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Tell me about Costco
Topic Started: Dec 5 2011, 11:29 AM (1,736 Views)
jon-nyc
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Cheers
So now that I'm a parent and a car owner, I'm going to take the next logical step and get a Costco membership. Or at least I'll check it out. I plan on going sometime this week.

Can I check the place out before deciding on a membership? Can I buy a membership right there?

And what's good there? What are the best deals? Is it mainly bulk items or can you buy reasonable quantities too?

In my defense, I was left unsupervised.
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Nobody's Sock
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Fulla-Carp
Oh man, this is going to be a long thread!


"Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known."
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kenny
HOLY CARP!!!
Here are some of my favs:

10 pounds of organic carrots for your juicer $4.29
Huge bag of washed baby spinach leaves, around $3
Box of frozen marinated Wild Alaskan Salmon, 6 individually-wrapped boneless fillets, around $15
Large bunch of bananas $1.32 (I find the rest of their produce to be overpriced, but I'm used to a mexican market that's dirt cheap)
Organic eggs at good price
Huge package of a zillion rolls of toilet paper - nice in that it lasts so long
Computer paper
Best selling books
Noah's bagels - they freeze well, then microwave for 20 seconds, slice, toast
Fresh artisan breads with no preservatives in paper bags
Bulk staples like sugar in huge bags
Postage stamps, save a trip to the Post Office
Large bag of dried mangos from the Philippines
Hot fresh Rotisserie Chicken
Hot fresh BBQ ribs
Cheeses
Large chicken or turkey sausages
Lots of European holiday cookies and goodies made with real butter
Case of San Pelligrino Sparkling Water
Great price on Tofu!!!!!!!!!
If you chew gum or eat candy bars they have many major brands as cheaply as you will ever see
Michelin tires for your car

Diamonds are not the highest cut quality at the best prices but a zillion times better than anything you'll see at a chain or a maul as long as you stick with those graded by GIA.
Sometimes they'll have high end watches like a platinum Cartier, for Rachel
Costco does not stock many things regularly so every visit is an adventure like Trader Joe's.

Oh and consider getting a Costco American Express card.
They gave me one on the spot when I bought my new Nikon a year ago, with a large credit limit and 6 months of zero interest.
If you get it your annual AMEX membership is free and the AMEX card becomes your Costco card.

I'm considering buying one of those Foodsaver Vacuum bag sealer things so I can buy more stuff in bulk and freeze it.
Of course Costco sells the Foodsaver units and bags :P
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kenny
HOLY CARP!!!
I like Costco.
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AndyD
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Senior Carp
Avoid, awful place.

Every morning the soul is once again as good as new, and again one offers it to one's brothers & sisters in life.

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jon-nyc
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Cheers
I dont envision buying food there. Andy - why do you say that?
In my defense, I was left unsupervised.
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George K
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Finally
I bought a car through Costco. Saved several hundred dollars.
A guide to GKSR: Click

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OperaTenor
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Pisa-Carp
I don't know what they are now, but when I joined Costco(then Price Club) in 1985, there were membership requirements you may still have to meet.

We do most of our grocery shopping at Costco. They seem to require responsibility on the part of their suppliers(organic products are indeed organic, produce and dairy aren't loaded with growth hormones, etc.). We've adapted to dealing with the bulk quantities in a lot of cases, and the pricing makes it worthwhile.

It's also an awesome place to get a prescription filled or to buy eyeglasses, get your tires replaced, and even get a Christmas tree.


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RosemaryTwo
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HOLY CARP!!!
Costco has zero atmosphere but sells quality goods at incredible prices.

They treat their employees well (I have heard and read). Their customer service is amazing (I could tell you some personal examples).

Can you access the WSJ online? The paper has written about Costco several times and I think there are fascinating elements to their business strategy.

Walk the aisles and be open-minded.
"Perhaps the thing to do is just to let stupid run its course." Aqua
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Horace
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HOLY CARP!!!
I love Costco. I get all my steak there, it's higher quality and lower price than any supermarket, and WAY lower price and similar quality to any butcher.

I have the amex too, it's the only card I use anymore.
As a good person, I implore you to do as I, a good person, do. Be good. Do NOT be bad. If you see bad, end bad. End it in yourself, and end it in others. By any means necessary, the good must conquer the bad. Good people know this. Do you know this? Are you good?
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Kincaid
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HOLY CARP!!!
Good return policy.
Kincaid - disgusted Republican Partisan since 2006.
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jon-nyc
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Cheers
Is it mostly a grocery store? I kind of thought it was more of a walmart type place.
In my defense, I was left unsupervised.
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sue
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HOLY CARP!!!
It's big. Big store, big aisles, big case-lots, big carts, big line-ups.

While I found a few good deals at my last visit (about a year ago, I think), I haven't worked up the enthusiasm to go back. Probably would have if it wasn't so out of the way. I'd wanted to stock up on some case lots of products I use a lot of, canned tomato products for one. Couldn't find any brands I like, so didn't.

But what sticks with me is the feeling of depression I get thinking about being there. Same feeling I get thinking about being in a busy shopping mall at Christmas time. It's too much, too much..

Might still go back one day; I can't dispute their reputation when it comes to small appliances, electronics and such. But I can't see going there on a regular basis. Certainly not for food.

