Du'ers who are Costco members, how's that working for you?

[raccoon]

I'm thinking of joining.

Pro: Car buying service
I'm careful with my money.


Con: I live alone, and if I buy, say, paper products, in bulk, I don't have much room to store the stuff. I don't have room to store the stuff I have now.

I'm going to check out my local Costco soon.

[Chasstev365]

1. Love it!

[Justice]

2. Love costco

I use it for certain items that can be stored like paper products, water, laundry stuff, cleaning supplies. Don't buy much food.

[Skidmore]

20. We do this too but also

bye staples like rice, sugar, spices.

[RKP5637]

3. I wish one was closer to me. I used to belong a long time ago, but where I am now it's

about a 40 mile plus trip one way. I've always thought highly of Costco.

[hlthe2b]

6. Yeah.. untill a year or so ago, the nearest Costco was more than an hour away

I'd pre-plan a trip about every couple of months, but it was a real hassle.

Now, only about six or seven miles away. YEAH!

[RKP5637]

7. Great!!! I keep hoping they'll open one down this way, but probably not enough people. n/t

[Awsi Dooger]

96. Same...I'm now a member of BJ's only

Costco relocated a few years ago and is now many miles further away. Hardly 40 miles like your case but BJ's has two stores considerably closer than any Costco, so it was an easy choice.

I slightly prefer Costco but no big deal. BJ's is fine. I split the $50 membership fee every year with a relative.

BJ's takes manufacturer coupons and often I can double up with a manufacturer coupon plus the store coupon. Plus they accept every credit card.

[RKP5637]

100. Interesting to know! Thanks! n/t

[Lars39]

4. If you take Zyrtek or Allegra daily, the Kirkland brand will essentially pay for the membership.

[RKP5637]

12. Kirkland is a great brand and far cheaper. I get it off eBay or Amazon, because Costco is

way too far for me to go to. The drugstore price for Zyrtec is absolutely outrageous. If Costco was near me I would go there. The cost savings are tremendous.

[Lars39]

14. Our store is about 30 minutes away, but I don't get there that often.

Which might be a good thing.

[TeapotInATempest]

17. It really will

I buy the Kirkland brand Allegra for myself and my kids. It saves a whole lot of money.

Combine that with what I save on buying Sensadyne toothpaste and Oral-B toothbrush heads there and I save...almost enough money to justify all the impulse purchases I make at Costco.

I love that store.

[Lars39]

19. My latest find was nice 20 dollar beach chairs!

And I discovered you can freeze grapes.

[TeapotInATempest]

21. Nice!

It's true, you never know what you'll find. Makes it a bit dangerous for me to go there.

[StarryNite]

95. Grapes are awesome when frozen!

They make for a nice, cool, healthy snack!

[raccoon]

25. I buy Sensodyne too--that would be a help. nt

[Hekate]

87. Yes indeedy

[csziggy]

122. Exactly - I save more than enough on ZyrteK to cover my membership

I only go about three or four times a year - in fact I think I'll be making a trip tomorrow morning. I have to plan ahead and make my lists carefully so I have the storage for the things that are good deals

In addition to the Zyrtek generic I get a lot of our supplements and analgesics there.

I like the Kirkland coffee and the organic frozen vegetables in the big bags. Their fresh vegetables come in too large of containers for just the two of us but if I plan ahead and make freezer space I can get some good deals on meats.

Most of the bulk stuff is in too big of containers - I got some wonderful organic black rice once but the flavor was not right for some things and it took over a year to use it up. That is too long to store rice for me so I won't be getting it again even though it was good. I wish their long grain brown rice were in smaller containers!

I love the Kirkland no salt spice/herb mix and get some other condiments and spices - but only those I use a lot of like cinnamon.

My last two digital cameras came from the Costco website - Fujifilm "point & shoot" with nearly DSLR settings and tremendous zoom lens.

[Lars39]

125. The list of good stuff is way too long!

I'll have to check out the no salt spice/herb mix. Thanks, csziggy!

[csziggy]

128. I think they will let potential members wander around the place

So you could go, take an hour or so to look at everything, then decide on a membership or not. Take note of what you could use - and what you could use before it goes bad. The hardest choice is whether or not the size is too large for your family to use.

I have a good sized freezer and like to keep it stocked - leftover from the days when it was fifteen miles to the nearest grocery and I didn't have time to go shopping every week. Now that both my husband and I are retired we have more time to shop - although my other interests still keep me busy enough to not want to.

Oh - I left out their cashews - they are great! Last winter I bought unsalted ones and made spiced cashews - used a recipe for spiced pecans. They were fantastic!

[Lars39]

135. Oh, I'm a member!

I'm just always on lookout for good ideas. My upright freezer needs filling.

[csziggy]

137. Same here - I've been using up stuff in my freezer

I found a pack of chicken (roasted and cubed chicken breasts) that was over eighteen months old! It was still good but...

Anyway, I am nearly out of the older stuff so it's time to start re-stocking. I usually try to reduce the freezer content over the summer then refill it when meat is cheaper in the fall. We're going on a trip in two weeks so after we get back I will get serious about it.

For instance, that chicken? For a while I was getting packs of skinless boneless chicken breasts when they were buy one get one, bringing them home, sprinkling some of that Kirkwood seasoning on them then roasting them. Cool them down, then cube and pack into two cup containers. Instead of buying chicken tenderloins like my sister does, for a quick meal I thaw out one of those containers, cook some rice or one of those Knorr flavored noodle packs, add a bag of steamed vegetables, maybe some cheese or sauce - and there is a full meal. Actually for us that will make three or four meals.

I'll get a chuck roast, slow cook it with some onion and mixed vegetables. Meanwhile I roast potatoes, carrots, and onions. When the roast is done, cool it, cut it up, portion it and the vegetables into several one quart containers, and freeze. One roast with vegetables will make three or four of those containers, each of which is two or three meals for the two of us.

I do a LOT of pre-cooking. I thought about getting a sealer thing, but most of my containers are re-use - butter tubs, sherbert tubs, etc. and they have been re-used for years.

The bad thing is for stuff my husband doesn't like - for instance I have a container of corned beef and cabbage. He won't eat it so I end up having it for days while supplying him with alternatives. That's OK - I love corned beef and cabbage!

[Lars39]

140. Ohhh, all that sounds great!

I've got a food saver and finally figured out I could buy the bags cheaper on line. It's great for sealing meats and single servings of soup for husband's lunch. My mil will give us something out of her freezer sometimes...3 or 4 years old is not uncommon.

[hlthe2b]

5. I love Costco...

I found a way to store paper towels and other bulk products on slim, lightweight free standing shelves that I put on the stair landing leading down to my basement. Works great.

