Is a membership to Costco worth it?

[Baked]

Sooo many Costcos in Cali. Yes, it's worth it for me.

Ps. Our Costcos have yummy freshly made rotisserie chickens. You can see them cook in the large 50 chicken rotating ovens. Awesome.

 

[alent1234]

Originally posted by: Skoorb
Many people I say no. Obviously costco's marketing machine has suckered in a lot of people here. It works on an averaging basis. It charges a bit less for products, but you have the membership yearly fee. If you don't spend much, you lose. if you spend a lot, you win. You can't honestly believe that they are able to get things for cheaper than walmart, so they're making money somewhere, and it's with that membership fee combined with people buying a lot of crap they normally wouldn't "to save money". Plus the membership fee encourages "forced loyalty". I've seen the prices, and for our family it still wouldn't even break even on the $40 (or whatever it is)/year.

It's really quite cultish as well. I don't care for costco at all.

Wal Mart carries a much larger selection which adds a lot of costs. Costco also only carries products in bulk.

What I do is buy the freezer bags in Costco which are like 75% off the regular price anywhere else. Then when I get home I divide the meat into smaller sizes into the freezer bags and put it in the freezer. That way I don't defrost the entire package.

 

[ribbon13]

I remember not too long ago I shared a house w/ 7 room mates. It would have been impossible to eat healthy at a decent price w/o costco.

 

[alent1234]

Originally posted by: Vic

Originally posted by: Skoorb
Many people I say no. Obviously costco's marketing machine has suckered in a lot of people here. It works on an averaging basis. It charges a bit less for products, but you have the membership yearly fee. If you don't spend much, you lose. if you spend a lot, you win. You can't honestly believe that they are able to get things for cheaper than walmart, so they're making money somewhere, and it's with that membership fee combined with people buying a lot of crap they normally wouldn't "to save money". Plus the membership fee encourages "forced loyalty". I've seen the prices, and for our family it still wouldn't even break even on the $40 (or whatever it is)/year.

It's really quite cultish as well. I don't care for costco at all.

Costco saves money by not doing any advertising. Instead, they use a network of small, independent business partners to sell memberships and generate this "forced loyalty" you speak of. It's only $40/yr. You'll spend that much taking the Mrs. out to the movies for one night. And in return you get the lowest prices on high quality merchandise in a clean retail environment ran by THE highest paid employees in the retail industry. Because advertising really does cost that much.
Costco also saves considerably by not allowing VISA/MC through the door.

What I like about Costco is that everything is passed on to employees and customers. Cashiers typically work 40 hours a week at $16/hr. with full benefits. The stores are clean. The merchandise is high quality. The return policy is outrageously lenient and forgiving. Costco networks with every product and service conceivable, from cars to insurance to real estate, to get their members the lowest deals. Even their parking lot spaces are extra wide.
I do suggest, however, not becoming a member unless you live relatively close to one.

They take AMEX and that is how I always pay.

 

[CraigRT]

I dont think so.
only things I buy there are bulk cat food and litter.

 

[markgm]

I'm single and I'll renew it. I got my tires there, and I just like the place.

I go every weekend for "lunch" too. The gas isn't a bad deal, I get it there when I'm nearby.

 

[SilverTorch]

I say its worth it.

Wholesale places (like Costco and Sams) can offer quality and low prices due to the fact that they don't have any over stock that they need to sell. What I mean is that Costco (for example) only pays for items sold ... everything else that doesnt sell goes back. This releaves the store of trying to force and sell a product that has already been paid for. And since wholesale stores have a huge through put the distributors are happy eventhough they might have to take somethings back once in a while.

 

[Slvrtg277]

I was going to take a look at their website, but it's a no go. Does it work for anyone else?

 

[Acanthus]

Originally posted by: RossMAN
YES

The new Amex CostCo TrueEarnings cc is awesome!

3% for restaurants
2% for travel
1% for everything else
Doubles as your CostCo membership card, two cards in one.
No annual fee
Usual Amex card benefits

:thumbsup:

Sams just launched the same thing with discover, 2% cashback on everything, doubles as your sams membership.

 

[cerebusPu]

Originally posted by: MisfitsFiend

CostCo > Target > Walmart

/thread

Yep, that's true!

/thread for real now.

agree!

/thread confirmed and official and for real!

 

[Baked]

Originally posted by: RossMAN
YES

The new Amex CostCo TrueEarnings cc is awesome!

3% for restaurants
2% for travel
1% for everything else
Doubles as your CostCo membership card, two cards in one.
No annual fee
Usual Amex card benefits

:thumbsup:

How easy is it to switch the current AMEX/Costoc Platinum over to TrueEarnings?

 

[RossMAN]

Originally posted by: Baked

Originally posted by: RossMAN
YES

The new Amex CostCo TrueEarnings cc is awesome!

3% for restaurants
2% for travel
1% for everything else
Doubles as your CostCo membership card, two cards in one.
No annual fee
Usual Amex card benefits

:thumbsup:

How easy is it to switch the current AMEX/Costoc Platinum over to TrueEarnings?

A phone call, I just called and requested a "product change" from ___ to ___ and it was done. New TrueEarnings cc was mailed with same cc #.

 

[Baked]

Kickass, I'll do it tonight. Thanks. Hopefully I don't get the Indian CSR this time...

 

[yukichigai]

Yes, for the Polish Sausage alone.

Also, their gas stations are usually a few cents lower than almost anybody else in town. Hell, most things are cheaper at Costco. It really is worth it.

 

[Orsorum]

Without a doubt.

 

[Zebo]

Originally posted by: Panakk
it is great. cheaper than walmart. walmart is cheat as far as i am concern.

