Costco? What makes it awesome for you?

[Fedup]

I need to get some salmon from Costco, I only get fresh fish. But maybe for wild King Salmon, it's worth it.

 

[W2R]

I have teenage boys... So the bulk items don't bother me. My boys consume an amazing amount of food... especially during swim team season and water polo season.

My oldest brother grew over 13" in 8th grade (5'3" to 6'4"), so I know exactly what you mean! He would sit down and eat 3-4 full plates of spaghetti and meatballs at dinner time and was still hungry.

It's amazing what active teenaged boys can put away without gaining even an ounce of fat.

 

[Badger]

I like the Executive membership on my Costco/Visa card. I get 2 sets of rebates each year that not only pays for the membership but puts cash in my pocket.

The other reason is the stock I bought has more than doubled. I'm waiting for it to split.

Cheers!

 

[euro]

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.

I find it annoying too - plus, I don't understand how it prevents theft. They "check" the cart against the receipt. If you steal something, why would you put it in the cart? I think it is more about sending a message that you are being watched (which you are anyway with copious numbers of security cameras, no doubt).
I'm putting up with it, but that's not to say it won't cause me to eventually pull the plug because of it

 

[aja8888]

I find it annoying too - plus, I don't understand how it prevents theft. They "check" the cart against the receipt. If you steal something, why would you put it in the cart? I think it is more about sending a message that you are being watched (which you are anyway with copious numbers of security cameras, no doubt).
I'm putting up with it, but that's not to say it won't cause me to eventually pull the plug because of it

Here's one guy that got past the door checker:

Car seat box used to steal $11,000 in Costco merchandise | WJLA

 

[YVRRocketSurgery]

I was told Costco sells more Salmon than any other retailer. We buy it mostly for sushi and sashimi.

What I don't like is being solicited while I'm shopping.

They're also one of, if not the biggest players in the wine biz in the States. I wish the Costco warehouses near us sold wine and spirits.

 

[Fedup]

Wait, I must miss out on the salmon. I only saw raw sockeyed salmon, are they for sushi and sashimi? Too bony for me.

 

[calmloki]

I like the Executive membership on my Costco/Visa card. I get 2 sets of rebates each year that not only pays for the membership but puts cash in my pocket.

The other reason is the stock I bought has more than doubled. I'm waiting for it to split.

Cheers!

You might want to load up your cart with more COST. Stock dropped over 7% today. Magic 8-ball readers suggest Amazon is coming to eat Costco's lunch, bypassing the free samples.

 

[Ronnieboy]

I find it annoying too - plus, I don't understand how it prevents theft. They "check" the cart against the receipt. If you steal something, why would you put it in the cart? I think it is more about sending a message that you are being watched (which you are anyway with copious numbers of security cameras, no doubt).

I'm putting up with it, but that's not to say it won't cause me to eventually pull the plug because of it

It is about sending a message. They obviously don't take the time to line item everything on your receipt vs your cart.

They have caught double items charged to me though that I didn't actually get so I was grateful for that.

I think an early sign for the curmudgeon club is people who complain about having to show your card to get in and having the receipt checked on the way out [emoji23]. I guess when every day is a Saturday you've got to find something to complain about.

 

[dasranger]

Wait, I must miss out on the salmon. I only saw raw sockeyed salmon, are they for sushi and sashimi? Too bony for me.

The answer is no. You need to purchase another kind. I'd send you a pic but this forum won't let me.

 

[Danmar]

I think an early sign for the curmudgeon club is people who complain about having to show your card to get in and having the receipt checked on the way out [emoji23]. I guess when every day is a Saturday you've got to find something to complain about.

Right on. Check the "pet peeve" thread for more members of this club.

 

[Bestwifeever]

.

I think an early sign for the curmudgeon club is people who complain about having to show your card to get in and having the receipt checked on the way out [emoji23]. I guess when every day is a Saturday you've got to find something to complain about.

It's the first entrance exam to weed out those who don't qualify to take their "Get off my lawn" levels.

 

[Johnora]

Costco members since they opened

Here is a quick list:

Gas
Travel packages
Photo services
Optical department
Meat / Seafood quality and price
Vitamins and supplements
Restaurant gift cards at 20% off.

