Costco? What makes it awesome for you?

[walkinwood]

I may have missed this being mentioned - the credit card.
https://citicards.citi.com/usc/Costco/Dual/2017/May/PS/default.htm

We are a two person household, but we do a lot of our own cooking from scratch. It took some time to figure out what we could buy and use up without spoilage, but we now shop there almost every other week.

Being ER'd, we never venture near the stores on weekends.

 

[audreyh1]

Don't know why people complain about Costco crowds - took this picture about 11AM on Wednesday, January 11 this year at the Costco near the airport in Portland Oregon:

http://i.imgur.com/aUXyc5H.jpg

I try to stay away from ours on the weekends, and the one in Atlanta is crazy!!!!

Timing is everything.

 

[audreyh1]

I may have missed this being mentioned - the credit card.
https://citicards.citi.com/usc/Costco/Dual/2017/May/PS/default.htm

We are a two person household, but we do a lot of our own cooking from scratch. It took some time to figure out what we could buy and use up without spoilage, but we now shop there almost every other week.

Being ER'd, we never venture near the stores on weekends.

We usually freeze at least half of the meat/poultry/seafood we buy, using a vacuum sealer if needed. That works out well.

Produce and fruit we can usually use it within a couple of weeks for two people, and they do a good job of handling and cooling the produce so it usually lasts that long. I carefully check expiration dates. We know what we can use in a week or two, so we don't buy too much.

We often visit weekly.

 

[Bestwifeever]

Wr also have rented cars through Costco--maybe not the absolute cheapest but close, and second driver is included at no extra charge.

 

[Blue Collar Guy]

I dont like the whole Costco ,BJ's scene. I find the place un appetizing. Very industrial , if i had 10 kids or was trying to save big bucks i would maybe forgo the atmosphere and shop there. Not for me.

 

[mpeirce]

Just got back from visiting Costco...

We go (mostly) once a month. We buy most of our meat there - excellent steaks, a big back of chicken breasts and chicken thighs, and always a couple of kinds of frozen fish. This summer I've been buying ribs there for my new smoker.

We buy tons of other stuff there. But what are the best deals? their rental car rates are very good. I always shop around and almost always end up there. Their cheeses are very good.

Their "drug store" stuff is good. We buy the big bottles of generic aspirin, ibuprofen, etc. there and same with soap and shampoo.

Oh and their nuts are tasty and a good price.

And I usually buy my tires and gas their too.

 

[mpeirce]

We usually freeze at least half of the meat/poultry/seafood we buy, using a vacuum sealer if needed. That works out well.

THIS.

We (well, DW) always vacuum seals most of the fresh meat when we get home in usable portion sizes for us.

 

[Aerides]

Thanks everyone for the input. Doesn't seem I missed much as most of the "i always get" were things I noticed and considered, and either have a better alternative already, or were on the "plus" column.

I have the say the staff who do samples seemed very...enthusiastic, and if anything I wanted to get away from them fast - very loudly enticing customers so it had the opposite effect on me lol. Also maybe it was just me, but it seemed a high number of customers don't look where they are going and I avoided several near misses just walking around. Like way more than at the supermarket. Maybe I was just harder to spot as I was the only one without a giant cart.

I do like a nice rotisserie chicken but no way would I deal with their parking lot and checkout line to go there at dinnertime just to save $3 vs. publix or fresh market. (Need to get those when I'm ready as they are just not as good re-heated I find. Did I mention I'm picky? lol)

But the fact that you can cancel any time and get your fee back (prorated or full, will check it out) makes it worth trying I think.

Mine has a liquor store though I didn't check that out yet. I could also see myself planning a visit every few weeks just to go walk around and see what's new, and if the Kirkland Pinot Grigio is good well then....

 

[Fedup]

I don't like the Roti chicken at Costco. I've read they spread something to roast. I can roast mine at home much cheaper, sometimes I can have roasted chicken for $3.00 here.

 

[aja8888]

I don't like the Roti chicken at Costco. I've read they spread something to roast. I can roast mine at home much cheaper, sometimes I can have roasted chicken for $3.00 here.

Do you raise your own chickens?