While I have a Sam's club only a couple of miles from my home (yeah, Sam's-Walmart, I know I know), I think Costco carries better quality items, particularly those under their KIRKLAND brand. I remember a study on (fake) extra virgin olive oils and they concluded that California extra virgins were the real thing and gave Kirkland brand kudos for quality. That got my attention. Their dogfoods also get good reviews.

I also frequently buy their pre-cooked turkey breast that is free of all those additives (e.g., nitrates) they usually pack into them. Freeze half of it and use the rest for summer salads.

I bought my most recent router (netgear) at about $30 under what Amazon wanted for it.

Costco treats its employees well, too.

[greymattermom]

8. I love it

I go with my daughter and buy frozen wild caught fish. We share it. I bought all the liquor for her wedding at Costco, and I'll get myself a present when I get their rebate coupon. I keep the extra paper products in my garage.

[Zorro]

9. Gas prices are usually the cheapest in the area

Products sold by Costco are typically high quality.

Great prices on electronics they stock.

Cheap and delicious whole roasted chicken.

Been a Costco member for a couple of decades and don't regret it.

[Awsi Dooger]

98. Costco has Top Tier gas

That's great. Added detergents and recommended by Consumer Reports and elsewhere. The cheapest gas typically is not Top Tier.

I'm a BJ's member. Their gas is not Top Tier. It's the one major annoyance I have as BJ's member compared to Costco.

My older car is really running smoother once I switched to Top Tier only about a year ago.

[Timmygoat]

10. Great

I love Costco, I love all the employees at my Costco, customer service is great, products are great as well as the outstanding prices,
the gas prices are the lowest I ever see, and being of the older generation, very time I pull up at the gas station, one of the attendants immediately comes to see if I need help. My daughter purchased a car through Costco and was delighted, she is now
loyal to Costco.

[Squinch]

11. Love it!

Nice surprise that I didn't know about when I joined: got my eye exam and glasses there for a fraction of the price I would have paid elsewhere. Who knew? That alone paid for my membership for a few years.

I don't buy the fresh fruit and vegetables there because there is too much packaging and too much. How many peaches can you eat before they go bad? But for non-perishables and meats and stuff that can be frozen, I love them.

Also, the Kirkland brand is surprisingly high quality. As an aside, a few months back DU had an article on the fake extra-virgin olive oils. Brands you'd trust like Bertoli and Colavita were found to be fake. Kirkland was genuine.

And they are good to their employees.

[Hekate]

90. My MIL had her hearing checked and bought her hearing aids at Costco, too.

[Squinch]

92. And I just heard they have car rentals in some places.

[jonno99]

152. I bought my eye-glasses at Costco - 2 pairs cost half of what I would have spent at

the local "Lense-Crafters".

[leftynyc]

13. I love it and also

live alone in an apartment. The only paper products I get from them is the Charmin - my linen closet holds that pretty easily. I use Costco for ground turkey (4 1-pound packages), their rack of lamb is excellent and so are the small, thick Australian lamb chops - you get 8 and I package 2 together. You don't have to buy a cart full of stuff every time you go to make it worthwhile.

[SonofDonald]

15. Big freakin pizza for $10 and lots more

I've been a member since around 1990, I've bought food, tires, car batteries, the works, the Kirkland brand is great stuff, you can walk in and get a huge hotdog and a soda for $1.50, sure beats yucky D's, big flat screen prices are great but I do wish they'd kept the in-house warranty program instead of the one they have now.

I've never had any issues with purchases there in nearly 27 years, not a one.

[TreasonousBastard]

16. When they opened one up 3 miles away from me, the sign-up lines were huge...

Now the parking lot is close to empty aside from holiday times. It did annoy me that you had to buy the membership before you could go in and see what they had, but the reputation sold me on the place. I already had a BJ's membership card, so figured why not.

Prices were often higher than BJ's and usually more than the local supermarkets and discount stores sales prices. They did have one of the best bakeries around here since Waldbaum's closed, but that was about it. The house brand was often pretty good, but everyone has a house brand.

Lots of clothes, but limited choices. Wal-Mart, KMart, and Target were just down the road and Tanger outlet stores were across the street for the good stuff. Lots of $3,000 TVs and Swiss watches, but how many of those do you get a week?

I live alone, too, and I didn't renew my membership because it was just another place to spend money I didn't need to. I wouldn't say don't join, just don't expect it to be the be-all and end-all.

[shanti]

99. Actually

You don't really need a membership card to go in. Just tell the person at the front that you're buying liquor. You don't need a membership card to buy liquor. Then feel free to browse all you want! That's the way it is here in California. Maybe your local laws are different...

[TreasonousBastard]

141. Here the liquor store is separate. State liquor laws do get bizarre.

[brewens]

22. Love the place. I don't have that much storage space either, plus a smallish refrigerator.

I make room for stuff I use a lot of. Like the toilet paper, 15 packs of tuna, burger, stuff that you just can't get a good deal on quantity or quality anywhere else. I think I have three items or so, any one of which pays the cost of membership all by itself.

[procon]

23. I love it, but I had quit them.

The food quantity was just too much for two people, let alone a single person. The packaged food items just kept getting bigger, like growing from 6 cans of veggies to 8, then 12, and things were starting the run past the self dating. Sure, I filled up the freezer and the pantry was bulging, the closet was stuffed with enough TP and LED bulbs to stock a fair sized hotel, and there are still gallons of unopened cleaning products.

I just didn't need 3 huge bottles of tylenol, or an industrial sized container of hand lotion, or a case of paper plates. We could not physically consume 2 gallons of milk, 3 lbs of margarine, 5 heads of lettuce, or a case of kiwis, before it all spoiled. I even tried dehydrating cases of fruits andd veggies, but the workload outweighed the benefits.

Costco sells top quality products, and they have a lot of things I could use if they sold it in smaller quantities. Another issue for me, I don't always want to pay top dollar for something as common as a broom or a doormat, so many of their products were not useful purchases for our needs. The choices are limited and sometimes they rotate out. It took a big chunk of my time and energy to push around those big, oversized, heavy shopping carts and navigate around that huge warehouse. Plus, the effort to load all those large, heavy packs in and out of the car and then lug them all into the house was exhausting.

They will let you in to look around before you join, so go take a walk through and see if you will actually be able to benefit from paying to join and buying huge amounts of the things that you really need.

[SharonClark]

45. I agree but

It's a good place to buy bulk items for parties and their cakes are the best in town.

[procon]

70. Depends on how many parties you tend to host.

Even though we love our families and dear friends, we couldn't afford to generously wine and dine them very often. I'm getting cheaper every year, and just skipping the Costco membership fee will pay for a few custom cakes, or for me and the Mister to chow down at a nice steak place, or buy the fixin's for a great family BBQ on the patio.

