Costco Members?

blujax01

blujax01

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Luscious and I bought a Costco membership last night and they do have some good prices. I don't see any problem getting our membership fee back in savings but I would like to know if they have any "super sales" or "special deals" or things like that.

Does the stock rotate? I found M&M's but no Hershey Kisses, which I thought odd at the time. Is it going to be like shopping Big Lots in that you never know what they're going to have available?

Those of you that are or were members, is it worth it? Do you stay in the club or were you "one and done"?

It's not like I won't be in the area all the time. Aside from the fact that Costco is a short drive, they are across the parking lot from Cabela's!;)

Thanks,

~ Alan
 
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Blu,

Been a member for years and it pays for itself in spades IMHO. Especially if you buy TV's, etc. Costco gives you an additional year of warranty (2 years) with Tv and electronics. Additionally, the cost of the electronic was considerably less (for exact same big screen) and extended warranty (yr. 3-5) was about half of Best Buy pricing. They have a lot of online only stuff. Don't worry, they will notify you, on a quite regular basis, of "specials".

I reccomend them. Going there this morning.
 
Aloha,

Consider yourself Lucky to have Cabelas

Hawaii does not have Any Bass Pro, Cabelas, Gander Mt or similar

There is only me and the Wife and 3 dogs.

We find it worth while to shop at Costco and Sam's Club.

You just have to know your prices.

Both do not always stock what you want.

They do send you coupon booklets with monthly specials.

Living in Hawaii, we tend to stock up because they may not have it again for a Long time if ever.
 
In general, they are just a bit higher end than Sams Club. They have a bit better selection of frozen food items. Fresh meats are about the same, though I favor Sam's by a small margin. Clothing is probably a notch above also. Costco has better "grazing". The Mrs. says the produce is better at Costco. With either one you have to be sure the large quantity packaging is something you can use. The electronics prices are pretty good, though they both tend to carry only higher end items.
 
I have Costco and Sam's club memberships. I buy gas at Costco and it save a bit as the Mrs' T-bird runs on premium. I stopped buying tires at the clubs though; the tire manufacturers make the club tires in batches and then don't make them again for a while if ever. If you need to replace one or two tires, you can't get them to match what you have. Places like Tire Kingdom and the like buy stock tires that are made for a long time, sometimes for years. Matching them is no problem. The cost difference is minimal, working out to ten or twenty dollars more for a full set of four. The service and warranties are better too.

Russ
 
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A 15 year member here and I get most of my bulk dry goods and food stuffs from them,better selection,better service and the membership extends to the 3 branches in Montreal who stocks some of the best meats,cheeses,baked goods not available in the US.
I stock up every trip before heading home.
 
Been a member since they were "PRICE CLUB" - Used to spend a LOT of money there, but not so much any more. Buying in bulk is great, but not if half of it goes to waste. With just the two of us now our purchases have been way down. Kerry Gold butter, milk and meat along with some fruit is mostly it. They carry what they can get the best price on. Their gas runs about a nickel cheaper than the curren market as well. Lot of deals online as above-- All and all a pretty good deal, but not always the best deal in town. As with everything else, you need to shop around. One thing that I still cannot figure out, why they stopped carrying saltines?? I don't worry about tires as I have 'tires for life' on my Frontier, which I am now on my 3rd set :)
 
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We like it the best of all the warehouse stores.

Yes, they get different items in at times.

Yes, that have sales some times, you get a flier in the mail and no longer need to clip a coupon, it's shown on the aisles.

Consumer Reports rates it the best of all them.

We had Sams (glorified WalMart and no "store" brands)
BJ's is next to usless (IMHO) their prices are not that good.

Costco has the best meat, really better than or best Grocery store It's close to butcher shop quality.

Well worth the membership, we go maybe once a month things like Electronics, paper products, laundry soap, kitchen staple items and the best pork, and beef.
 
sipowicz said:
I love Costco. I still have 20 gallons of mayo from the 55 gallon drum I bought back in 1984.
Click to expand...

Which reminds me of a joke I will not under any circumstances even attempt to relate on this forum...:D
 
Costco's not a bad place. I just can't bring myself to join cause one of the owners hosted his royal highness at his house for a $1000 a plate last year!:rolleyes::eek:

Buying in bulk is fine if you use it. We never did other than T paper and coffee. If you have a big freezer then it might be worth it. ;)
 
I keep a premium membership at Costco and a business one at Sams. Costco trends more towards "home stuff" and Sams towards "garage stuff" meeting in the middle at food :)

IF you don't get your savings back to cover the difference for your premium membership, Costco will reimburse it. Their AMEX card and their cash-back check generates 2-3 times the cost of the membership for us on top of the purchase savings.

