I am also not cut out for Costco.

At one point, we had memberships (or access) to all three: BJ’s, Costco, and Sam’s. Our Henrico/Richmond Costco also has the parking lot from he77. They had the best photo center and house brand diapers we loved but we didn’t really find the value in it once those needs lessened and dropped it first. I really liked BJ’s the best - especially their slice-to-order deli, smaller sizes, and that they took coupons. But our normal routine no longer takes us in that direction so it’s been dropped too.

Sam’s is “ok”, our local RVA one is well-run, with the same (and very visible) manager for many years and their clothing selections are good values of name (not house) brands. It also is the (low) price driver/setter for gas and the staff is friendly and fellow customers congenial.

With family size shrinking as the DC head off to college, we’ll continue to re-evaluate whether it’s even worth to keep our last one….but hats off to those who can navigate the Costco experience.

Anonymous wrote:I am a foolish, foolish person. I decided to join Costco, and picked today to go and do it, thinking mid-morning on a weekday while people were at work would be smart. I went to the Gaithersburg location. OMG. It’s like if Gladiator and Squid Game were documentaries. The parking lot must qualify as one of the top 5 most populated cities in the U.S. just getting into the store— across the cross walk and through the entrance— required feats of aggression and a willingness to sacrifice elderly parents, young children, your limbs. Eventually I did make it inside with a cart and did some shopping, only to have my cart “taken” when I turned my head to look at something (or maybe they just took all the stuff in it, as there was an empty cart where my half full one had been when I turned back around).
To sum up: Costco has Kerry Gold butter for a good price, but I can’t imagine how I will ever succeed in buying it.

I agree - just not worth it to me . Plus you often have to buy items in bulk. I don’t like having too much stuff in my home and I feel like a prepper after shopping at Costco.

I don't like the vibe there (Gaithersberg store) and don’t like buying more than what is needed.

But various family and friends swear by it. Maybe the Gaithersberg one is particularly bad

OP, you had the sheep instinct and followed the herd without thinking. I go to Costco between 7 and 8 PM. The Fairfax Costco is the biggest one on the East Coast. I've gone on midday Sundays and it was a zoo every time. Getting gas? That is another line and the wait there is outrageous. Why are people willing to wait (burning gas) for 40 minutes to get gas that is 20 cents cheaper.... will never understand this.

I joined, found I wasn’t actually saving money over grocery store prices, the parking was a disaster, so I asked for a refund after a few visits.

Gaithersburg is THE WORST Costco in the area. It’s not for rookies.

Everytime they close for a day, the next couple of days are crazy. Add to it the impending weather and you have the perfect storm for Costco craziness. My husband had surgery this morning and decided today was the day he needed his Kirkland protein powder, so I had to make the trip. :/

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.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s the snow and the semi-holiday week, plus Gaithersburg. Normal weekday at Wheaton is fine.

People don’t work in Gaithersburg?

The Gaithersburg Costco is generally more hellish than the Wheaton Costco.

My experience too. The Gaithersburg one seems to have a lot of East and southeast Asian families who shop together. And by together, I mean grandparents, parents and three kids. It’s hard to maneuver around all of them.

Yeah I know...grandma walking around in a daze...like its the 8th wonder of the world...

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.

Anonymous wrote:Your post is hilarious. I find I am always put into a daze when I am in Costco, and the random selection of items I wind up purchasing is always mysterious. Is it going to be marinated olives, 800 pounds of raisins, and fleece pajamas? Or is it going to be a multipack of protein chips, 8 pounds of butter, and four bottles of ketchup? You had the perfect storm of location, timing, and impending bad weather. Try again another day!

This! My last trip was AA batteries, a giant jar of Better than Bouillon, 2 liter bottles of coke, and a huge block of cheese.

The kicker? I was only there to return some lightbulbs I bought the last time that turned out to be the wrong size.

My husband is not allowed to renew his Costco membership because then he squirrels away large quantities of food in our tiny house.

So I agree that for various reasons, a lot of people are not cut out for Costco!

Your post is hilarious. I find I am always put into a daze when I am in Costco, and the random selection of items I wind up purchasing is always mysterious. Is it going to be marinated olives, 800 pounds of raisins, and fleece pajamas? Or is it going to be a multipack of protein chips, 8 pounds of butter, and four bottles of ketchup? You had the perfect storm of location, timing, and impending bad weather. Try again another day!

Anonymous wrote:

So, what are everyone's favorite Costco items??

There are some really good threads here on this if you do a search. Here’s one: https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1090539.page

Eyeglasses
Cars (they have an arrangement with local dealers)
Photos

Go right at opening on a weekday. But not when people are panicking about snow.

Anonymous wrote:Haha this post is so well timed. I joined Costco for the first time in November and the first time I went I was like "omg I can't do this."

My second visit was better though it's still big and overwhelming.

We got the membership for a specific large appliance purchase and got a very good deal on it, plus our membership was super cheap due to Black Friday pricing, so it's worth it even if I never go back. I don't know if we'll keep it past this year. A lot of stuff is not actually any cheaper on a per unit basis at Costco, you just are forced to buy a lot of it. But there are some things that are a deal. So far batteries, all purpose flour, olive oil, and toothpaste have been the best deals on everyday items. I also might buy some lamps and bed pillows there.

Sheets, winter gloves, wool socks, nuts, coffee, expensive fruit (eg raspberries, cherries, mangos) and kerrygold are also awesome deals. Stuff like meat, pasta, beans, apples, electronics tends to be equal to the regular store sale price.