Anonymous
Post 01/05/2025 22:18     Subject: I am not cut out for Costco
Anonymous wrote:Just saw this on social media. The worst 5 costcos in the U.S. The local store listed is Gaitherburg at #4

Link is to a IG reel.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DETEDEwRBfn/?igsh=MXNpbXN2M29jNTM3cw==


PO. Gaitherburg which they spell and pronounce wrong is #5.
Anonymous
Post 01/05/2025 22:17     Subject: Re:I am not cut out for Costco
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Gaithersburg Costco is its own special kind of hell. Save your sanity, drive up to Frederick or literally any other (except maybe Pentagon City).
The DC Costco is great!


Shh, don't tell the suburbanites! All the Costcos they mentioned are hellish because of the physical layout and space, but also because of the people who go there. We don't want them coming to DC. I won't pretend the DC location is an island of tranquility, but I actually enjoy going.


The liquor is great, but otherwise? It’s Costco.
Anonymous
Post 01/05/2025 22:11     Subject: I am not cut out for Costco
Just saw this on social media. The worst 5 costcos in the U.S. The local store listed is Gaitherburg at #4

Link is to a IG reel.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DETEDEwRBfn/?igsh=MXNpbXN2M29jNTM3cw==
Anonymous
Post 01/05/2025 14:37     Subject: Re:I am not cut out for Costco
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Gaithersburg Costco is its own special kind of hell. Save your sanity, drive up to Frederick or literally any other (except maybe Pentagon City).
The DC Costco is great!


Shh, don't tell the suburbanites! All the Costcos they mentioned are hellish because of the physical layout and space, but also because of the people who go there. We don't want them coming to DC. I won't pretend the DC location is an island of tranquility, but I actually enjoy going.


I went there once after it first opened and was astounded how much of the floor space was dedicated to high end liquor (which makes sense since MD and VA locations can’t sell it). I couldn’t find a lot of my regular stuff because of all the liquor. Have they adjusted the balance now?
This is similar to why I don’t go to the College Park Costco — they have huge kosher and halal sections so I feel like I can’t find my regular stuff there.


There is no Costco in College Park. Do you mean Beltsville?
Anonymous
Post 01/05/2025 14:33     Subject: Re:I am not cut out for Costco
I have a guest membership to Costco and Sams on my son's account but I don't go to either very often. What throws me is remembering which giant store I'm in and where the few items I do buy at those places are.
Anonymous
Post 01/05/2025 12:33     Subject: Re:I am not cut out for Costco
Anonymous wrote:Just spend 20 minutes googling the things you buy at costco and compare to walmart and your local grocery store. Costco is more expensive than all other places for all things.


Some things. Not all things. You have to know what to buy where. If you don’t want to be aware of price standards, it helps.
Anonymous
Post 01/05/2025 12:19     Subject: Re:I am not cut out for Costco
Anonymous wrote:Just spend 20 minutes googling the things you buy at costco and compare to walmart and your local grocery store. Costco is more expensive than all other places for all things.


10000000%. years ago 20/20 or one of those news magazine shows did an entire show about this.

You pay more for the headache that is the costco experience.
Anonymous
Post 01/05/2025 12:07     Subject: Re:I am not cut out for Costco
Just spend 20 minutes googling the things you buy at costco and compare to walmart and your local grocery store. Costco is more expensive than all other places for all things.
Anonymous
Post 01/05/2025 12:07     Subject: I am not cut out for Costco
^^^forgot to add I also buy canned beans and tomato products there. As well as cereal and granola.

I actually get meats at the grocer usually because I don’t want those in bulk.
Anonymous
Post 01/05/2025 12:05     Subject: I am not cut out for Costco
Anonymous wrote:Not sure why you'd go for daily groceries unless you had like a 6 person family min business is good bye I heard Sam's Cub is better for business shopping.

Costco has a few items highly worthy of the shopping experience. Google them.

I think their parm cheese is imported from Italy direct. Their wine selection is above average as their linens. They carry interesting seasonal items that are good to look at even if you don't get from them it's fun to shop there in a manner of speaking. Their cinnamon is top shelf as olive oil for cooking. Def toilet paper and cleaning supplies like detergent, Claritin, stuff in bulk to get.

You'd be surprised how good the Kirkland brand measures up to other house brands. I'm not suggesting it's top shelf for everything but as someone who shops at Niemans, I like Costco . You're not going to get unfortunately your flavors for everything you prefer like Goldfish unfortunately is only cheddar. But I hear it's location/state dependent, the CA ones are the bomb!

