over two years. They come to my company and offer discount memberships each year. My inlaws are members and say very nice things about them. Like Sam's, I'm sure they can be a great money saver during the Christmas season. I just may have to join and give them at least a 1-year trial.

It's funny, but I thought they were to Target as Sam's is to Wal*Mart. Is that not true? Are they not related in any way?

 

[mjarrels]

Many years ago, used to shop at the original "price club" in the San Diego area... later developed into Costco... went broke saving money.

mark

 

[hilld]

Top quality meat too. Their ribeye steaks are great, as are the baby back ribs.

Now I am hungry.

 

[InlineDieselFan]

We are big time Costco shoppers, sure you can beat thier prices on some items, when they come on sale at other stores, and sometimes even the other stores regular price. But at Costco we have never felt that we have over paid for an item. we don't have to shop the sales and go from store to store, and we have a second freezer so that helps on the large quantity items.

Thier gas prices vary from location to location but seem to run 5-10cents cheaper than most places.

Also they have two furniture stores, one in Kirkland WA and one down in Arizona somewhere.

They also have some Business centers that any member can shop at, their you don't normally have the long lines, and they have most of the same foods as the regular store and then bunches of snack and lunch box type items. Along with actual business desks, chairs, phone systems and such.

They are also a good company to work for from what I am told and have read in the local, biased towards Microsoft, Boeing, and Costco newspapers. They pay a decent wage and provide health care benefits for thier employees.

steve

 

[Ken_CT]

They also have a terrific bakery section.

 

[czechsonofagun]

They have decent price on beer, wine - in Viriginia. In Maryland Costco and Sam's Club are completely dry.

But this guy from San Francisko told me he buys tequilla in Costco. We use Costco as the base for all our needs - family of five we get the fee back in milk alone.

They have decetn tools sometimes - got compressor in Costco and two sets of those ratchet flat wrenches 20 bucks each set - pretty good.

 

[hsjrev]

I actually like Kirkland jeans more than most of the name brands out there. They have very good prices on sheets/pillows and such, and where else can I get a 3lb box of Kashi GoLean cereal? As mentioned already, sometimes they get in some really good deals on tools.
It seems that a lot of the best stuff that's on the shelves in our local store is never shown on the website so it pays to drop in and check it out fairly often.
They have good prices and service in the tire dept too.

 

[cp1969]

I heard a segment on NPR about Costco, about how they are very good to their employees...like actually paying them a halfway decent wage, unlike Sams or Walmart. It seems like the person representing Costco said their average wage was over $40k per year, but I am going from a several years old recolection of a radio broadcast--I could be full of it.

However, I still balk at the idea of paying a company for the priviledge of shopping in their store. There is just something fundamentally wrong with that that I cannot get past, regardless of whether I would come out ahead in a year's time.

 

[Pilot]

As far as I am concerned, Costco is one of the best businesses in the country. Been members for about 20 years, since they first appeared in the Portland area. As someone mentioned, their return policy is great; they'll take anything back with little regard for how long you have had it except for computers. When we switched my mother in law from a private pharmacy to Costco for drugs, her bill dropped to less than half. Just heard on a financial program on the radio that they pay their employees an average of over $17 an hour, and I see very little turnover at their stores.

As for the quantities you have to buy, we cured that problem by buying a used office storage cabinet, the kind about 6 ft. tall, about 3 ft. wide & 18" deep. Keep that in the garage & fill it with stuff from Costco.

Good products, they treat their employees and customers well & keep prices down. What more could you ask for?

 

[keving]

Costco is a weekly thing for me. I always end up spending at least twice as much as I anticipated. Great stuff, great prices.

 

[Bird]

However, I still balk at the idea of paying a company for the priviledge of shopping in their store. There is just something fundamentally wrong with that that I cannot get past, regardless of whether I would come out ahead in a year's time.

I agree, even though I've been doing it with Sam's Club for a long time.

 

[HappyCPE]

Some time ago I signed up for an American Express and Costco branded charge card. There is no fee, it includes membership to Costco, and I get between 1 and 3 percent rebate, spendable in Costco, on everything I buy with it. The interest rate is outrageous but I pay it off each month. It's a heck of a deal.

The bakery in the Bridgewater NJ store is to die for. The meats are good, but the produce is what really gets me. Fabulous!

The best thing I've got there, though, are daffodils. Bought several giant sacks of them (+/- 200 bulbs, why do something small?) and they came up in spring with huge blooms and 2-4 blossoms per bulb. This in the first year!

 

[MF1455v]

We have been members for several years now. We are also in at least once a week, sometimes more. First year we had he standard $50 membership. We worked the math and found we would do better on the $100 executive membership. With the executive you get 2% back to use in store. Our lowest year we got back $150. Making $50 on the membership, plus the savings. Not bad. A few week ago I bought a 60 tooth 12" carbide tip Black & Decker blade for my miter saw for $8.49.

I have also read that Costco treats employees well. That must be true because we've seen a lot of the same faces for a long time.

James

 

[EddieWalker]

Back in California, we had a Price Club first, then later on, Costco came to town. Price Club was allot closer, but Costco really put them to shame on what they had to offer. Not just bulk stuff, but lots of things we needed and at very good prices. Then they merged or one bought out the other, and it was just Costco.

I really miss Costco and hope we get one here in Tyler one day. We have three Walmarts, and a Sams, but no Costco.

Eddie

 

[monkeymonk]

First year we had he standard $50 membership. We worked the math and found we would do better on the $100 executive membership. With the executive you get 2% back to use in store. Our lowest year we got back $150. Making $50 on the membership, plus the savings. Not bad.

I have also read that Costco treats employees well. That must be true because we've seen a lot of the same faces for a long time.

James

since we live far from anything! we stock way up on supplies...costco rocks on the stock way up department. Beer 5 cases at a time,cotractor bags, tri tip-6 packs, juice, olive oil, The list goes on...I to had the basic membership and didn't think i would spend much, years later we got the excecutive and are also making a bit more back.I shop there for my smoker buddies and must say if your a smoker,(which Iam not) you save big

You can save big buying a car through costco! I almost did
The insurance rates are incredible.living in another state without costco, you could sign up pay the $50 get the insurance and you would still be saving big time!

 

[InlineDieselFan]

I forgot about thier tire shop, last year I saved almost $200 on just one set of tires, well it was 6 tires for a dually.

More than paid for my membership just on tires, Debbie just came in and said we are going to Olympia today and going to Costco so there goes more money, but we will be stocked.

steve

 

[dmccarty]

Costco does treat its employees well. There was an article in the Wall Street Journal about the company a few years ago. The company provides good pay and benefits. I think its privately owned as well. They have had consultants come in and say you can make more money if you cut pay and benefits. The president of the company did not listen to the consultants.

And the company still makes money.

Later,
Dan

 

[knute_m]

Gasoline at COSTCO in Winchester, VA was $2.52.9 yesterday. The next lowest was $2.77.9.

Between home and business, we probably buy more consumables from COSTCO than all other suppliers combined. The do a fantastic job of "qualifying" products before they decide to sell them. Their "no questions asked" return policy is second to none.