 

[Major Tom]

I'm with Blue Collar Guy. Not really my scene. I don't have a car, so the savings on gas and tires aren't useful. I do nearly all of my shopping within about a 1.5 mile radius, and my local Costco is ~6 miles away. That, plus the fact that I do all my traveling and hauling stuff on a bicycle, reduces their attractiveness. I prefer frequent and very local trips where I carry a few things in a backpack each time. Also, this is going to sound odd to a lot of folk, but I don't like the fact that they change their product line-up regularly. I like to know ahead of time if a retailer is likely to have what I want before I take the time and trouble to go there. Shopping is not entertainment for me.

However, I do like the way they treat their employees. I wouldn't rule out joining Costco if my living situation changed and it made sense for me.

 

[audreyh1]

I prefer roasting my own chickens. I buy the organic whole chickens at Costco - they taste amazing. They come two in a pack, so one goes in the freezer.

Then I spatchcock (butterfly) the chicken and roast it in the oven using a large cast iron skillet. This is so easy and comes out some much better than ANY of the store roasted chickens. Chicken, salt, pepper, olive oil, teaspoon chopped rosemary, teaspoon minced garlic. https://www.americastestkitchen.com...-butterflied-chicken-with-rosemary-and-garlic

 

[Bestwifeever]

Thanks everyone for the input. Doesn't seem I missed much as most of the "i always get" were things I noticed and considered, and either have a better alternative already, or were on the "plus" column.

I have the say the staff who do samples seemed very...enthusiastic, and if anything I wanted to get away from them fast - very loudly enticing customers so it had the opposite effect on me lol. Also maybe it was just me, but it seemed a high number of customers don't look where they are going and I avoided several near misses just walking around. Like way more than at the supermarket. Maybe I was just harder to spot as I was the only one without a giant cart.

I do like a nice rotisserie chicken but no way would I deal with their parking lot and checkout line to go there at dinnertime just to save $3 vs. publix or fresh market. (Need to get those when I'm ready as they are just not as good re-heated I find. Did I mention I'm picky? lol)

But the fact that you can cancel any time and get your fee back (prorated or full, will check it out) makes it worth trying I think.

Mine has a liquor store though I didn't check that out yet. I could also see myself planning a visit every few weeks just to go walk around and see what's new, and if the Kirkland Pinot Grigio is good well then....

Sounds like you will not be shopping there.

 

[Blue Collar Guy]

I prefer roasting my own chickens. I buy the organic whole chickens at Costco - they taste amazing. They come two in a pack, so one goes in the freezer.

Then I spatchcock (butterfly) the chicken and roast it in the oven using a large cast iron skillet. This is so easy and comes out some much better than ANY of the store roasted chickens. Chicken, salt, pepper, olive oil, teaspoon chopped rosemary, teaspoon minced garlic. https://www.americastestkitchen.com...-butterflied-chicken-with-rosemary-and-garlic

Looks wonderful, i saw the video, only question, how dirty does the oven really get? The bride will flip if i suggest this, and we get a splatter filled oven.

 

[spncity]

Tires
King Size all latex mattress
Avocados
Almond milk
Eggs
T paper
Vita Mixer
Electric pressure cooker
Canned tomatoes, black beans, black olives
Bananas
Romaine lettuce
Celery
Glasses
Juices
Nuts
Vit. D
Cheese
Orange Juice
Down blankets (love these - lighter than a down comforter)

And other stuff.

Just go when they're not busy. Much nicer.

 

[Walt34]

Even if there really are some long term savings on other goods, every time I see those long check-out lines it wouldn't be worth the wait for me. YMMV.

Yes, I also have a huge issue with that. If there are consistently long lines that tells me the store is poorly run and/or places no value on my time, and I find that insulting. It's a business, and if they are going to be too busy to take my money I'll spend it someplace else.

Another huge turnoff is the checking of receipts at the door. I am not a thief and will not for one instant put up with being treated like one. I may try walking around that and see what happens - are they going to physically assault me to stop me?

The closest store is about a half-hour away vs. three or four regular grocery stores within 10 - 15 minutes so that's an issue too, although less of one, since I could get a couple of cheap foam coolers and put them in the back of the pickup truck and make a run once a month or so. Although there are only two of us we do have a freezer so that could work.