I've found alternatives to Costco in a local supermarket that has a real inhouse bakery and they make the best pastries and artisanal breads, beautiful and yummy custom cakes, even gorgeous wedding cakes. Others have a bulk products sections with smaller packing, and larger pacts of meats, and I do buy from them when they have the things I want. Despite missing a few Costco things -- love their institutional size tub of cream cheese and those monster blocks of cheddar! -- the economics for just two people made the savings in cost, waste and time an easy decision to quit Costco.

If they ever went back to smaller packaging, I'd consider returning.

[Wounded Bear]

24. Member here, and similar situation...

There are a lot of things that don't apply. When you live by yourself, it doesn't make sense to buy lettuce by the crate, for one thing.

Oddly, I don't buy many paper products there. But I can usually find good value on coffee, real 3 pound cans for less than 10 dollars. Brands vary, so if you are in love with a particular brand you may be disappointed, but all box stores have that problem.

I do breakfast cereal there, too among other things.

For about $45 a yr, it's not too bad if you're careful. I joke with my brother how it's difficult to get out of that store spending less than $100. I've kind of trained myself so I can go once a month for around $40-60 for what I need and want.

I can recommend it.

[k8conant]

35. I go for the coffee and toilet paper mostly and sometimes olive oil or chocolate syrup...

we really like the Kirkland !00% Columbian Coffee.

As several others have said, the bulk items are too much for the two of us, although I occasionally buy ground beef patties or steaks and split them up and freeze.

We also bought a small tv there a couple of years ago.

I buy gas if I need it. (The Costco I usually go to is in Winchester, VA, about 30 miles from my house on the Blue Ridge in West Virginia, so I go after I go to church in Winchester)

[Wounded Bear]

65. Have no prob with the K-brand coffee...

but it's not always the cheapest. They usually have Yuban and Folger's, too, and I'll just grab the cheapest from that group.

Bought my TV there, too. Usually don't buy gas there. One prob with CostCo is that they don't take credit cards, other than their in-house one, so I have to use my debit out of checking. Kind of limits what I can do most months.

[cannabis_flower]

78. They take Visa cards.

[Wounded Bear]

89. That must vary with location...

last I checked, the only card they took where I shop was an in-house AMEX card. I don't go that often, and most of my cards are kind of distressed already anyway.

[shanti]

101. They changed up

No Amex now, just Visa.

[Wounded Bear]

130. Guess I should check into that...

thanks!

[wryter2000]

81. Mine takes all Visa cards now

But I use the Costco one so I get money back.

[k8conant]

154. They take VISA now.

Just sayin'

[Javaman]

26. Costco is great.

they pay a living wage and treat their employees with respect.

if you shop wisely, you can get stuff in bulk that will last a while and not clutter up your space.

we shop there about twice a month.

[workinclasszero]

27. I hear Costco treats their employees well

Wish I could get a job there lol

[HopeAgain]

28. Meh, good for some stuff..,

If you always buy brand names and never generics, can go through large quantities or buy stuff you can store, then you might save some money. But if you are interested in savings, you'll do much better with a place like Aldi's or buying generics.

Also, you need to be vigilant... not everything at Costco is a deal.

If you are an impulse buyer, stay away.

[58Sunliner]

29. Costco is great for clothes too. I buy all my tennis shoes there. $20.00, on sale for $14.99.

Tires too. Batteries also. I saved the cost of our membership on a car battery and I know they will back the warranty. Another great item is their prosecco. It's good and only $6.99.

[Not Ruth]

30. There is a current $60 promotion on Groupon for new members

Same price as at the counter, but extras.


1-Year Costco Gold Star membership (primary cardholder + one free household card)
$20 Costco Cash Card
Exclusive Coupons ($35.63 value)-that means freeeeeeee
Paper Towels Create-A-Size (12/160 Count)
VitaRain Zero Flavored Water (24/20oz)
Food Court Whole Pizza
Note, coupon item value may vary by Costco locations
$25 off $250 Orders on Costco.com
$75 Costco Cash Card twoards Costco Travel (Caribbean, Costa Rica, Europe, Hawaii, Mexico, or the South Pacific (excludes cruises)

[sagesnow]

31. For Gluten Free items like bread and pizza

it's the best. The savings on Gluten free items pays for the memebership. That and cheap gas. Our family stocks up on the paper items and shares them between two households. I also use their digital photo printing service. I would recommend it.

[ehrnst]

32. You might go in on a membership with a friend

with similar tastes.

You shop together - and split up the bulk items like pasta, paper products, canned items.

[HAB911]

33. We like it, but be aware

unlike Sam's Club (Walmartians) they pay a living wage to their employees, so prices are higher than SC. I recently refereed a Republican friend there and they came away not pleased with the prices.

I can't seem to get across to them that SC is more expensive when paying for their employees to be on food stamps because they don't pay a living wage and SC uses the county sheriffs as security which we pay for also.

[renate]

44. wait... what?

It sounds like Sam's Club gets free security services on the taxpayers' dime. Or am I misunderstanding?

[HAB911]

59. Yep

http://www.tampabay.com/projects/2016/public-safety/walmart-police/

Sheriff’s deputies in Hillsborough, Pasco and Hernando counties were called to individual Walmart stores more than to any other location — by far. The same went for police in Largo, Pinellas Park, Tarpon Springs, Dade City, Plant City, Brooksville and Port Richey. For authorities in Pinellas and St. Petersburg, Walmarts were the second busiest locations.
Officers logged fewer than 500 calls for violence, drugs or weapons. They took roughly another 7,000 calls for potential thefts. An even bigger category was general disorder, everything from suspected trespassing to parking violations, lost property and people sleeping outside stores. Those roughly 9,000 calls consumed hundreds of hours of officers’ time, but resulted in just a few hundred arrests.

Many businesses paid a lot more in property taxes than the local Walmart but were much less of a burden on police. The Tyrone Square Mall in St. Petersburg, for instance, paid nearly four times as much in taxes as three nearby supercenters combined. Still, the mall attracted fewer police calls.
Officers know Walmart is such a regular trouble spot that they routinely show up without being called.

They simply hover around stores and parking lots to avert further issues, providing even more taxpayer-funded crime prevention. The Times found 6,200 of these unsolicited visits on top of the 16,800 other calls.



Walmart’s Food Stamp Scam Explained in One Easy Chart

http://www.jwj.org/walmarts-food-stamp-scam-explained-in-one-easy-chart

[MariaCSR]

34. QUESTION: Has any one used Costco's Travel services?

If so, how is it? Do you get good travel deals?

[Not Ruth]

56. I use it for car rentals, consistently the best deal, with zero effort

The savings on a 4 day rental in SF next month more than covered the $60 membership

[OriginalGeek]

58. Sort of

It's been several years so I don't remember the details but I rented a car through them once. I flew to Maryland and picked up the car at the airport and it was cheaper than the regular public Hertz or Avis site (can't remember which one but it was one of the big name car rental places).