The warranty and return policies are awesome, used to be better until the gimme generation screwed everyone by returning perfectly good/working electronics every year for a "free upgrade".

I like going to Sams at 7AM on a Monday (and other days) to pick up discounted meats. Besides, there's usually a Super Walmart nearby for the ammo hunt.

Gameday snacks at Costco are my Saturday hunt. Great gourmet selection on cheese, pickled herring, sausage, olives/... and the artisan breads are great.

SADLY (from a "what we have around us perspective"), the two have the best baked goods around.

Gas is a no brainer at either.

Some stock is "regular" and some rotates. Each local manager also has "control" over a small percentage of the inventory so there is "local impact". Sams will do price mark down on seasonal purchases. Got my all stainless steel Honda self propelled on just such a deal many years ago for the price of a cheapo starter mower :):):)

I think you get it! I love the two places and in equal but different ways ;)

I have my paycheck split 3 ways and sent to Sams, Costco, and Cabelas.

blujax01 said:
Luscious and I bought a Costco membership last night and they do have some good prices. I don't see any problem getting our membership fee back in savings but I would like to know if they have any "super sales" or "special deals" or things like that.

Does the stock rotate? I found M&M's but no Hershey Kisses, which I thought odd at the time. Is it going to be like shopping Big Lots in that you never know what they're going to have available?

Those of you that are or were members, is it worth it? Do you stay in the club or were you "one and done"?

It's not like I won't be in the area all the time. Aside from the fact that Costco is a short drive, they are across the parking lot from Cabela's!;)

Thanks,

~ Alan
Click to expand...
 
Look for a * on the product/price sign for each item. This indicates that item is being discontinued. If you happen to like that product then stock up. Love Costco, have been a member since 1984 when it was Price Club.

KAC
 
We don't have Costco in OKC. I've had a membership at Sam's for years & in general I like it. You definitely have to watch prices & quantities! They are bad about dropping a product for no apparent reason. I guess the bean counters dictate what is stocked.
 
I buy all my gas from Costco. Consistently $.20/gallon cheaper than the Shell & BP across the street!
 
Not sure I really need to add to what's been said, but I've been going there since they opened the first one in Seattle back in the early 80's. $55 a year is more than paid back just on gasoline. If gas at the Chevron and Shell around the corner is $3.89, Costco will be around $3.63. Save 4 bucks a tank and get two tanks a month and you're $41 ahead for the year without even going inside the door. Although I'm not real happy that it's all 10% ethanol year-round rather than just in the winter

I'm lucky - there's one 5 miles south, and another one 5 miles northeast. I don't have to go out of my way to get there - I'll drive past in the course of doing normal errands or work. I do admit that if I go to stock up on things other than just getting gas I'll go first thing Saturday or Sunday to get ahead of the crowd. In when the doors open, done 20 minutes later. I know people who go Friday afternoon at 5 and it takes them forever. Yes, it's on the way home from work that way but holy cow, I'd make the extra 10 mile trip. The extra 2 bucks in gas is worth it.

Selection is variable. There are certain core products carried at all of them, but individual stores have discretion as to what to carry. If there something you want to see, mention it. You may not get it, but you might if you aren't alone in the request and it's something they can get.

Clothing is good quality but if you're a "Big n Tall" fella you're not going to see as much selection. Really good quality meat, if you have enough people to eat it right away or enough freezer space. Cheese and butter are cheaper than a grocery store by an order of magnitude, but milk isn't. A two-gallon pack of milk is $4.99 and Safeway has gallons for $2.49; a penny cheaper for two gallons. Go figure.

I don't want to come off as an evangelist or anything, but in my opinion the money spent on the membership is well-spent.

And Kanewpaddle is right. The owner/founder definitely leans left. We're never going to see ammo there.
 
I joined back when it was Price Club, but finally let my membership expire last year. We just don't need to buy in bulk for the two of us, and I've noticed their prices don't seem to be as good as they once were. Even their tire prices have gone up to the point I can pretty much match them at the discount tire dealers now. Add to that the fact our local Costco is out of our way and we had to make a special trip whenever we wanted to go, it just wasn't worth it to us. They still offer good deals and warranties on TVs, but I just don't buy TVs that often.

I always wondered why they don't offer a senior or "retired" membership to people like us who don't shop in bulk. The $55 annual membership fee we save now buys a lot of stuff at the local Wally World, and I no longer have to worry about storing those drums of mayo.
 
I keep a membership just for the price of eye glasses. Red Rice yeast is cheaper there.
 
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