I think you can go as a 'guest', to check it out, although it could be different in the states.
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jon-nyc
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RosemaryTwo
Dec 5 2011, 12:04 PM

Can you access the WSJ online?
From its inception I subscribed but I canceled the very day Murdoch closed the transaction.
In my defense, I was left unsupervised.
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John D'Oh
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MAMIL
jon-nyc
Dec 5 2011, 12:16 PM
Is it mostly a grocery store? I kind of thought it was more of a walmart type place.
It's Walmart, but charges a membership fee like a golf club, so you get a higher standard of riff-raff, although admittedly with less interesting fashion sense. Plus, you get swanky coffee and sh!t that you can drink with your little finger in the air whilst affecting a bogus English accent. It's very refained.

We have an alternative around here called B.J.'s, which sounds a lot more attractive for obvious reasons.
What do you mean "we", have you got a mouse in your pocket?
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Mark
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HOLY CARP!!!
Maybe you will be able to buy another Bosie at Costco. :lol:
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When I see an adult on a bicycle, I do not despair for the future of the human race. H.G. Wells
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AndyD
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Jon, in the UK their warehouses have the soul of a cheap asian piano, and queues that infuriate.
You spend an extraordinary amount (no credit cards) and have to drive further to save some money.
Then later comes the trick of finding space to store the 50 cans of soup and 6 packets of cereal and two hundred rolls of toilet paper and two 5 litre bottles of oil.
Yes you can get some real bargains, but they sometimes quite obviously buy the end of a line that may not be best quality and sell it cheap (thinking TV's for example). I wouldn't go there for a mountain bike, but you can get a great cheap one for the kids. Some clothes are excellent if you like the style..Craghoppers for example.

They have a cafe. Chicken bakes are tasty but give me chronic indigestion, as does their pizza. However even Costco can't ruin a tuna baked potato.
Did I mention the queues?

I let the wife go with friends and avoid the place. Thank goodness for Waitrose.
Every morning the soul is once again as good as new, and again one offers it to one's brothers & sisters in life.

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OperaTenor
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Pisa-Carp
jon-nyc
Dec 5 2011, 12:16 PM
Is it mostly a grocery store? I kind of thought it was more of a walmart type place.
What JD said, plus less atmosphere than Wal-Mart. closer to Home Depot for atmosphere.

Groceries
Clothes
Books/Media
Electronics
Dry goods
Cleaning supplies
Tools/car gadgets & tires/batteries
Seasonal stuff(Christmas/Halloween/Easter/Summer[camping, gardening]/Home furnishings)
Office supplies
OTC and prescription drugs
Alcohol(including decent wine)
Cars(sometimes boats, too)

There are also roadshows that feature everything from pianos to jewelry to food processors to clothing.

I can't think of anything else.

The return policy *might* be outdone by Nordstrom. *Might*.


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OperaTenor
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Pisa-Carp
AndyD
Dec 5 2011, 12:29 PM
Jon, in the UK their warehouses have the soul of a cheap asian piano, and queues that infuriate.
You spend an extraordinary amount (no credit cards) and have to drive further to save some money.
Then later comes the trick of finding space to store the 50 cans of soup and 6 packets of cereal and two hundred rolls of toilet paper and two 5 litre bottles of oil.
Yes you can get some real bargains, but they sometimes quite obviously buy the end of a line that may not be best quality and sell it cheap (thinking TV's for example). I wouldn't go there for a mountain bike, but you can get a great cheap one for the kids. Some clothes are excellent if you like the style..Craghoppers for example.

They have a cafe. Chicken bakes are tasty but give me chronic indigestion, as does their pizza. However even Costco can't ruin a tuna baked potato.
Did I mention the queues?

I let the wife go with friends and avoid the place. Thank goodness for Waitrose.
Then things have changed in the UK. I was in Birmingham in 2005, and we stopped at the newly opened Costco to find me a new pair of shoes. It was the emptiest Costco I'd ever seen:

Posted Image
Posted Image
Posted Image
Posted Image

You can tell it's in the UK because they misspelled "Tire." :leaving:



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jon-nyc
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Cheers
Its not practical for me to buy a lot of stuff in bulk, I do live in NYC after all. Will it still be worthwhile?


And can I peruse the joint without buying the membership first? (which here is $55)
In my defense, I was left unsupervised.
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OperaTenor
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Pisa-Carp
jon-nyc
Dec 5 2011, 12:35 PM
Its not practical for me to buy a lot of stuff in bulk, I do live in NYC after all. Will it still be worthwhile?


And can I peruse the joint without buying the membership first? (which here is $55)
I say try it and see.

AFAIK, you can check it out without being a member. You can opt for an "Executive" membership which gives you 2% of your purchase money back at the end of the year for $100. You have to spend a bit of money there for that to pay for itself(ours does).


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Mikhailoh
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If you want trouble, find yourself a redhead
All you need to know about Costco is this: $300 of stuff you didn't know you needed when you walked in.
Once in his life, every man is entitled to fall madly in love with a gorgeous redhead - Lucille Ball
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apple
one of the angels
yes.. you should be able to.. or go w/ someone who has a membership. i buy in bulk.. nuts, seeds, olive oils, etc. I love it but i do a LOT of bulk cooking. lot of high end foodstuffs and snacks but you have to buy big packages. I go there about 6 times a year and spend around 200+ $s.
it behooves me to behold
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Nobody's Sock
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Fulla-Carp
Mikhailoh
Dec 5 2011, 12:40 PM
All you need to know about Costco is this: $300 of stuff you didn't know you needed when you walked in.
what he said.
"Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known."
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brenda
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..............
Never been to one. I just checked on-line and the closest one is 90 miles away. Too bad, because I think I'm part of the group that would really use a store like that.
“Weeds are flowers, too, once you get to know them.”
~A.A. Milne
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