All I remember for sure was I was impressed by the price and ease of use and if I ever need to rent a car again I will use them again.

I know people who book cruises through them but not sure if it's enough of a savings to give up control of your booking - I like to book through the cruise line websites and they will talk to me if I have questions. If you book through Costco you are using them as your Travel Agent and cruise lines (well, Carnival anyway as that's all I've done) won't deal with you directly if you booked with a TA. Any issues or questions must go through the TA and you have to hope they handle it.

Now, thousands of people every day have perfectly good trips that are handled by their TAs and they love them and that's fine. I just prefer to go though the website and then use my PVP (A personal vacation planner - they are like Travel Agents but they work for Carnival and are a level above the random customer service agent you'd get by calling the 800 number.) I look at the site and figure out what cruise I want, pick my cabin and then call my PVP and he makes it all happen.

As long as everything is normal, you don't need either TA or PVP but if you want to make changes or something comes up there are so many rules and penalties to deal with it's nice to have someone inside who can explain things and get you the best deal and make sure your needs are met.


I've looked a couple times for flights and what-not but I don't remember ever seeing a deal better than just booking with Southwest straight up and I don't fly enough to really know if it would be useful to go through them over the long haul.

But man I love their cheap lunch - I eat there a few times a month just because it's cheap and pretty good. Bottle of cold water from the machine for a quarter (I usually spring for 2 lol) and a couple slices of pizza or a hot dog or both and it's still cheaper than even the McDonald's across the street.

Kirkland beer is usually a good deal too. I don't LOVE it but it's good for stocking up the beer crisper when you know folks are coming over. I've read that their liquor is often good name brand with a Kirkland label on it but I haven't tried it yet.

[PasadenaTrudy]

64. Car rentals

It's the only way I book cars now. Very easy to book and cancel if need be. A lot of times I book a car months out, then as my trip time gets closer, I check and see if the price has come down. You can cancel and rebook in minutes.

[rurallib]

138. Daughter has - she got a couple of great deals

both on her motel and on the car rental.

[kanda]

150. car rental

I wanted a jeep on a recent trip to Maui. The best rate I could get through my AAA membership was around $1300--I think it was with Enterprise or Dollar--can't remember. Anyway, I ended up going through Costco's car rental and paid half that. Haven't tried their other travel services, but definitely worth looking into.

[GreenEyedLefty]

36. We like it

We go about once every 6 weeks. Staple items are TP, paper towels, laundry detergent, canned tuna, non-fat Greek yogurt and salmon. I got a nice fall jacket for $20 over the weekend.

We rented our vacation car through Costco and the savings paid for our membership several times over.

[Sancho]

37. Love it...

The pharmacy is cheaper than my copays on insurance. Eyeglasses too...

We are an older couple, so we don't need massive bags of flour either, but we save a lot at Costco. Gas, Lactaid milk, electronics, etc.

The company pays fair wages, and they fit my liberal corporate model better than Sam's Club.

We can't be happier with Costco.

[BSdetect]

38. The so called car deals are a con really.

You can do better on your own.

[riverbendviewgal]

39. Used the truck/auto $1000 discount 3 times

In 5 years. So save $3000.

Love the samples. Bought kitchen and bathroom flooring for less price anywhere else. Love the baked goods. I separate and freeze when I bring them home. There is only two of us. I live a 3 hour or 4 hour drive so don't get to Costco often. It is worth it. Clothes are great.

I may buy winter tires for my car this year. Propane for bbq cheaper as is gas for car. Love the change of stock each season. I got my happy lamp there at a great price. Hearing aid batteries are cheaper too.

Returns are accepted without question. I just wish one were closer.

[Gothmog]

40. I love Costco

[MurrayDelph]

41. We're there twice a week (at least)

The quality of the food is higher, and the prices lower than either of the two supermarkets in town.

We use their pharmacy, and the non-prescription prices are lower than the markets.

And when traveling, I keep track of the Costco gas stations along the route, as they are consistently lower-priced for Top-Tier gasoline (and usually cheaper than the bargain, non-Top-Tier stations).

[A HERETIC I AM]

42. For me, the savings on whole bean coffee alone pays for the membership

Basically half the price I pay at my local grocery store, even though it's a 40 mile round trip to the nearest Costco.

It looks like they're building one closer though, but either way, there are plenty of much cheaper staples (Sugar, rice, flour, etc.) that make it worth it.

Invest in a small chest freezer and buy your meat there. Chicken, beef, New Zealand lamb.

I've got one of these and it is perfect for me;

http://www.sears.com/magic-chef-magic-chef-mcuf3w2-freezer-3.0-cu/p-SPM8901978429

[Ilsa]

43. Love it. $4 chicken ceasar salad, big enough to split.

Sales are beautiful! I buy coffee, hot dogs, 88% lean beef, chicken, ground turkey, paper goods (watch out for Dixie and other Koch brands!), bulk stuff, much much cheaper. Seasonings, rice (many kinds), baking goods, are all usually much cheaper, as are peanut butter, etc. But every day prices are usually better, and sales prices are awesome!

The only thing I don't typically buy a lot of is fruits and vegetables there, because the bulk purchases won't be consumed quickly enough.

[spanone]

46. they treat their employees right, it's a pleasure to shop there.

[renate]

47. I was going to say that I like not having to comparison shop, because I trust the quality

I know that they genuinely care about bringing their customers value for money.

The one exception (not to the value-for-money thing but to the comparison shopping thing) is food. I live near a Winco, and the prices there are rock bottom. I still think that Costco food is a very good deal compared with most grocery stores', but I generally find that I pay the same at Winco without having to buy in bulk.

And sometimes you don't need real quality, like (as someone mentioned earlier) with a broom. I'd rather just get a cheap one than a really good one for a fair price. But if I got the fancy broom, I'd know that I was getting the best broom that that amount of money could buy.

Costco is the best.

[hamsterjill]

48. Love Costco, but wish they hadn't stopped taking American Express

Personal pet peeve. I shop there for quite a bit of stuff, including paper products and some pet food. The Kirkland brand of dry cat food is actually well thought of as a good, middle of the road food.

I haven't ever been impressed with the "outside" membership possibilities, like the auto stuff, the insurance stuff, etc. I have always done better than what they offer.

[Johnny2X2X]

49. Do your homework

Here's what I've found. Come with a list of things and don't stray. Big ticket items are good deals at Costco. Tires, eye glasses, TVs, other electronics, are things you can get incredible deals on.

Bulk food is hit or miss for deals, if you're not good at math, bring a calculator to find out what you are paying per ounce/ or item. Pre-made food at Costco is often a terrible deal, $20 for a pot pie that is pre-made will feed 2-3 and is an awful deal (although they are delicious).

