Costco - worth the membership fee?
- Thread starter blujax01
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If you have a need for the bulk items they stock most membership stores can save you money. Just make sure you will use the membership and have room to store the 55 gallon drum of Kool-Aid your gonna get there.
feralmerril
Absent Comrade
I think its worth it if you buy strictly what you use a lot of. The flip side is you always buy a lot of tempting stuff you never planned on! I dont think we ever got out without spending at least $150s! If I lived near one I probley would go there for lunch everyday. I dig those polish dogs and all the soft drinks for $1.50!
Ogandydancer
Member
They cannot on the other hand refuse to let you use the pharmacy Member or NOT.
I've been a member since 1983 and joined at the first Costco on 4th avenue in Seattle. So, obviously for my wife and I it is worth it. You have to watch the pricing on some items, sometimes they are a bargain sometimes they are not. We make up for our yearly dues in coffee and bluejeans alone! If you shop there a lot and get the executive membership, your rebate may cover the cost of your membership.
Absolutely worth it. Forget the upgrade. Of all the Warehouse stores we like it the best. Clean, well stocked, bright, good "stuff".
Sams is just a big WalMart, Bj's has nothing I want and their prices do not seem low.
Costco has excellent food items, their meat is great. We buy bulk paper goods, laundry, dish soap , coffee etc. I just bought a Yamaha AV receiver and a a LG TV.
We buy pork loins, chicken, beef, divide it up and freeze it. No you do not buy a whole cow.
Return policy is basically no questions asked anytime.
You can go as a quest to check it out without paying anything. If you find you like it, sign up and spend money.
Sams is just a big WalMart, Bj's has nothing I want and their prices do not seem low.
Costco has excellent food items, their meat is great. We buy bulk paper goods, laundry, dish soap , coffee etc. I just bought a Yamaha AV receiver and a a LG TV.
We buy pork loins, chicken, beef, divide it up and freeze it. No you do not buy a whole cow.
Return policy is basically no questions asked anytime.
You can go as a quest to check it out without paying anything. If you find you like it, sign up and spend money.
BaldEagle1313
Member
I just renewed mine - it's $55 now. Gas at Costco is 20-25 cents a gallon cheaper than the Shell or Chevron by my place. For me it doesn't take that long to cover the cost of the membership just in fuel savings. I haven't seen the need for the upgrade. It used to be that the upgrade got you in the warehouse an hour earlier - but not anymore.
I admit it is possible that on some occasions a better food deal can be had at the supermarket on a loss leader product. Soft drinks in particular. But for lunch meats and bread (good bread, not that 99 cents a loaf garbage) Costco has the grocery store beat.
The clothes they have are of good quality - men's jeans just had a price increase, though. From $12.99 to $13.99. The only real drawback is that a lot of their men's pants stops at XL. If you've a waist greater than 42 you might be out of luck. At least I can get a dress shirt in 18-1/2 by 36 for under $20.
The last pair of eyeglasses I got there cost less than the COPAY I had when I had vision insurance. So yeah, I like Costco.
Now for the disclaimer. Costco has their home base in the Seattle area - they're everywhere up here. I live in between two Costco locations, either of which is about a 5 mile drive. Not particularly onerous. One is newer has more parking so that's the one I go to. Yours may not be quite so convenient for you to get to.
I admit it is possible that on some occasions a better food deal can be had at the supermarket on a loss leader product. Soft drinks in particular. But for lunch meats and bread (good bread, not that 99 cents a loaf garbage) Costco has the grocery store beat.
The clothes they have are of good quality - men's jeans just had a price increase, though. From $12.99 to $13.99. The only real drawback is that a lot of their men's pants stops at XL. If you've a waist greater than 42 you might be out of luck. At least I can get a dress shirt in 18-1/2 by 36 for under $20.
The last pair of eyeglasses I got there cost less than the COPAY I had when I had vision insurance. So yeah, I like Costco.
Now for the disclaimer. Costco has their home base in the Seattle area - they're everywhere up here. I live in between two Costco locations, either of which is about a 5 mile drive. Not particularly onerous. One is newer has more parking so that's the one I go to. Yours may not be quite so convenient for you to get to.
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IndianaDave
Member
We have the same problem as feralmerril ! I go in there to save money and spend $150 for stuff that seems like a great idea at the time. If you can shop with some discipline you'll get some good deals.
Retired LTC USAR
US Veteran
It's a shame they don't/can't sell ammo............wonder what kind of a deal that would be, if any????
Florida Guy
Member
As a retiree, and living 2 miles from Costco, I have lunch there 2-3 times/week.
I just like to get my exercise by walking all the aisles, instead of in the impossible FL sun.
