Spending too much at Costco

[daylatedollarshort]

I don't always have time to do this, but I do like going to stores and buying only the loss leaders. I think of it as my reverse marketing tactic. I saw one of my friends once in a local grocery store and he asked why I had 8 pounds of cheese and nothing else in my shopping cart.

The stores have so many tactics like staples in the back, loss leaders to get you in the store to buy higher priced goods, big carts, candy at the checkout and a million other strategies that all appeal to our reptilian brains it feels good to be able to ignore all that and just shop according to my price spreadsheets.

 

[athena53]

I don't always have time to do this, but I do like going to stores and buying only the loss leaders. I think of it as my reverse marketing tactic. I saw one of my friends once in a local grocery store and he asked why I had 8 pounds of cheese and nothing else in my shopping cart.

We need to replace our deteriorating dining room chairs before we put the house on the market and DH is still up for Ikea, but I have a plan. I found many possibilities on-line. We'll make a choice, write down the stock number, head straight to the stockroom (easily accessible from the parking lot) and ask what aisle/bin they're in. (Ordinarily you do that when you make your choice in the showroom but then it's 45 minutes to the stockroom- and last time the aisle/bin number posted by the item was wrong, anyway so an employee had to look it up). Get item, load car, get outta there. DH and I aren't so picky that we'd freak out if the chair finish didn't match our wooden baseboards.

I love beating the system!

 

[aja8888]

We need to replace our deteriorating dining room chairs before we put the house on the market and DH is still up for Ikea, but I have a plan. I found many possibilities on-line. We'll make a choice, write down the stock number, head straight to the stockroom (easily accessible from the parking lot) and ask what aisle/bin they're in. (Ordinarily you do that when you make your choice in the showroom but then it's 45 minutes to the stockroom- and last time the aisle/bin number posted by the item was wrong, anyway so an employee had to look it up). Get item, load car, get outta there. DH and I aren't so picky that we'd freak out if the chair finish didn't match our wooden baseboards.

I love beating the system!

Just curious, but why do you have to replace the dining room chairs before putting the house on the market? Are you selling it furnished?

 

[athena53]

Just curious, but why do you have to replace the dining room chairs before putting the house on the market? Are you selling it furnished?

Don't you watch HGTV? ;-) There's a new business called "home staging" that involves throwing out all the clutter, taking down pictures of family or any art that might be too ethnic, and making the place look like a model home. The chairs, frankly, look bad. They started out as very well-made chairs in the 1950s and came from my first husband's family but the backs are caned and the seats are cushioned. Stuffing is coming out of some, caning is torn up. We don't really care- they're functional- but it's probably time to pitch them rather than move them to a new place. Repairing would cost more than they're worth.

When the standard becomes "model home in move-in condition", if your house isn't up to that standard it won't fetch top dollar. I just spent $1,000 and a lot of elbow grease tiling 2 bathroom floors, one of which had nasty beige carpet and the other having cheap plastic linoleum.

 

[aja8888]

Don't you watch HGTV? ;-) There's a new business called "home staging" that involves throwing out all the clutter, taking down pictures of family or any art that might be too ethnic, and making the place look like a model home. The chairs, frankly, look bad. They started out as very well-made chairs in the 1950s and came from my first husband's family but the backs are caned and the seats are cushioned. Stuffing is coming out of some, caning is torn up. We don't really care- they're functional- but it's probably time to pitch them rather than move them to a new place. Repairing would cost more than they're worth.

When the standard becomes "model home in move-in condition", if your house isn't up to that standard it won't fetch top dollar. I just spent $1,000 and a lot of elbow grease tiling 2 bathroom floors, one of which had nasty beige carpet and the other having cheap plastic linoleum.

No, I don't watch HGTV. I can understand the carpet/tile fix. Maybe just rent some furniture for the staging?