Do your homework and come into the store with a plan. Costco is a great company too, they pay fair wages and benefits.

[Nevernose]

50. I wouldn't join if I lived alone

I was a member for a single year, 15 years ago, when it was just me and a 7 year old. It was way too expensive, given what I was making at the time, and the bulk items were so bulk that I only ever needed to go but twice during the entire membership.

I've since been remarried and the kid has moved out. We still go, but just the two of us barely cover the membership, unless we buy a big ticket item. Car rental is cheaper, though, and the car buying service is a godsend for those of us without the inclination to haggle.

The kid and her boyfriend joined, though, primarily because Costco has way more vegetarian selections than our regular grocery store.

[Joanie Baloney]

51. I love it too

Maybe you can split a membership with someone else and you can share the paper products, bigger items. The meds alone are worth it and any specials are incredible. I just bought a 2 pack of all-weather, huge outdoor pillows for $6. And most of the fresh food can be frozen.

Good luck!

-JB

[Flaleftist]

52. I love it.

They have some great deals, but I do most of my produce shopping somewhere else. I'm not going through 5 heads of romaine lettuce before it goes bad. I get canned goods, dog food, meats, coffee (I like their Blue Mountain blend. It doesn't taste like real Blue Mountain, but for the price it is pretty good).

[marlakay]

53. There is just my hubby and me

My goal is to break even with credit end of year vs cost to join but I always get more. Now that I have a costco visa which I use for my main visa and pay off monthly even more.

We use it for gas, pet food, our food which we break down and freeze or buy frozen fruit for smoothies, we do buy paper goods but we have garage to store.

We wait till things go on sale to buy and get even better price.

I love them and feel good shopping in a store that treats employees good and every one I have been in they look happy to work there. We have moved quite a few times in past 20 yrs so used Costco's all over. They tend to buy what the area likes. My area now is very organic so Costco here sells a ton of it. The ones close to Seattle sell the homemade cheese from the market. West coast ones sell Salmon from Alaska.

And they actually listen to you, I filled out a form in the Wenatchee one when I lived in WA asking for turkey bacon because they had none. Few weeks later they had it.

But if you are using for car buying only I have read mixed reviews that sometimes you can get better price with cash. I recently looked into it because we are thinking of buying a Prius.

[cilla4progress]

104. Hi Marla Kay! Where are you now?!

😁

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

54. I like Costco, but as you said, the down-side is the size

of the packages of stuff. I buy paper products (towels and TP), and some other things like socks, miscellaneous casual clothes, and some housewares. Since I also live alone I get their food only if I have room in the freezer for it, or maybe to bring to a pot-luck. I didn't know they had a car-buying service.

[CountAllVotes]

83. Some times its better to pass on stuff like that

There is a WINCO where I live and their prices beat COSTCO time and time again and you don't have to buy mega-quantities of stuff.

COSTCO is ok for some things but if you are a one or two person household, it might not be such a great idea to shop there.

Who needs 10 lbs. of something that normally you might buy 1 lb. of? It paves the way for a lot of stuff ending up in the garbage can I've noted.

[VermontKevin]

55. Love it and the people who work there. Top notch, as is the travel.

[dembotoz]

57. perscriptions make it worthwhile for me....pay less than insurance copay

plus insurance wants 30 day refills, costco 90
cost justified right there
very close buy like neighborhood grocer near by

go there for a gallon of milk
have a friend who has no membership...she uses mine....we hang out a bit...grab a hot dog....worth it

[TheBlackAdder]

60. I don't go there anymore. Became a CVS extreme couponer. Save anywhere from 75-90% off goods.

I'm a Top 1% Shopper there.

Here's some examples:

Crest Toothpaste, the Diamond White stuff $1.00 - $1.50 4oz tube.

Listerine $1.00 for 1L andf $1.50 for 1.5L bottles.

Shampoo (Pantene, Garnier, etc.) $1.25 - $1.75 a bottle.

Cereal (Kelloggs, General Mills, etc.) $0.75 - $1.50 a box.

Contact Lens Solution (top brands) $3.75 - $4.50 a 10-12 oz bottle.

Edge Gel Shaving creme $0.50 - $1.50 a bottle.

Name brand makeup, for my daughters (Maybeline, Cover Girl, Almay, etc.) $0.50 - $4.50 for whatever (eyeliner, foundation, etc).

Nail polish $1.00 - $2.50 a bottle.

[trixie2]

61. I was in the same spot as you

Not much storage area and wondering about the products.

I finally sat down with a list of my usual purchases and got online to see if they even carry what I buy. Example: I love Propel water but only the berry flavor. My local Costco only carried a variety pack so this would not work for me.

My neighbor has a membership and I tagged along one day. I did not see one thing to buy. But that's just me. She was enthused about the lunch counter, but with my habit of clean eating, I didn't get anything.

It works for some people and not for others. I would suggest perusing online to their products, tagging along with a friend or reading this article and others like it.

[lindysalsagal]

62. You're gonna need space, but I love their fish and vitamines.

[HipChick]

63. Single, their wine selections are excellent and great prices...purchase a freezer though..

I had to...

[ghostsinthemachine]

66. Love it

Cheese and coffee.

[Binkie The Clown]

67. Was a member for many years, but...

...a couple years ago I let my membership lapse.

I live less than 2 miles from a warehouse-style, employee-owned grocery store that has prices as good as, and often better than Costco (which is 6 or 7 miles away), and I virtually never buy "big ticket" items where the savings would matter.

There was a time when I found it worthwhile, back when I had three kids and a wife at home, but my kids grew up, moved out and took their pets with them, and my wife long ago passed away. Now I'm retired and single, and even some of my grandchildren are grown up and out on their own. So I no longer have any need for truckload quantities of cat food or frozen foods. I hung onto the membership for a good 30 years(!) after I really needed it. Why, I don't know. But the last time it came up for renewal I realized I had only gone there 2 or 3 times in the last several years, so I didn't bother to renew.

I would say it's a good place for bargains if you really need large quantities, but living alone, and living a pretty minimalistic lifestyle, I just don't need it any more.

[obamanut2012]

68. Love it!

Just me, and it paid for itself really fast. Great blue company, too.

[EllieBC]

69. I love Costco.

Paper products, diapers (have 2 kids still in them), baby wipes, cleaning products...we save a lot there. Yes it's a pain in the ass and it's a huge huge store and you have to go at the right time of else you'll be in a line up forever but it's worth it for us because 3 kids.

[PAMod]

71. Love it

Photo printing
Meat & fish
Party/picnic supplies
Avocado & olive oil

I could go on - definitely worth the $55

[voteearlyvoteoften]

72. Good for organic

Esp frozen organic fruit. Also good breads cheap and they can be frozen. Kirkland products very high
Consumer Report ratings for batteries, dog food and more. Gas discount @10 cent per gallon. Rotisserie chickens huge and @4.50. Enjoy

[lucca18]

73. We go to Costco on a weekly basis and it's just the two of us.

Their organic spring lettuce is great, along with the organic strawberries and berries.

