How do y'all deal with Costco??? Is it worth it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Costco is basically Walmart for the over 125k median income folks. It’s also a mental illness if you ask me - no it isn’t cheaper nor better quality - just allows people to stuff themselves more. Yes I’ve tried it but wasn’t for me. I do appreciate it as a shareholder though so keep on buying 600 granola bars at a time, thx.

It is cheaper and better quality. Look into the business model. They keep only something like 4000 skus. Walmart has something like 150k. Their distribution model means they are selling product before invoices are even due. They only take something like 12% margin and pass on savings to members. They are a phenomenal business and treat associates well.

It isn’t for everyone. But it is certainly not a Walmart for the 125k set nor a mental issue to stop there.

[Anonymous]

My beef with Costco is that I hate their shopping carts. Why are the kids seated so high!? I'm short, but lots of women are 5'2, it's not unusual. I actually cannot see around my kids at all. It really makes for an awkward shopping experience and my [obstinate] toddler refuses to sit in the actual cart.

I too hate the big families out shopping. It's like a family of 5 and then they bring the grandparents too out for a stroll at Costco. WHY?!?

My favorite things are to browse the center aisles for Christmas gift ideas (mostly that I buy for myself!). I also basically buy anything that has a markdown. Charmin on sale? Yep- I stock up.

[Anonymous]

They only have 4000 SKUs? I knew they only stock what sells but that kind of explains why I can never find the exact things/flavors I like. Sure I may be able to get a whole case of Pepperidge Farm cookies, granola bars, cereal or oatmeal at a great price but they never have the brands or flavors I like best. There’s something to be said for going to a regular store and buying the exact things you want even at higher prices. Though I suppose lots of people there are buying for kids so you train them to eat what Costco stocks. We use it for gas almost exclusively so it’s worth it just for that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They only have 4000 SKUs? I knew they only stock what sells but that kind of explains why I can never find the exact things/flavors I like. Sure I may be able to get a whole case of Pepperidge Farm cookies, granola bars, cereal or oatmeal at a great price but they never have the brands or flavors I like best. There’s something to be said for going to a regular store and buying the exact things you want even at higher prices. Though I suppose lots of people there are buying for kids so you train them to eat what Costco stocks. We use it for gas almost exclusively so it’s worth it just for that.

Costco can’t be a replacement for a grocery store entirely. I still shop every 7-10 days at my local grocery store. But I buy all my main staples at Costco. In addition to meats and produce, I buy eggs, milk, butter, Greek yogurt, OJ, pasta, canned tomato products (diced, sauce, paste), black beans, chicken stock, cheerios, granola (love their Ancient Grains!). Things they don’t have or I don’t need a lot of go on my grocery list - like lesser used spices, specific produce I need a little of or apples because want a specific kind, etc. I typically buy condiments/dressings at the grocery store, deli meat, other specific cereals, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They only have 4000 SKUs? I knew they only stock what sells but that kind of explains why I can never find the exact things/flavors I like. Sure I may be able to get a whole case of Pepperidge Farm cookies, granola bars, cereal or oatmeal at a great price but they never have the brands or flavors I like best. There’s something to be said for going to a regular store and buying the exact things you want even at higher prices. Though I suppose lots of people there are buying for kids so you train them to eat what Costco stocks. We use it for gas almost exclusively so it’s worth it just for that.

You have to get over the exact things issue and be willing to try other things. Costco doesn't have the best pizza, but it's still a good pizza. The best pizza is a 35-minute drive, but Costco is a 10-minute drive. The best pizza isn't worth 25 additional minutes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Costco is basically Walmart for the over 125k median income folks. It’s also a mental illness if you ask me - no it isn’t cheaper nor better quality - just allows people to stuff themselves more. Yes I’ve tried it but wasn’t for me. I do appreciate it as a shareholder though so keep on buying 600 granola bars at a time, thx.

What is wrong with the food at Walmart? They have the same food I get at giant, and Costco has much of the same except for cheaper, like pecorino Romano, pork shoulder, olive oil, etc. If you’re so fancy and always shop at places like that market Ina Garten goes to I don’t know why you even tried Costco in the first place.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Costco is basically Walmart for the over 125k median income folks. It’s also a mental illness if you ask me - no it isn’t cheaper nor better quality - just allows people to stuff themselves more. Yes I’ve tried it but wasn’t for me. I do appreciate it as a shareholder though so keep on buying 600 granola bars at a time, thx.

When I read posts like this I wonder if people have spent any time in a Costco. They’re absolutely cheaper and higher quality. First example I can give you is toilet paper. $20 for 30 rolls. Which is higher quality than the same $20 for 30 rolls from the target brand. Lactaid brand milk is 5.29 at Costco its 6.99 at Safeway. Dog food is loads cheaper and made by various high-quality pet food brands. I could go on and on but I think when people say it’s not cheaper or good quality than they’re just speaking out of ignorance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They should ban shopping groups of more than 2 people.. the biggest obstacle I face in there is when a whole family leisurely moves up and down the isles together- they cause traffic jams. Why do people bring their entire family with them to shop?...