 

[jjquantz]

We need to replace our deteriorating dining room chairs before we put the house on the market and DH is still up for Ikea, but I have a plan. I found many possibilities on-line. We'll make a choice, write down the stock number, head straight to the stockroom (easily accessible from the parking lot) and ask what aisle/bin they're in. (Ordinarily you do that when you make your choice in the showroom but then it's 45 minutes to the stockroom- and last time the aisle/bin number posted by the item was wrong, anyway so an employee had to look it up). Get item, load car, get outta there. DH and I aren't so picky that we'd freak out if the chair finish didn't match our wooden baseboards.

I love beating the system!

+1 That precisely describes my last trip to IKEA. Got there right at opening and was out about 7 minutes after I arrived. And it was still unpleasant.

 

[W2R]

Our new-ish Costco is about 6 miles from his house (or 7 miles from mine). It's fighting busy city traffic and congestion most of the way, though, so I'd guess 15-20 minutes. I never go to that area any more for anything else at all, and the drive is fairly unappealing, so I haven't yet gotten around to investigating it. Maybe we'll drive over there this week to check it out. If we do, I'll time it.

I drove F over there after lunch today, for the first time. I didn't time it - - the busy city traffic and congestion kept me busy, and became crazy lunatic driving within a block of Costco.

Here's my review of Costco, from my one and only visit there. I know, most of you have been there a lot and know all about Costco, but I want to express my opinion.

COSTCO PROS AND CONS:

Pros:
1) Lots of parking close to the store.
2) Inside the store the other patrons seemed relatively civilized and well behaved, as opposed to their behavior when driving in the parking lot. They were definitely a higher class of folks than those patronizing our nearest Wally World, and probably even bathed. That was a relief.
3) It was clean.
4) I think I've seen cars smaller than those shopping carts.
5) We got lots of walking in; good exercise!

Cons:
1) The place was HUGE, even bigger than Sam's Club.
2) We walked throughout the entire store and looked at everything, and neither of us saw anything we wanted to buy there. We saw things we wanted, but not at the price offered. Maybe we are too LBYM for Costco? Or maybe we were looking at their higher priced stuff.
3) I thought all of the food was packaged in ridiculously huge sizes for a single person that would take me a year or more to consume - - - although Frank thought that the sizes weren't so bad.
4) The annual fee would be $59, but if you want the higher tier membership with 2% off purchases, then that's another $55.
5) The items we happened to look at didn't look like much of a discount to either of us (but then perhaps we were looking at the wrong items).
6) My knees are killing me.

 

[kaudrey]

Just ran a Quicken report - we spent $5,088 last year, just on the two of us. That does include two televisions that we picked up when we went in for dog food.

I just have to say, I shouldn't have read this sentence as I was taking a sip from my soda can. This is just hilarious to me, somehow. I love it.

 

[clifp]

I often see something at Costco that I believe is a very good buy but had not planned on purchasing. My trick is to buy it and have it put on a separate receipt. I then take the object and store it in the garage while I research it. About 60% of the time, one of two things happen: Either my research shows I should not have bought it, or the urge to have it goes away after I take a nap. Then I return it on my next trip, unopened, and ready for the next treasure hunter.

If I do keep the item, it usually proves to be a worthwhile purchase.

That is a really good idea. Especially Costco often have items that are only temporarily available and have such a good return policy.

 

[Chuckanut]

That is a really good idea. Especially Costco often have items that are only temporarily available and have such a good return policy.

Bingo! I still regret not buying a set of three wall socket replacements that included USB charging ports for less that $20.

 

[ExFlyBoy5]

Just got back from the [-]4th level of hell[/-] Costco in Naples FL. I was taking an elderly neighbor to the doctor, so I thought I'd combine errands. And DW didn't come with me. What a zoo, though. There was one woman who had a flat cart she could barely handle. Twice that I saw she left it sitting perpendicular to the aisle, blocking all traffic while she perused an item. It took me 30 minutes to shop, and 25 minutes to check out. Next time I'm not going until after dark, when all the vision and reflex challenged old people have retreated to their condos.