If you need a last minute dinner idea, you can always pick up a roasted chicken for only $3.99!

We also bought a couple of great beach chairs.

There was a robbery that occurred last Sunday. A group of people rushed into Costco, smashed the jewelry counter and made off with all the jewelry!

[ismnotwasm]

74. I get a membership through a family member who is employed there

He has a great job, with great benefits BTW. Costco is great if you buy in bulk, but it has a lot of just about anything. If you have a freezer and like to cook, it's great.

[hunter]

75. As others have noted, dog food, generic Allegra, eyeglasses, and tires.

Costco does all sorts of minor eyeglass repairs for free, and their new glasses are less expensive than most other opticians here in California where opticians are licensed. Certainly it's less expensive to buy eyeglasses on the internet from places where that's not the case, but I've not done that.

Their tire business is no-nonsense. You buy the tires, they put them on. Their sales people don't get commissions for selling you other services like brake jobs or mystery brand tires made god-knows-where at highly inflated prices. On the other hand, they won't do anything that's not factory spec. If you want to put undersized or oversized or underrated tires on some wheels you bought at a yard sale, they will respectfully decline your business. If you are buying only two tires they will always put those on the back.

Of the four star and above rated dog foods their Kirkland house brand is among the less expensive.

I know nothing about their car buying service. Our family cars cost less than a $1000 each.

[WhoIsNumberNone]

76. Don't go for the Gold membership

It pays 2% back, but costs twice as much. I've done the math, and you have to spend $2750 there each year before you break even on the extra membership cost. That may work well for people with several other mouths to feed, but it's not so easy spending that much on yourself.

One other thing to think about; You can take your friends in there with you, and you can split stuff up afterwards (Do you really need two giant bottles of ketchup?)

[Wounded Bear]

91. It's an individual question...

I don't go gold because of what you point out. I don't spend that much there for the perks to be worth it.

Everyone should do the math, much like any spending on something like this.

[MariaCSR]

155. Thanks for that advice.

[Thunderbeast]

77. Great place for glasses too

I was shopping for eyeglass frames at the local Costco. The man standing next to me was also looking. He shared with me that he was a lens maker for an HMO in the area, but it was significantly less expensive for him to buy his own glasses at Costco! They also have good prices on hearing aids, but their selection is a bit limited.

Try the Bean Burgers! I am not a vegetarian, but these bean patties are REALLY tasty!

Great meat market too. We fill the freezer with local (Foster Farms) chicken and pork chops. Frozen salmon burgers are a delicious fast meal.

[Caliman73]

79. Overall a positive experience.

You might consider cost and product sharing. The prices are comparable to supermarket, maybe a little cheaper. If you have friends and neighbors you could always make a list of items that they need and split the cost and the product so that you don't have to worry so much about the storage.

They have really good deals on glasses, hearing aid batteries, and many other products as well. You can buy a car, plan a vacation, buy appliances and computers. Lots of stuff under one roof.

[wryter2000]

80. Love Costco!

I haven't used them for insurance, so I can't address that. You'll save lots of money on things like eggs, butter, and mayo - lots of staples.

You will have to exercise self-control when you pass all the wonderful merchandise, but it sounds like you can do that.

The quality of the cheeses is outstanding! I don't buy beef anywhere else.

[David__77]

82. I appreciate Costco.

I like the product selection, and I also like that the individuals working there don't occur to me as totally beat down.

[ProfessorPlum]

84. I'd recommend it

great quality stuff. It might be a little difficult shopping for one person, but you'll more than make up the membership fee very quickly.

I also like that they treat their employees so (comparatively) well.

One thing that is puzzling is how many right wing books they always have for sale. i've never been able to explain that in light of their labor-friendly leadership.

[ProfessorPlum]

85. Ive been a Costco member since 1992.

wow.

[Hekate]

86. Good employer, good quality, good prices, good neighbor. Generous return policy, too.

I buy all my husband's clothes there, since he'd be in rags if I didn't. One year I piled my cart with long sleeve shirts in every color and 2 sizes, let him choose which fit, and took back everything else with absolutely no hassle. Time to do it again.

The only caveat: the sheer volume of food in each package. If you're not shopping for a big family or the company picnic, learn to be very judicious in what you choose to bring home.

The prices on nearly everything just cannot be beat. Recommended.

[mvd]

88. I just joined this year

The pros:

- they are a good employer
- can buy things in bulk, saving money in the long run on those products
- some of their dinners that you heat up are good
- can get glasses, hearing aids, and use the pharmacy
- very clean restrooms in the one I go to
- hot food eating area is convenient

The cons:

- a bit limited in selection - I thought they would have more popcorn brands
- as a single person, the quantities of many items may be too many
- eating area doesn't have many healthy choices
- have to shop regularly for the membership fee to be worth it

Personally, I am glad I joined.

[mvd]

93. some more

Positives: gasoline prices are good, special services like appliances

Negatives: no bagging, store hours are a bit short

[Egnever]

114. Huge possitive you forgot

You can return almost anything besides electronics virtually forever.

[mvd]

145. Good one - thanks for mentioning

[WhiteTara]

94. I've been a member for about 25 years or so.

I don't live next to a warehouse, but I order on line. I share the membership and cost with my niece and one of the things I buy regularly is coffee. High quality coffee beans are between $6 and $8 a pound. with free shipping. Just one of my reasons.

[Warpy]

97. What I like best is their frozen fish

I live in the desert southwest, and it's the only way to get good ocean fish. Costco buys fish that is flash frozen as soon as it is caught and cleaned, right on the boat. It's also the only place in town to buy dried mango.

Like you, I have no place to store 36 rolls of toilet tissue, so I don't buy that. However, their Kirkland products are superior, everything from cookies to cleaning products.

Costco has been a decent deal for me because there are things they sell like the fish that you just can't get elsewhere in this town. You do have to buy things in bulk, but if they are the things that last, like canned goods, light bulbs, and soaps, they can be very good deals. I bought a small freezer to hold things like fish and the occasional too good to pass up deal on cheese, butter, or frozen foods.

The best thing to do your first time there is to walk the aisles and see what they sell (almost everything) and make lists of things you could actually use so you'll know what you can get there.

[DonaldsRump]

102. Our experience with Costco has been fab

The car buying service saved us thousands of dollars (as far as I can tell).

Costco's prices are generally excellent. Spotting loss leaders (ever why wonder why the $4.99 roasted chicken is in the very back of the store?? To make you walk all the way through, and probably buy things you never even contemplated when you came in the store).

If you have discipline and don't get tempted with everything you see (sometimes hard for me), it's a real deal.