Organic steel cut oats
Kirkland jeans

okay this could get long fast but lots to like, what we don't do is buy huge quantities of stuff as we are empty nesters now.

To each their own, we still love them

 

[Koolau]

You might want to load up your cart with more COST. Stock dropped over 7% today. Magic 8-ball readers suggest Amazon is coming to eat Costco's lunch, bypassing the free samples.

Are there actually enough UPS, FEDX, USPS trucks and planes (and drones) to deliver the equivalent of what Costco sells? Specifically how does Amazon ship a 35 pound car battery to (oh, let's say Hawaii) in 2 days - for free to Prime members? YMMV

 

[Just_Steve]

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 just asked my son who works at BJ's and gets stuck on front door sometimes.
He says on the rare occasion that someone bum rushes past him he calls security and describes the person and that security goes to the cameras and reports the plate number of the car the person gets into to the police as potential shoplifters, he does not know what happens after that.
But if the person comes back and is recognized their membership is revoked.
He also said 99.9% of the people are more respectful and don't do it.

I'm just curious why you think busting some 18 or 19 year olds chops like that is correct adult behavior? And you being a retired LEO on top of it

 

[audreyh1]

Are there actually enough UPS, FEDX, USPS trucks and planes (and drones) to deliver the equivalent of what Costco sells? Specifically how does Amazon ship a 35 pound car battery to (oh, let's say Hawaii) in 2 days - for free to Prime members? YMMV

That's why it might be a buying opportunity. Those magic 8-ball readers tend to ignore the gritty details.

 

[Fedup]

I think there's going to be drone delivery.

 

[audreyh1]

Doesn't Sam's club also check receipts on exit? I guess it's a warehouse club kind of thing.

 

[Just_Steve]

Doesn't Sam's club also check receipts on exit? I guess it's a warehouse club kind of thing.

They do, around here even Walmart does it.

 

[audreyh1]

I do a lot of my roasting outside, too hot here. I don't want to save money on a $3 chicken and pay $5 to cool down the house.

That cast iron method would work fine on the grill. I have a vertical roaster that I sometimes use for whole chicken on the grill, and it comes out well, but it's more trouble than the cast iron pan. And here it is really too hot to grill outside in the summer. My house doesn't seem to heat much from the oven. Our electricity only runs $2-4 per day, so at most I may be looking at an extra $1.

 

[Aerides]

Someone mentioned Photo Services, and I have to ask (because I think I saw this in my store). In 2017..why?

Is this really people dropping off film to be developed? I saw some carts at the end of aisles with people's names and phone numbers on white envelopes. While my infosec side thought "that is terribly un-secure exposure of PII" I also was surprised to see so many.

 

[Bestwifeever]

Someone mentioned Photo Services, and I have to ask (because I think I saw this in my store). In 2017..why?

Is this really people dropping off film to be developed? I saw some carts at the end of aisles with people's names and phone numbers on white envelopes. While my infosec side thought "that is terribly un-secure exposure of PII" I also was surprised to see so many.

They want prints, maybe, and it's cheaper than using their own ink and photo paper at home? Google Costco photo center for their services. Nothing you can't get somewhere else but perhaps more convenient for some who like to shop there.

You know a lot more about Costco than I do--I never noticed the photo carts!

 

[Ready]

An amazing Costco benefit for us is having access to Costco on any of the Hawaiian islands. We go just about every year to Hawaii and stay in a VRBO home, so we usually spend about $400 on our first day at Costco and stock up on everything we need.

I'm always amazed to see that the pricing in the Hawaii stores is exactly the same as the pricing in Southern California, to the penny. I've often wondered if they just choose to make less profit on the Hawaiian stores just to keep the pricing consistent and offer it as a perk to their members. Without having a Costco in Hawaii, our vacations would be extremely expensive. And for those living on the islands, having a Costco there makes a huge difference in overall cost of living.

 

[audreyh1]

Yeah - we made sure to gas up a ar the Costco in Maui - way cheaper than any other. Conveniently next to the airport. Serious lines for the pumps!!!

 

[Fedup]

I have not been to the Costco in Maui. I might try it this time. But I shop the local shops when I'm in Maui and get papayas and pineapples very cheap. Much cheaper than the $2.99 per pineapple at Costco.