Other National Chain Store ~ Question: Costco ~ Is it worth it?

[aimeers]

I have to admit I am spoiled as my in laws purchase our membership every year. If they were not purchasing it for us I would still be a member. Hubby and I purchase alot of big & small items there such as phones, tables, dressers, outdoors items such as bike trailers,clothes, photo's & more. There is so much more then food and the return policy is awesome ( you can return ANYTHING but electronics when ever you like with out a recipt). They also try to be green. We also have the AMEX and get money back on gas (3%) and everything else we get there is 1% back, so it is a great deal.

[TsPlace]

We've been a member for years but this past year I have noticed that we have shopped less at Costco. The prices on gas though is great! We went into Costco today to see the price on their ground beef and we found ourselves doing the math and bargain shopping - we walked out empty handed as we knew we could get in on sale cheaper at our grocery store - Martins!

[elizabethm]

I heartily second the poster who spoke of Optical. I get single vision lenses, decent frames with Transition lenses for under $130. Try to get that at BJ's - I did and was quoted $297.

Organic spinach $3.99, dry roasted almonds multi-lb. jar for under $10, organic eggs for $5.50 - $6.50 for 2 dozen (depends on what brand they have that week), huge thing of Dole salad mix for a few dollars, etc.

It all depends on your needs. My membership pays for itself in spades with the Optical department alone.

[bayjay]

I live right across the street from Costco. I buy all my gas there. I remember when I first started shopping there, I was buying individual cheese sticks for my lunch. The money I was saving just on the cheese sticks as compared to the grocery stores helped pay for most of my membership.

We have certain things we always buy there.

Meat. The quality is much better than the grocery stores.
Toilet Paper
Paper Towels
Bread
Milk
Cheese
Olive Oil
Chips/Crackers
Cat Food
Cat Litter
Beer/Liquor
Generic Pepcid/Zantac

I agree about the optical. My husband saved a bunch of money on his glasses and contacts.

Also, you can get new video games for less than the regular stores, since the stores don't often put them on sale. ITunes cards can be purchased for less than face value. Paperback books are about half of what you'd pay at the bookstore.

I also purchase our office supplies at Costco. Since I have the executive membership, I get 2% back on most purchases. Buying stuff for the office helps bring that percentage up at the end of the year. I think I got $86 cash back last year, so that paid for all put $14 of the $100 executive membership.

There are some things that I can buy with coupons cheaper than Costco, but for those items I can't get cheaper, I will pick them up there. Our grocery stores around here don't have the greatest deals.

I have a Sam's Club card through work, and have used it from time to time, but I find that the quality is much better at Costco. The prices are comparable, but a lot of the brands are different. I don't buy meat at Walmart and I doubt I'd buy it at Sam's.

I love going in there just to shop around. My husband has been doing all of the Costco shopping lately, though, and I haven't been able to just go in and look around. Sometimes it's great just to browse all the new products. I've even picked up some Christmas presents there.

[hansonfan]

I love Costco. My perscription is about $10 a month cheaper than WalMart. My husbands contacts were about $20 cheaper than Walmart.

Just last week I purchased 8 2-liters of Diet Coke, 5 gallons of milk, 2 loaves of Sara Lee bread for $25! It's great! I recently purchased a Sam's Club membership, but I have not used it yet.

[castocreations]

Originally Posted by TsPlace We've been a member for years but this past year I have noticed that we have shopped less at Costco. The prices on gas though is great! We went into Costco today to see the price on their ground beef and we found ourselves doing the math and bargain shopping - we walked out empty handed as we knew we could get in on sale cheaper at our grocery store - Martins!

Since I started using coupons and since I found HCW I've found my Costco trips have reduced DRAMATICALLY. Like I haven't been there in almost two months now!!! I can get everything so much cheaper (or free) with coupons, rebates, and sales.

Like Electrasol. We'd been buying it at Costco but I just got 9 boxes for a total of $0.81!!! Making each Electrasol pack $0.0045 each! ROFL No way Costco can beat that.

But we keep paying for our membership for the gas ... I did figure it out that we save more than the membership fee so it is worth it for now.

[Whispered]

hi guys, i have a ?, I'm single... so would
Costco really be that great for me?
My freezer is small and I don't have one of those big ones, to store things in.. live in an apt..
Plus its like 10 miles from my house.

I find all the furniture and stuff i need, at thrift stores, garage sales, craigs & by the garbage bins.. really lol.. OUTSIDE of them, like i just got a huge 8 ft long , 5 ft wide
iron couch (actually a futon) FREE..it was just
sitting there..
I was soooooo happy!! Bc now i can buy whatever pillows I want to go w/ it.