I had a list, and I only bought one thing that wasn't on the list (pineapple spears for my shish kabob). Still spent $150, but I probably saved $100 by going alone. Woohoo!

Ughh. I too went today. I planned to go from 9:30 to 10:30 (on a Tuesday) to avoid the early morning business owner crowd, the lunch time AARP Buffet crowd, and the mid-afternoon got 7 kids in tow Mom crowd...but it was all for naught. I think 1/2 the population of North Georgia was there and it's like an episode of 'The Walking Dead'. People wander around with no situational awareness at all and I think most were legally blind. I also dislike that the carts are so big that you really should have a commercial endorsement to drive them around the store. Also, I wish there was a limit on the self-checkout...if you have 2 carts with 124 items, it's best you get in a regular line

Nonetheless, I spent about $100 and that's about the normal in a month with just me and DW. Thankfully, I only go once every month or so...which is good because for every visit, I am pretty sure I lose 2 weeks off my life expectancy.

 

[W2R]

Ughh. I too went today. I planned to go from 9:30 to 10:30 (on a Tuesday) to avoid the early morning business owner crowd, the lunch time AARP Buffet crowd, and the mid-afternoon got 7 kids in tow Mom crowd...but it was all for naught. I think 1/2 the population of North Georgia was there and it's like an episode of 'The Walking Dead'. People wander around with no situational awareness at all and I think most were legally blind. I also dislike that the carts are so big that you really should have a commercial endorsement to drive them around the store. Also, I wish there was a limit on the self-checkout...if you have 2 carts with 124 items, it's best you get in a regular line

Nonetheless, I spent about $100 and that's about the normal in a month with just me and DW. Thankfully, I only go once every month or so...which is good because for every visit, I am pretty sure I lose 2 weeks off my life expectancy.

Wow, you should have been at our Costco at 2:30 PM - - it seemed almost empty! Guess it's not too popular here, yet, or maybe I picked a good time. My sympathies on your having to endure those crowds. But at least you are done with this month's shopping.

 

[aja8888]

Wow, you should have been at our Costco at 2:30 PM - - it seemed almost empty! Guess it's not too popular here, yet, or maybe I picked a good time. My sympathies on your having to endure those crowds. But at least you are done with this month's shopping.

Sam's is fairly empty here at that time too:

AARP lunch crowd are home taking naps, soccer moms are in the que for picking kids up at schools, business owners are done shopping, dads are still at work.

 

[W2R]

Sam's is fairly empty here at that time too:

AARP lunch crowd are home taking naps, soccer moms are in the que for picking kids up at schools, business owners are done shopping, dads are still at work.

Aha! I lucked out.

 

[Walt34]

AARP lunch crowd are home taking naps, soccer moms are in the que for picking kids up at schools, business owners are done shopping, dads are still at work.

This has that analytical INTJ touch to it - "Okay, the timing has to be perfect, synchronize watches, start engine.... LAUNCH!"

 

[NW-Bound]

Bingo! I still regret not buying a set of three wall socket replacements that included USB charging ports for less that $20.

Wall outlet with USB charging port at Home Depot: $20 to $30 each!

 

[daylatedollarshort]

People wander around with no situational awareness at all and I think most were legally blind.

Lack of situational awareness - that is a good term for it and happens at our Costco, too. People just kind of pushing big carts around oblivious to other shoppers. I don't see that happen that much at other stores like it does at Costco. Our Costco, for the most part, has nice cars in the parking lot and the people look middle class, but many do not act like they are in a crowded store with other shoppers they need to share the aisles with.

I like the savings enough to put up with it. It is still worth it to me to shop there.

 

[harley]

I've done that a time or two (but why a separate receipt?)

You don't actually even need the receipt. They can pull up the purchase based on your card. I usually have it, but they often don't even ask for it.