I'm not sure I'd join specifically for the shopping opportunity there but if you had some disposable income and time, it's not a horrible waste of money to consider.


We have a family of 4 (2 teen girls who don’t eat that much) and I go once a week and buy at least 50% of our food there. My weekly list would look something like:

Milk
Eggs
Various berries
Romaine lettuce
Tomatoes and cucumbers
Bag of sweet peppers
Bananas
Brussels sprouts or asparagus
Replace whatever crunchy snack we might be out of
A prepared meal (like stuffed peppers or steet tacos)
Bread or bagels when we are out
Whatever oil/syrup/other pantry item we may be out of
Anonymous
Post 01/05/2025 11:44     Subject: I am not cut out for Costco
Not sure why you'd go for daily groceries unless you had like a 6 person family min business is good bye I heard Sam's Cub is better for business shopping.

Costco has a few items highly worthy of the shopping experience. Google them.

I think their parm cheese is imported from Italy direct. Their wine selection is above average as their linens. They carry interesting seasonal items that are good to look at even if you don't get from them it's fun to shop there in a manner of speaking. Their cinnamon is top shelf as olive oil for cooking. Def toilet paper and cleaning supplies like detergent, Claritin, stuff in bulk to get.

You'd be surprised how good the Kirkland brand measures up to other house brands. I'm not suggesting it's top shelf for everything but as someone who shops at Niemans, I like Costco . You're not going to get unfortunately your flavors for everything you prefer like Goldfish unfortunately is only cheddar. But I hear it's location/state dependent, the CA ones are the bomb!

I'm not sure I'd join specifically for the shopping opportunity there but if you had some disposable income and time, it's not a horrible waste of money to consider.
Anonymous
Post 01/05/2025 11:08     Subject: Re:I am not cut out for Costco
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Gaithersburg Costco is its own special kind of hell. Save your sanity, drive up to Frederick or literally any other (except maybe Pentagon City).
The DC Costco is great!


Shh, don't tell the suburbanites! All the Costcos they mentioned are hellish because of the physical layout and space, but also because of the people who go there. We don't want them coming to DC. I won't pretend the DC location is an island of tranquility, but I actually enjoy going.


I went there once after it first opened and was astounded how much of the floor space was dedicated to high end liquor (which makes sense since MD and VA locations can’t sell it). I couldn’t find a lot of my regular stuff because of all the liquor. Have they adjusted the balance now?
This is similar to why I don’t go to the College Park Costco — they have huge kosher and halal sections so I feel like I can’t find my regular stuff there.
Anonymous
Post 01/05/2025 10:50     Subject: Re:I am not cut out for Costco
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Gaithersburg Costco is its own special kind of hell. Save your sanity, drive up to Frederick or literally any other (except maybe Pentagon City).
The DC Costco is great!


Shh, don't tell the suburbanites! All the Costcos they mentioned are hellish because of the physical layout and space, but also because of the people who go there. We don't want them coming to DC. I won't pretend the DC location is an island of tranquility, but I actually enjoy going.


Don’t worry. I don’t voluntarily go to DC unless it’s for a museum or a show.
Anonymous
Post 01/05/2025 10:47     Subject: I am not cut out for Costco
We love Costco so much my DH got a job there!
Anonymous
Post 01/05/2025 10:26     Subject: I am not cut out for Costco
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:the Gaithersburg one is the worst. I use instacart for costco and refuse to step foot in there.

every 3 months or so I will drive out to the frederick costco and it’s a dream in comparison.


Instacart fees plus the Costco fee probably negate any savings.


Nope-And there are things that I can only get at costco. Also have non perishables shipped all the time and that alone makes it worth it. But I have 3 teenage boys so obviously my circumstances make bulk shopping a necessity. We also have a sam’s membership (I only do pickup) and walmart plus. I will do whatever to make things easier for myself 🙂.


Also if you have a Costco membership and go through their site, the Instacart fees aren’t bad.


About 50% more with tip.


Just have Costco deliver it.


sameday.costco.com is via instacart but cheaper than starting your shopping on instacart.

Costco is not always cheaper than the regular grocery store but it is cheaper for elevated items - Kerrygold, Raos, etc. If you're buying store brand or Prego, you're probably not going to save much.

Again, don't sleep on the stuff online either.