Yes that and enforce a traffic pattern . At pentagon city there are a ton of people pushing their carts around as though they are from England or they are going at a snail’s pace and stopping their carts when they are in the middle of the aisle.

NP here. The traffic pattern is a brilliant idea! Mark two lanes with yellow tape, and bright yellow signs on the floors in Chinese and Spanish. There should be two lanes only - those that park in the middle ruin it for everyone. And leave your extended family at home - you have three babysitters in that group - you do not need to bring three generations!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It entirely depends on what you buy, but you can definitely save a lot of money. Last night I paid $5.99 for quart of half and half at Safeway. I know 1000% the same brand at Costco is $2.99. Huge savings.

+1. Every single thing I buy at Costco is cheaper and better than the equivalent at the grocery store. If not, I buy it at the grocery store, which I have to go to anyway for things I don't want/can't get at Costco. But I usually spend less than $50/week at the grocery store and $100-$150/week at Costco. If Costco isn't saving you money, you are doing it wrong.

+2. My kids eat tons of sliced Pepperidge Farm bread. $5.79 for 2 loaves at Costco. Regular price $4.99 for 1 loaf at Giant. Sometimes Costco even has it on sale.

See this makes me think that Pepperidge Farm is selling an inferior product to Costco and Costco is fine selling that because its customers just value price and size and are happy because of PF labeling. Like they're using odds and ends ingredients in these loaves or are slicing them a bit thinner or are using even cheaper preservatives and fillers but the customer would never realize it. I realize huge retailers like Costco negotiate hard with manufacturers and manufacturers want to supply them bc of the sheer volume of product moved, but PF selling bread at basically 50% of the price to Costco than it is to Giant, HT etc. makes me NOT want to go running to Costco.

You have it backwards. Costco stops selling items that fall beneath a quality threshold or if its cost gets too high. And if you think anything you buy is not up to standards, they have one of the best return policies in the business. They’re the larges wine distributor in the US, they sell rotisserie chicken at a loss ($4.99) and haven’t raised the price on food court hot dogs in 30 years, huge whole pepperoni pizzas are $10. You don’t understand Costco. But that’s fine with us.

yeah, there's more to Costco's business model. They're not selling inferior products (for long anyway).

[Anonymous]

The nearest Costco to me is 120 miles away. Probably a good thing.

[Anonymous]

I'm cracking up at all the Costco haters who have been exactly once and probably on a Saturday afternoon. Hate away!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm cracking up at all the Costco haters who have been exactly once and probably on a Saturday afternoon. Hate away!

There are a lot of reasons to hate Costco, but most of them don't get mentioned here.

The idiots in the parking garage at Pentagon City would be a totally reasonable reason not to become a member, though. Definitely hard on the blood pressure. Of course, they're probably equally stupid at other parking garages.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Costco is basically Walmart for the over 125k median income folks. It’s also a mental illness if you ask me - no it isn’t cheaper nor better quality - just allows people to stuff themselves more. Yes I’ve tried it but wasn’t for me. I do appreciate it as a shareholder though so keep on buying 600 granola bars at a time, thx.

It is cheaper and better quality. Look into the business model. They keep only something like 4000 skus. Walmart has something like 150k. Their distribution model means they are selling product before invoices are even due. They only take something like 12% margin and pass on savings to members. They are a phenomenal business and treat associates well.

It isn’t for everyone. But it is certainly not a Walmart for the 125k set nor a mental issue to stop there.

That would be great if it were true. I've seen plenty of stories showing the unit prices of costco items are in fact not any cheaper!

[Anonymous]

It's well known that they make their money on the membership fees not on the items the sell. They use the subscription model for their business plan.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Costco is basically Walmart for the over 125k median income folks. It’s also a mental illness if you ask me - no it isn’t cheaper nor better quality - just allows people to stuff themselves more. Yes I’ve tried it but wasn’t for me. I do appreciate it as a shareholder though so keep on buying 600 granola bars at a time, thx.

It is cheaper and better quality. Look into the business model. They keep only something like 4000 skus. Walmart has something like 150k. Their distribution model means they are selling product before invoices are even due. They only take something like 12% margin and pass on savings to members. They are a phenomenal business and treat associates well.

It isn’t for everyone. But it is certainly not a Walmart for the 125k set nor a mental issue to stop there.

That would be great if it were true. I've seen plenty of stories showing the unit prices of costco items are in fact not any cheaper!

both can be true. But for the vast majority of Costco's relatively small stock it is less expensive. Sure I saw the same article where Coke or other name brand sodas are not cheaper at Costco, or where Safeway's BOGO sales may be cheaper or Walmart's blue light something is cheaper. Those examples are few and far between. Just buy your Coke Zero when it's on sale at Giant.