Sometimes items are marked down in price so they can dispose of remaining inventory. Good deals to be had there if that is what you need/want.
Large screen tv's are often marked down $200-$500. If there's no rush, don't buy one at full sticker price, because next week it may be marked down.
The question asked about Executive Membership: it saves you 2% on all purchases, and costs $110 instead of $55.This is for big spenders. And if you don't save the $55 difference during the year, they refund the $55 extra you paid, so there's nothing to lose.
I just like to get my exercise by walking all the aisles, instead of in the impossible FL sun.
Sometimes items are marked down in price so they can dispose of remaining inventory. Good deals to be had there if that is what you need/want.
Large screen tv's are often marked down $200-$500. If there's no rush, don't buy one at full sticker price, because next week it may be marked down.
The question asked about Executive Membership: it saves you 2% on all purchases, and costs $110 instead of $55.This is for big spenders. And if you don't save the $55 difference during the year, they refund the $55 extra you paid, so there's nothing to lose.
labworm
US Veteran
I have a membership with BJ's which is about the same as Costco. Certain items I like to buy in quantity, paper towels, toilet paper, toothpaste, socks, etc. and save $$ doing so.
So for me it works, and if you are buying for the family I think it is a pretty good deal.
So for me it works, and if you are buying for the family I think it is a pretty good deal.
Garland
Member
- Joined
- Aug 29, 2010
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- 159
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I love Costco. I have the executive membership which gives me back 2% and that more than pays for the membership cost. The overall quality level of goods at Costco is very high, but some things are a better value than others. Their return policy is awesome. They also automatically give an extended warranty on computers and TVs. I am glad to live 5 miles from one, but I would drive an hour or more if I needed to.
BaldEagle1313
Member
When Dad was still with us, he'd go to Costco on a Saturday when they're doing all the food samples in seemingly every aisle, and he'd have his lunch for free while doing his shopping and get to try new foods to boot. Sure it wasn't a big lunch, but it was enough for him. Me, I'm in line for the $1.50 Polish dog and soda.
The Washington store get to sell whiskey come June! They also sell cigarettes.....now if only we could get Kirkland brand ammo, we'd have a trifecta!
BaldEagle1313
Member
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Specifically a friend is considering getting hearing aids and they are 1/3 the cost of quotes he got elsewhere. He was told they're the same as name brand but with the Kirkland private label.
I'm tempted to jump in because I need them too. A $4000 savings would be terrific but I'm a little leery...
I'm tempted to jump in because I need them too. A $4000 savings would be terrific but I'm a little leery...
We've been members, off and on, over the years.
Pros: Got an absolutely fantastic ribeye steak there (in California) a couple years back at way under market price. Another time (in Hawaii) got five outstanding fresh trout. My wife likes it for the low cost of vitamins and such. Got a good deal (in Japan) on an inexpensive home theater audio set up.
Cons: Most stuff you need to buy way more than you can conveniently use.
Not sure if we will renew or not. My wife makes these sorts of decisions in our household.
Pros: Got an absolutely fantastic ribeye steak there (in California) a couple years back at way under market price. Another time (in Hawaii) got five outstanding fresh trout. My wife likes it for the low cost of vitamins and such. Got a good deal (in Japan) on an inexpensive home theater audio set up.
Cons: Most stuff you need to buy way more than you can conveniently use.
Not sure if we will renew or not. My wife makes these sorts of decisions in our household.
I, singlehandedly, comprise the entirety of a one person household, so find that the industrial-size packaging of lots of COSTCO stuff is too much of a good thing (I want to keep my garage and other storage areas jam- packed with tools and sporting goods, not a years worth of TP and etc.), but I'm sure that even if I had to pay $55 for an annual membership, I'd be money ahead, given their low prices on gasoline, liquor and wine, coffee, vitamins, office supplies, etc.
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I can tell you first hand, after a LOT of research I went with COSTCO hearing aids.. service was great .. backed by COSTCO.. the audiologist is a COSTCO EMPLOYEE not a lease space company.. all in all I saved just a little over half price.. and I went for ALL the bells and whistles including Bluetooth for phone and TV..
It all depends on what you intend to buy. I have found better deals on some things elsewhere and not so good deals elsewhere.
They will let you take an unescorted walk through the store to see what they have and compare prices.
We just let our membership lapse because we found better places to shop and actually saved money.
What really burns my butt about big boxes stores is their inability to stock the same items consistantly. Just when you get used to something, they quit carrying it.
They will let you take an unescorted walk through the store to see what they have and compare prices.
We just let our membership lapse because we found better places to shop and actually saved money.
What really burns my butt about big boxes stores is their inability to stock the same items consistantly. Just when you get used to something, they quit carrying it.