I HATE cooking, so i don't cook anything..

so i really don't see that Costco would be that great for me... agree... disagree?

I'm doing really good at wags and cvs.. etc..

thanks all for your thoughts :)

[gingersnap61]

We've kept our Costco membership and do get gas there when we are in that local area but not very often, maybe 1 time a month. We have our auto insurance through Costco so we need to keep our membership. We use to shop at Costco about 2 or 3 times a week and always seemed to spend at least $150.00 or more each trip. We buy tires for our car there and get that service there and we are happy with the prices on tires and we take our perscriptions for eye glasses there too and can't get deals on new glasses that cheap any where else and the quality is always great. Well since I had our son 3 years ago I quit my job and decided that since I do all our grocery shopping we had to cut way back on many things and I discovered coupons and joined a few sites and get things so much cheaper when things are on sale and I love the buy 1 get 1 free deals and use coupons and even use double coupons for even extra $'s off. I don't buy paper towels or toilet paper or even diapers there anymore and finding much better deals at grocery stores or drug stores like Walgreens and Rite Aid. The last time we walked into Costco we walked around and looked at everything and ended up just getting dinner there which is a great deal to get a hotdog with all the fixings and a drink for only $1.50. We walked out empty handed and realized the prices were just way too high on the many things we need and the temptations of buying other things was too great every time we went to Costco. We might buy wine and beer there. So our shopping trips to Costco have dropped way way down to maybe once every 3 or 4 months. It really doesn't matter how large your family is so buying in large bulk doesn't always save you money like you think. I know you can save when you bargain shop and use coupons.

[Hevvymama]

Husbo used to call Costco "The 200 Dollar Store." Since I have learned how to coupon, and pay more attention to these things, I can tell you that Costco is like The Force; it is powerful when used for good, but beware the Dark Side!

Make a list; and don't stray. Take cash for only what you need. Do not be tempted by things that are cool. There will be a lot of these things. You do not need them. Repeat this to yourself as you push the giant cart past the giant pile of cool things.

Buy romaine; three-fitty or so for enough to feed Romanian Army. Have salad every night for a week and feel smart AND skinny.

Buy gourmet cheese. Trust me, if you are a foodie, this place is a steal. Meat and seafood are excellent.

I'm a pastry chef, and I stock my kitchen at home with staples from Costco. No, not THAT kind of staples ("Mommy, why are the sprinkles stuck in my tongue?"); you know, like flour and crap. Uber-cheap. Also, huge deal on heavy cream, butter. Hopefully also Slimfast, dang...

What else? Gas. Oline, I mean. Prescription meds (as you may have guessed, I have lots o' these!). Bottled water. Paper products.

Most other items, I know I can do better. I keep a record of prices on stuff here, and just because something comes in a 50-gallon drum does not make it a deal. I look at the per unit price right on the taggy and most of the time I can find a better deal elsewhere.

Still and all, I loves me some Costco. We do go and have the cheapest family meal humanly possible at the snack bar after stocking up on water and toilet paper, although we may not be hungry after The Sampling Gauntlet.

I say, go for it. Just listen to Obi Wan!

[pumello]

Originally Posted by Hevvymama Husbo used to call Costco "The 200 Dollar Store." Since I have learned how to coupon, and pay more attention to these things, I can tell you that Costco is like The Force; it is powerful when used for good, but beware the Dark Side! Make a list; and don't stray. Take cash for only what you need. Do not be tempted by things that are cool. There will be a lot of these things. You do not need them. Repeat this to yourself as you push the giant cart past the giant pile of cool things. Buy romaine; three-fitty or so for enough to feed Romanian Army. Have salad every night for a week and feel smart AND skinny. Buy gourmet cheese. Trust me, if you are a foodie, this place is a steal. Meat and seafood are excellent. I'm a pastry chef, and I stock my kitchen at home with staples from Costco. No, not THAT kind of staples ("Mommy, why are the sprinkles stuck in my tongue?"); you know, like flour and crap. Uber-cheap. Also, huge deal on heavy cream, butter. Hopefully also Slimfast, dang... What else? Gas. Oline, I mean. Prescription meds (as you may have guessed, I have lots o' these!). Bottled water. Paper products. Most other items, I know I can do better. I keep a record of prices on stuff here, and just because something comes in a 50-gallon drum does not make it a deal. I look at the per unit price right on the taggy and most of the time I can find a better deal elsewhere. Still and all, I loves me some Costco. We do go and have the cheapest family meal humanly possible at the snack bar after stocking up on water and toilet paper, although we may not be hungry after The Sampling Gauntlet. I say, go for it. Just listen to Obi Wan!

This is hilarious, I nodded and laughed through the whole thing.