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Cut-Throat
Guest
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Old Army Guy said:Last time I went into a COSTCO (I do not have a membership) I just wanted to see what they had. Asked at the door if I could just look round and they said "sure" and let me in.
justin said:Does anyone else have an aversion to spending $50 for a membership just for the privilege of spending money in a store?
Fly in the ointment: it's an hour & 15 mins each way.
wildcat said:Anyone else with similar shopping habits really pay attention to the savings? I will soon have the option of joining a Costco so I am still potentially interested.
MasterBlaster said:The way to think about it is... If I save, say 10 percent on my purchases at the club store, thenm I'll need to buy at least $500 (or more) worth of stuff at the club store each year just to break even. You can re-arrange the aritmetic in my calculation to fit your situation. However the concept is the same.
MasterBlaster said:So now you are doing more (twice as much) shopping, you have traded some dollar savings for doing more shopping (work).
Bobot said:Fly in the ointment: it's an hour & 15 mins each way.
MasterBlaster said:I feel that way. Unless you are a heavy hitter at the club stores the membership is no bargain.
The way to think about it is... If I save, say 10 percent on my purchases at the club store, then I'll need to buy at least $500 (or more) worth of stuff at the club store each year just to break even. You can re-arrange the aritmetic in my calculation to fit your situation. However the concept is the same.
If you aren't a big club-store buyer then a membership is not such a great deal.
So you are spending two and a half hours in the car just to go to Costco ? Besides the cost of gas and depreciation on your car, I hope that it's worth it for you.
I think I'll stick to my superwalmart - where else can you buy tires, a wedding cake, fresh fish, fresh baked bread, 50 lb bag of grass seed, a lawnmower, a toilet seat, a couple of new shirts, a new tv, a shotgun, my hair and nails done, a big mac, and a mortgage loan all in the same place?
wildcat said:I hear ya Justin. Only problem was when I did shop there I usually had to return most the junk items the next day when they fell apart after one use
CostCo makes a big difference in the land of milk selling at $4-$7/gallon. There's at least a half-dozen CostCos in the islands now and they're looking for more places to build before Target moves in. About the only thing the grocery stores can compete on is bulk rice, especially when CostCo sells milk & fruit as loss leaders. Smart shopping & bulk buying can eliminate the Paradise Tax.wildcat said:I have heard both sides of the warehouse debate. I am not sure which to believe since I have never had a membership other than a Sam's and I didn't care for it. It was really tailored to the businesses and everything was brand name. I tend to buy generic products for the most part.
It seems to save $$ for those who may have more expensive taste. But for a single poor smooze like myself, I am not sure if it would benefit me. I like to eat good, healthy food but I am not playing in C-T's league yet (read - I occasionally enjoy a salmon out of the case vs. lobster tail/beef filets) and I don't know if I would buy enough food to make it worth it.
Anyone else with similar shopping habits really pay attention to the savings? I will soon have the option of joining a Costco so I am still potentially interested.
Yep, and CostCo pays their employees a higher wage than Wal-Mart yet actually has lower employee costs due to lower turnover (and no lawsuits!).Cut-Throat said:Actually there are two years worth of memberships in my calculation. About $90. - What got me started was TH REc on their Computer policy - which is the best I've ever seen. Buy a computer from Costco - In store or on-line - Return it within 6 months and you get all your money back - No questions asked - I did this!
Also after I learned about Costco's employee friendly work environment and their CEO is totally different than the CEO clone in the U.S.A. - They have got my loyalty.
DanTien said:Was a long time Costco member. Doesn't work for me anymore. Was always buying stuff I didn't need or the quantities were too large. Now I'm happy going to Trader Joes and Target. To each his own and whatever works for you. I was always amazed at the people with fancy cars trying to save a few bucks on groceries, etc.
There's book on this urge to splurge and then scrimp phenomena - Treasure Hunt http://tinyurl.com/yzgkoy
Nords said:I think that our local CostCo sells more gas than any other chain on the islands. There are almost always six cars lined up at each of a dozen pumps and the company recently ripped out parking places to install more pumps. They sell at a nickel/gallon under the lowest local chain (probably a loss leader) but every one of those buyers has to purchase a CostCo membership.