What is the hype over Costco?

[Anonymous]

Agree you have to know what you're looking at price-wise. Organic whole milk is not cheaper than Safeway, but diapers, wipes, formula, contact solution, meat, and lots of other things are. Their baked goods are also surprisingly yummy.

[Anonymous]

mixed salad greens (far less expensive than most grocery stores)
salmon
paper products
crackers
popcorn
books and toys for gifts
tires

[Anonymous]

Somebody (Consumer Reports? a newspaper?) did a comparison recently with Target now that Target has a grocery section. The expectation was that Target would be competitive esp when you factor in the Costco membership fee, but the result was that the savings at Costco were significant. I let my membership lapse because I couldn't deal with the crowds/hassle, but I notice that my overall grocery/cleaning product spending has gone up.

[Anonymous]

There's a specific type of cheese we like, and I've noticed that Trader Joe's is half the cost of the grocery store and Costco is half the price of Trader Joes. I've found that the meat is not necessarily cheap, but he quality is excellent on the steaks, for example. The price is very good for what you get.

[Anonymous]

Drugstore products (ie bought 8 oral toothbrush heads for $31. They are $26 for 3 at CVS)

Cleaning Supplies

Batteries

Cereal (except if there is a sale at Giant or Safeway)

Jarred Tomato Sauce (Vittoria half the price, double the size from Giant)

Spices

[Anonymous]

We joined last year, because all our friends rave about it, but I have not been impressed. The only thing these friends really go there for are the party platters and huge volume food stuff for when they have a party. I don't find those food things all that great and prefer to feed guests things I've put together myself. Will let the membership lapse.

[Anonymous]

I only face the zoo when I go there Saturday and Sunday.

When we go during the week it's as busy as any other grocery store during the week itself.

Now, their return policy is just AMAZING!!!!

Every time I want to try a new product I buy it there. If I don't like it they'll take it back and won't even ask a question!

Kid's clothes? Half of the price! Every day socks, underwear, shoes, books, DVDs, everything!

I love that place!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Their food court pizza is amazing!

The kirkland brand wipes are by far my favorite baby wipe and you can't beat the price on those.

We find their prices on other things are usually better, but not always. We also buy a fair amount of kids pajamas and such there (Carter's, Hanna Anderson).

I haven't been there in ages. Do they still have the Chicken Melt? That, alone, was worth the membership.

[Anonymous]

They have gift cards at a discount. Last Christmastime I got several $20 Starbucks cards at $16 each, a 20% discount. It was a fabulous deal. Also large presents for the holidays are a great deal at Costco--we got DD a huge princess dress-up box at half the price of elsewhere, for example. Also other annual things--I compare every year, and Costco always has the lowest price on TurboTax, for example. If you buy popular books, they will be HUGELY less than elsewhere, even Amazon. I could go on and on...

[Anonymous]

For us, the dog food alone is worth the membership. We have a large German Shepherd Dog. Costco has a dog food that is identical to the expensive Taste of the Wild brand. It's awesome!

But if I were a working mom, I probably wouldn't have a membership. I've been in Costco exactly one time on the weekend. It was horrible. I shop right when they open on weekdays when it's not crowded. If I couldn't do that, I wouldn't shop there.

[Anonymous]

The have excellent prices on organic chicken and ground beef. Their sea food is also pretty good, but I agree, it helps if you have a deep freezer for stocking up on things like that.

[Anonymous]

Brita filters -- costco prices blows everyone else out of the water.

Dog beds -- costco price is $17; Petco price is $49.99 for the same thing.

Swiffer duster refills. a fraction of the cost of Target, Safeway, even Walmart


(those are just three things I haven't seen mentioned yet; I agree with PPs on several things they've already mentioned).

[Anonymous]

Agree re: swiffers.

Also, diapers, wipes (Kirkland brand), formula (also Kirkland).

Party supplies and foods.

Great bakery section (especially the cakes and croissants!)

OK price on beer and wine sometimes.

Hanna Andersson pjs for $12.

And, most importantly, ROTISSERIE CHICKEN!!!!!!!!

[Anonymous]

I work. I cannot chase lowest prices at Target, Safeway, Giant, Trader Joes, etc. each week. I buy bulk snacks, meat, milk, paper products, etc. and it's great. When I buy baked goods, veggies, etc. I plan to have ILs over for dinner soon after so I can use a big part of it up.

[Anonymous]

I buy eyeglasses there. So much cheaper than an optical store. Even with the $50 membership, one pair of eyeglasses will save you a lot of money, depending on the frames. I've also bought their Kirkland SS cooking pans -- much cheaper than anywhere else, and they are great. I buy batteries and printer cartridges there, likewise much cheaper. I rarely buy food there because I don't need a huge bag of fresh anything that I can't freeze. I've never seen organic chicken at our Costco. Toilet paper is usually cheaper on sale at CVS or Giant, but sometimes I buy it at Costco when I'm there to buy something else. Photos are much cheaper if you need prints. Also holiday cards are cheaper. I bought my smartphone there, and saved about $50. Sometimes they have organic olive oil, which is a little cheaper than Whole Foods or Trader Joe's. Reverse osmosis filter refills are cheaper online at Costco too. You have to hunt around. I agree that the place is a zoo, and I hate shopping there, but I need to save money, and it's worth enduring a trip there once a month. Gas is cheaper too, but our Costco is way too far from our house to buy gas there regularly.