[Lebam in LA]

103. Find one or two people to share the bulk items with

When my daughter and her mate lived close we shared the bulk items, paper towels, T.P, cases of canned goods etc.

[shanti]

105. What's not to love about Costco?

I'm single, and usually only go once a month, right after payday, but it's worked great for me for over 20 years, and it's only about 2 miles away. My last big purchase was a 52" Samsung teevee for less than $500, but I've gotten great tires there, as well as prescription glasses and a fridge. Got a great deal on a super knife set on sale for $20, all stainless steel. Have purchased clothes, shoes, accessories too, especially children's clothes (I have 4 grands).

Good deals on rotisserie chicken, fresh mozzarella balls, San Francisco Bay brand coffee, macadamia nuts, paper goods, butter, eggs much cheaper in bulk (I eat them every day), english muffins, cat food/litter, kirkland vodka, salmon. If it's in bulk, I will separate and freeze for individual use. Been doing that for years.

Can you tell I love Costco? lol The membership more than pays for itself.

[gademocrat7]

106. I love Costco.

Have shopped there for years. Paper products, frozen organic foods and coffee. Also good price on gasoline.

[Liberty Belle]

107. Love it, been a member since it was Price Club before it was Costco

here in San Diego where it got started.

It's great for groceries on nonperishable items or that you can share. For instance I'll go with Mom and divvy up larger items. It's awesome if you have parties and need cheap deals on things like appetizers in bulk. I love a few goodies like the smoked salmon -- cheapest and best around.

I've bought dog beds, towels, clothes, books, kitchen items, holiday decor, tires, rugs, and weekly grocery items there among other things. You can even buy discounted gift items such as discount gift certificates to restaurant chains or See's chocolates. I've known brides who got wedding flowers from Costco!

It's also good for tire service, electronics, some furnishings, small appliances, clothing, books, and the occasional specialty items that make each visit a "treasure hunt." The items tend to be good quality and the return policy is the best.

Costco once really went to bat for me the only time I ever had a bad experience. I bought a new tile cleaning product advertised on TV as safe for colored tiles. When I used it on my kitchen counter it left bleach ring marks. The manufacturer wouldn't help so I brought photos to Costco. Their legal dept. called the manufacturer and told him to buy me a new countertop, which they then did.

Costco also has deals on big ticket items such as solar, travel, etc. though I haven't used it for that. There's also a pharmacy which will pay for your membership on its own if you transfer expensive prescriptions there, probably.

They pay their employees fairly and give to "blue" candidates, too -- yet another reason why I support them and would never shop somewhere like "red" and despicable Walmart.

[Liberty Belle]

108. You can also order through Costco.com online - great way to have bulky items delivered

Such as barbecues or patio furniture, and still get a good discount.

Also good if you don't have a CostCo in your town for just stocking up on every day supplies such as paper products or petfood.

[TheDebbieDee]

109. Awesome, awesome, AWESOME food/deli!!!

[Initech]

110. Their optical department is alone worth the cost of admission!

[DFW]

111. My brother in the States is a member

He regularly takes me along with him for at least one visit to Costco when I visit. Absolutely great place. I always test the weight limit for my suitcases when I head back to Germany because of all the stuff I load up on at Costco. Certain things we take for granted in the USA are just not available in Europe, or if so at hugely inflated numbers. Something as banal as Neosporin is not available over the counter in Germany, and Costco has packs of four tubes for under $13. Other items like pecans, maple syrup, spices, suitcases, are sometimes incredible bargains. I once bought a pair of Samsonite suitcases there for $160 that I swear would have cost three times that at a discount retail outlet.

Living in Europe, I don't have a really good handle on how much one saves by shopping there, and how many people are in your household obviously determines how much in the way of savings a membership provides. But my brother is not a poverty case, and he makes the 45 minute trip (one way) a couple of times a month to load up on things for his household.

[DavidDvorkin]

112. It's great. I love it.

[Egnever]

113. Wife will not consider moving anywhere there is not a Costco.

If that tells you anything.

[MontanaMama]

115. No brainer. Get a membership.

We have an Executive member ship for our business. We buy supplies for our shop and for our home and the check we get back at the end of the year more than pays for our membership. We pay for memberships for a couple of our full time employees too - it is a nice perk for them. I often order paper towels, toilet paper and other such items from Costco - shipped to my shop for free!

If you wear eyeglasses, their optical department is excellent and prices are a fraction of what you'd spend at a specialty eye wear store.

Costco carries a huge amount of organic food items (4 billion in annual sales) and the price point is great.

Costco treats there employees well. I know folks who have worked there for years who are very happy.

Costco has a very liberal return policy. I've returned anything I haven't been happy with without any issue. They are SO easy to deal with.

Travel! Renting a car is WAY less expensive through Costco....even less expensive than AAA. I've not booked flights or hotels yet but plan to do so in 2018 for trips to Australia and Hawaii.

Learning what to buy and not to buy based on your needs and storage capabilities is key and takes a little practice. We're a family of only 3, without a lot of storage space but sometimes going in on a membership with a friend or buying in bulk together works well.

[flt rsk]

116. Membership not required for pharmacy

You do not have to be a member to use the pharmacy or get glasses. Apply at the membership desk and get a card or pass for use only at those desks.

[Jane Austin]

117. I'm widowed, but it's still great.

I had a hard time adjusting at first, but I bought a bunch of Ball glass jars (pint-sized)and plastic lids for them.

When I open anything with several servings, I just put serving-sized amounts in those jars and freeze them. I always have delicious and healthy food on hand that way.

If you don't have a separate freezer, you'd be surprised at how (relatively) cheap small ones are. It really cuts down on shopping trips and on eating stuff that isn't good for you.

I freeze cheese, soup (their chicken/tortilla soup is my mainstay), leftovers, vegetables, mushrooms - before they go bad just microwave for a few minutes and freeze in ice cube trays. Pop them out and store in sandwich bags. Add them to any and every thing.

That huge bag of organic frozen broccoli isn't so big once you microwave it and freeze it in jars.

They have some wonderful things and if you plan a little it's well worth the membership.

[HipChick]

118. Great Ideas...Thanks....I struggle with their Spinach bag

[taught_me_patience]

119. Complete waste of money for an individual

and the shopping experience is an absolute abomination.

[Jake Stern]

120. For a single person it's iffy but for a family it's a great deal

Last edited Tue Aug 1, 2017, 05:13 PM - Edit history (1)

Baby supplies and paper especially. We buy hamburger and divide it into 1 lb portions. Same with roasts and steaks. Their package of chuck roast can be divided into 4 portions and frozen and steaks frozen in packages of two.

My partner and our son LOVE fruit so those big clamshells of blueberries, strawberries and pineapple chunks don't last very long.