Walmart is'nt the cheapest. They got everyone conned to think so with thier yellow tagged price leaders, but compare a random set of 15 items to target, target will win, not to mention cleaner, more asethetic envrioment, and I won't disperage the "people" inside walmart so nevermind.

Costco blows them both away if costco's carring that product.

Originally posted by: RossMAN
YES

The new Amex CostCo TrueEarnings cc is awesome!

3% for restaurants
2% for travel
1% for everything else
Doubles as your CostCo membership card, two cards in one.
No annual fee
Usual Amex card benefits

Well there you have it folks. [waxes in affirmation]

I do suggest, however, not becoming a member unless you live relatively close to one

I live 74 miles from one (and just about everything else)...My immediate alternative is quicktrip which is 10mi...Oh I forgot about the indian smoke shops, 20 mi, I'm sure they carry groceries too but I only go there for fireworks

 

[RossMAN]

Zebo hath spoken!

/thread

 

[ribbon13]

Originally posted by: Zebo

Originally posted by: Panakk
it is great. cheaper than walmart. walmart is cheat as far as i am concern.

Walmart is'nt the cheapest. They got everyone conned to think so with thier yellow tagged price leaders, but compare a random set of 15 items to target, target will win, not to mention cleaner, more asethetic envrioment, and I won't disperage the "people" inside walmart so nevermind.

Costco blows them both away if costco's carring that product.

Originally posted by: RossMAN
YES

The new Amex CostCo TrueEarnings cc is awesome!

3% for restaurants
2% for travel
1% for everything else
Doubles as your CostCo membership card, two cards in one.
No annual fee
Usual Amex card benefits

Well there you have it folks. [waxes in affirmation]

I do suggest, however, not becoming a member unless you live relatively close to one

I live 74 miles from one (and just about everything else)...My immediate alternative is quicktrip which is 10mi...Oh I forgot about the indian smoke shops, 20 mi, I'm sure they carry groceries too but I only go there for fireworks

Mmmm. Gunpowder! Nice stash!

 

[saltedeggman]

well worth it.....

get the AE Costco credit card to get even better deals...

IIRC 5% on dining, 3% on traveling

 

[jst0ney]

Costco rules

 

[Zebo]

Nice stash!

Always the best for the... um..kids

 

[psiu]

Originally posted by: Vic

Originally posted by: Skoorb
Many people I say no. Obviously costco's marketing machine has suckered in a lot of people here. It works on an averaging basis. It charges a bit less for products, but you have the membership yearly fee. If you don't spend much, you lose. if you spend a lot, you win. You can't honestly believe that they are able to get things for cheaper than walmart, so they're making money somewhere, and it's with that membership fee combined with people buying a lot of crap they normally wouldn't "to save money". Plus the membership fee encourages "forced loyalty". I've seen the prices, and for our family it still wouldn't even break even on the $40 (or whatever it is)/year.

It's really quite cultish as well. I don't care for costco at all.

Costco saves money by not doing any advertising. Instead, they use a network of small, independent business partners to sell memberships and generate this "forced loyalty" you speak of. It's only $40/yr. You'll spend that much taking the Mrs. out to the movies for one night. And in return you get the lowest prices on high quality merchandise in a clean retail environment ran by THE highest paid employees in the retail industry. Because advertising really does cost that much.
Costco also saves considerably by not allowing VISA/MC through the door.

What I like about Costco is that everything is passed on to employees and customers. Cashiers typically work 40 hours a week at $16/hr. with full benefits. The stores are clean. The merchandise is high quality. The return policy is outrageously lenient and forgiving. Costco networks with every product and service conceivable, from cars to insurance to real estate, to get their members the lowest deals. Even their parking lot spaces are extra wide.
I do suggest, however, not becoming a member unless you live relatively close to one.

My wife works at Costco. Definitely a good place for the employees (not perfect, but she rakes the dough in...they force people to take their lunches and paid breaks unlike very other job I've had).

It's a good place, one of the best ways I've heard it described though is that unlike say Walmart/Sam's Club which has more like 20-30-40-50,000 SKU's in the system, Costco might have like 3,000. So a place like Wallworld might have the whole range of price/quality, where Costco generally goes more for really good quality-good price as opposed to iffy quality, great price.

And yes the return guarantee is good, considering I have to go see if my not 2 year old 27" TV from Wallyworld is worth getting fixed, and the Hoover vacuum we have died after a year, well this week we just got our new vacuum from Costco. This way, no worries.

Definitely not an all in one stop like a Sam's can be, but if you pick and choose it is well worth it.

Originally posted by: RossMAN
YES

The new Amex CostCo TrueEarnings cc is awesome!

3% for restaurants
2% for travel
1% for everything else
Doubles as your CostCo membership card, two cards in one.
No annual fee
Usual Amex card benefits

:thumbsup:

And, it's RossMAN approved!!

Originally posted by: Skoorb
*snip*

It's really quite cultish as well. I don't care for costco at all.

Jooooooooin ussssssssss

 

[Zebo]

Originally posted by: Skoorb
*snip*

It's really quite cultish as well. I don't care for costco at all.

-----------------------

shoot, watch a wal-mart share holders meeting sometime. Looks like a bunch of snake handlers.

 

[ryzmah]

Worth it here - the gas discount more than pays for the membership for me, and grocery prices are good as well.

 

[lowfatbaconboy]

if you go a lot yes....
my roomates and i spend about $180 every 2 weeks on food....if we bought the same stuff at a regular grocery store it would be noticable more...so over a year yes we do save more than the $40 bucks for a membership

but then again stuff is not going to be as good quality.....like if you buy 10 pieces of chicken frozen for 10 bucks....cheaper....but frozen :\