All that said, I may make a test run at a carefully selected time to fall outside lunch and dinner hours to see what happens, and this thread has made it clear that weekend trips are to be avoided at all cost. Since they offer the refund on the membership if things don't work out there is little risk. Thanks all, I didn't know about that.

 

[RockyMtn]

Let me see....

Hot dog and pepsi for $1.50
Liquor, wine and beer
Baby back ribs
Steaks
Paper goods
otc medicines
eyeglasses
rental cars (best prices I have found anywhere)
gas and car wash
tires
electronics
golf gloves (only the one's on Costco.com)
water
Gatorade
Dunkin Donuts coffee
Adidas golf socks
Whole Dungeness crabs
Rotisserie chicken

 

[aja8888]

Another huge turnoff is the checking of receipts at the door. I am not a thief and will not for one instant put up with being treated like one. I may try walking around that and see what happens - are they going to physically assault me to stop me?
.

I understand this is turn off, but it helps prevent theft which is a huge cost item in retail and that cost is passed along to the consumer in the form of higher prices. Another plus is that the checkers have a job, and jobs are important in this economy.

 

[RetireAge50]

Although the place is a mad house on the weekend we never wait long in line. I think this is due to the people they hire are smart and well paid.

We buy almost everything we need at Costco. Prices are great and since everything is in bulk only need to go shopping a couple times a month.

 

[braumeister]

Yes, I also have a huge issue with that. If there are consistently long lines that tells me the store is poorly run and/or places no value on my time, and I find that insulting. It's a business, and if they are going to be too busy to take my money I'll spend it someplace else.

I feel the same way, so I only go when they first open at 10:00 am on a weekday. Hardly anyone to deal with. They will even let you in to start shopping about ten minutes early -- they just don't activate the register until 10.

 

[audreyh1]

Looks wonderful, i saw the video, only question, how dirty does the oven really get? The bride will flip if i suggest this, and we get a splatter filled oven.

Yes, there is some spatter. And I have my fan/vent running full blast, there can be a little smoke near the end.

My oven is already spattered pretty well from roasting beef bones for stock. So I don't care.

 

[audreyh1]

Yes, I also have a huge issue with that. If there are consistently long lines that tells me the store is poorly run and/or places no value on my time, and I find that insulting. It's a business, and if they are going to be too busy to take my money I'll spend it someplace else.

Another huge turnoff is the checking of receipts at the door. I am not a thief and will not for one instant put up with being treated like one. I may try walking around that and see what happens - are they going to physically assault me to stop me?

The closest store is about a half-hour away vs. three or four regular grocery stores within 10 - 15 minutes so that's an issue too, although less of one, since I could get a couple of cheap foam coolers and put them in the back of the pickup truck and make a run once a month or so. Although there are only two of us we do have a freezer so that could work.

All that said, I may make a test run at a carefully selected time to fall outside lunch and dinner hours to see what happens, and this thread has made it clear that weekend trips are to be avoided at all cost. Since they offer the refund on the membership if things don't work out there is little risk. Thanks all, I didn't know about that.

We only encounter long times on weekends when the store is really crowded. And even then I don't have to wait really long.

When we usually go during the week days, checkout lines aren't long at all.

I suspect it depends on the store.

Receipt check when exiting is usually super fast.

 

[Rustic23]

We have both Sam's and Costco memberships. Why, Heck if I know! DW buys most of her clothes at either one or the other. I figure I save at least the membership right there. Neither is close, and I would say we go about once or so every couple of months. It a great place t have lunch, well graze.

 

[athena53]

Although the place is a mad house on the weekend we never wait long in line. I think this is due to the people they hire are smart and well paid.

I've also never seen a "price check" and they don't mess with paper coupons, both of which slow the line down. ("This coupon is $1 off on 3 but you bought only 2", etc.) They also have someone to pack the order at every register. When I moved out of NJ in 2003 there were pretty much no baggers in grocery stores- they had disappeared over the years.

 

[Fedup]

Do you raise your own chickens?

No, Albertson's raises them for me. I get the smallest chicken for about $3. Salt, pepper, and lemon juice, and voila delicious roti chicken. I don't use oilive sometime because it can be oily.