And we get the Kirkland version of Claritin at a great price.

[Warren DeMontague]

121. Love it.

Plus, they're a good, progressive company that treats their workers well.

[Jane Austin]

123. Price is secondary for me. Quality is first.

Costco has quite a few things that are simply exceptional that I can't get anywhere else.

The fact that the prices are great is just a bonus and means I will buy them there.

No one has mentioned their croissants. I can only eat them occasionally, but they are yummy. I freeze them individually.

Premier Protein shakes are 30 grams and delicious. So much cheaper than other brands and they have more protein.

I recently bought their chicken meatballs to serve with masala sauce. Delicious, and easy to store in jars.


One more thing. I love their toilet paper and love that it's cheap.

I beat the storage problem by leaving most of it in the trunk of my car until I need it.

[Blindingly apparent]

124. If you live alone, there are some things you shouldn't buy from Cosco

Don't buy bread for me unless you could ever good preacher. Never buy cereal, spices, or coffee. You will probably not get through them before they are stalemate they

[barbtries]

126. i like it

but we don't use it as often as we should. mostly for big shopping trips. like hundreds of dollars. otherwise it's too far away to just drop in when we have several grocery stores within a minute or 2. also now that my son works at Target, we can get an extra 15% off there.

i'm debating whether to pay up again this year. i did not get my membership $$ back this year, that's how rarely we shop there.

[YOHABLO]

127. I was at the Costco in Fairfax VA last week .. Sockeye Salmon was great and a good deal too.

Love Salmon. Everything is a good deal there. Some great wine selections too. I live in a part of Atlanta where Costco is way to far to drive to. We have Sam's and Walmart .. eech.

[HipChick]

131. Which one...Chantilly or the one nearer Fair Lakes..

Annoys me that they have them so close together...

[Doreen]

133. Oh yes, I love their sockeye salmon also.

[DBoon]

129. We love but no perishables

We joke about coming home with a pallet of muffins

[Doreen]

132. I have been a member for about 20 years.

I had it when I was alone then while married and now I am alone again and still have it. I just got back from going of course I forgot what I meant to get ( Alfredo sauce ) but hey I got my Nutella and mini wheats that both the squirrels and I enjoy. I do buy toilet paper, paper towels laundry soap, dryer sheets, cleaning products and staples that last me a long time. I used to get their cant litter but the quality went down and got to dusty.

I have a very small apartment but I am good at packing in what little room I have to store that stuff.

It is worth it to me.

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

134. Costco is great.

I don't buy food there so much as clothing, household items and I used the Costco connection for a recent car purchase. It saved me money!

[bluecollar2]

136. Worth every penny...n/t

[maveric]

139. You can get. 1/4 lb, Hebrew National hot dog lunch for under $2.00.

Free onions and kraut. Sometimes the wife and I go there just to eat lunch.

[peacebuzzard]

142. This thread helped my decision to not join or even go there

I am single and buy what I need for dry stock at the local grocery stores. I also use Aldi for great weekly deals. Whole Foods for special products.
I have no need for mass quantities, neither do I consume animal products.
Just have one older cat on top premium food and a small rescue dog on a special vet food. Dog came with GI issues.
It is interesting to see what DU people stock as consumables.
Costco makes no sense for me. Thanks for this post.

[LAS14]

143. Can't believe there weren't more replies re their social conscience.

I wish I had a link. Some years ago I read an article about how Costco's success was heavily influenced by how it treated its workers. They pay a good wage with benefits. This results in low enough turnover and low enough pilferage to pay for those expenses. I make it a point to urge my friends to choose Costco over BJs and Sam's Club.

And then, of course, there's the savings and the quality and the extras. We got great insulated shades through Costco. Way big savings plus a great warranty.

Shop for hearing aids everywhere, but buy them at Costco.

Get your glasses at Costco.

[Generic Brad]

144. Awesome!

I used my membership to book a luxury travel package and saved thousands (and I get a $120 Costco gift card out of it when I return home). This past weekend I bought two pairs of bi-focals and the savings of that alone made my annual membership worth it. I buy $100 worth of gift cards to restaurants I normally go to for $75.00. I get all my gas there since they give me 5% back in rewards when I use my Costco Visa card. I get 3% back on restaurants & 2% back at Costco with that card. And I like their paper products, soap, and other bathroom supplies.

I don't buy everything there, but I feel I really get my money's worth every year.

[Blue_true]

146. Try finding a neighbor and working out a buying agreement with them.

Charities no longer take anything that has been opened, but will take unopened bottles when you have to buy a case.

[mountain grammy]

147. I love the Kirkland brand, never had a problem

Love the food samples, go for supper, Friday evenings and Saturdays are best. Good selection of organics.

[worstexever]

148. We love Costco

Unfortunately, I had to quit drinking the hard stuff a couple of years ago, so we still have a few handles of the five-time distilled Kirkland vodka on hand...in case anyone comes over. Good place to buy mayonnaise, meat, cheese, eggs, fish, you name it.

[Jim Lane]

149. I saved more than $3k on hearing aids

A hearing-aid store more convenient to me had a make and model I liked (ReSound Lynx) at $5200. I made an appointment at Costco for a free hearing test (you can get this without a membership, at least at my store). I didn't tell the audiologist I'd already been tested, so while she was testing me, I was testing her. Her test matched the one I'd paid for. The comparable Kirkland hearing aid is made by the same manufacturer, ReSound, but branded Kirkland, and sold at Costco for $1900. So, yeah, I paid for the membership.

I don't have a car and the store is an hour and a half from me by mass transit. For that reason I never go except for the free servicing and retesting on my hearing aids. When I'm there for that purpose, though, I've also saved money on whatever food and clothing items I can carry away.

[JustAnotherGen]

151. Love it

But I have a full 'pantry' in my basement. It's the two of us but for things like: t.p., paper towels, cleaning products, cheese, free range chicken, lemons, bananas (my husband eats two pounds of bananas a week). Most important . . . It' s about five minutes from my house on my way home from work. If I had to drive out of my way to go there - I wouldn't have joined.

I also LOVE their business model. In our neck of the woods they pay like $15 an hour to their retail employees. It's not 'rich' but it's not minimum wage. That is a 'happy' place.

[Dreamer Tatum]

153. It's the bestest place ever

And anyone who makes even the slightest of jokes about it needs to be called out.

[GoneOffShore]

156. If you buy the big rolls of aluminum foil and food wrap, you'll never have to buy another.

Food service size is very economical.

[ecstatic]

157. They only accept 1 credit card

I'm actually an executive member due to their travel deals, but the credit card restriction is very frustrating because I have cards that generate a lot of rewards points. I briefly checked out their electronics deals and wasn't impressed by what was available. Ended up going elsewhere for car rental deals. I've never stepped foot in the local store.

I don't think it's worth it.