I was dimly aware that there's a definite science to store design but after an odyssey through IKEA (that's 2 hours of my life I'll never get back) I did some research on the Web and made a Toastmasters speech out of it. Sorry, I don't have links to any of my sources, but in general here are some of the tricks:

1. Put all the essentials (bread, milk, diapers) at the back of the store so people are forced to pass by all the impulse items.
2. Once people have a healthy chunk of merchandise in their carts, they're actually more likely to make impulse purchases- it's a smaller % of what they're already buying.
3. You're generally being directed on a specific path even though you don't realize it. In the US, about 99% of grocery stores lead you counter-clockwise, starting at the fresh flower/produce section where the bright colors and fresh items make you happy. Many big box stores have walls running nearly the length of the store so you can't cut across from one aisle to the other easily. Ikea has this down to a science; you can't go more than about 6 feet before you have to turn, and there are always attractive displays of impulse items at the turning points. Between the showroom and the area where you pick up your choices, you have to pass through another giant "marketplace" area and it's all impulse stuff- rugs, dishes, artwork.
4. In general- the longer you stay in a store the more you spend, which is why they lead you on a wandering path and the staples aren't right near the checkout.

I agree that LBYM types are less likely to fall for these tricks; I find the whole thing fascinating.

I've read about the traffic routing theories, just not the cart. When DW and I are watching our diets (not as consistently as we should) we do the trick of circling the grocery store staying on the perimeter of the store. You can usually get everything you need without actually going down the aisles. The aisles are where all the processed food is, and you if all you are after is produce, meat, dairy, and bread you don't even need to go down them.

Another interesting study is the salad bar. There's a whole (pseudo)science about how to finesse the customers into not taking the more expensive ingredients. It's scary how easily manipulated people often are.

 

[Jerry1]

https://www.vitamix.com/shop/Certified-Reconditioned-Products.aspx

You can buy refurbished blender directly from Vitamix. It comes with 5 Year warranty . You can not tell difference between new and refurbished.

Basic 2 Speed model for 259 USD will do 99% of what your 750 model will do. Nearly everything on Vitamix is done at HIGH speed. Low speed and variable is mostly there just to get you to High speed.....

That's what I did and am very happy. I did get the next higher unit for $299 if I recall correctly. I use it every day and so does my wife and I agree, no different from new. I know this because I bought a high end new one and didn't like it. The shorter wider blender doesn't handle the smaller smoothies we make very well. So I got the refurbished unit, saved about $300 bucks and the taller unit works better.

 

[RonBoyd]

I suppose... as long as you don't have to buy in bulk.

Report: Costco Has Plans To Sell A “Kirkland Signature” Chevy Truck

The truck will probably be based on LTZ luxury or Z-71 Off-Road packaged vehicles in a configuration “best compared to (top of the range) High Country,” the report says, with 400 getting built for warehouse display. Customers will then special-order their own vehicles through dealerships.

 

[athena53]

Another interesting study is the salad bar. There's a whole (pseudo)science about how to finesse the customers into not taking the more expensive ingredients.

Yeah- the first thing you see after the stack of plastic trays/boxes is the giant bin of cheap lettuce. I take a little of the lettuce then head straight for the fresh mushrooms.

 

[RonBoyd]

... then head straight for the fresh mushrooms.

I am told that mushrooms should never be eaten raw. See for instance:

Ask Dr. Weil: Is It Safe To Eat Raw Mushrooms? | Prevention

 

[Chuckanut]

I am told that mushrooms should never be eaten raw. See for instance:

Ask Dr. Weil: Is It Safe To Eat Raw Mushrooms? | Prevention

Good grief! I must be dead.

 

[NW-Bound]

Good grief! I must be dead.

... or a zombie who's walking among us.

 

[gerntz]

Our Costco, for the most part, has nice cars in the parking lot and the people look middle class, but many do not act like they are in a crowded store with other shoppers they need to share the aisles with.

I'll suggest there's a correlation with high income or apparent high income & the sense of entitlement, including pushing carts wherever without regard to others.