Is Costco worth $55 a year?

[brunette8706]

Not for nothing, but Costco is also well known for treating their employees very well. I think the average starting salary for store workers is like $14 or so an hour, there are benefits packages, etc. They're very commited to being responsible employers and keeping workers happy - they've been repeatedly noted as being one of the best places to work in the country.

Sam's is part of Walmart... not known for treating their employees well, in general.

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NOt sure that is quite accurate. I love SAMS and they are open later on the weekends than Costco. But what I have heard about Costco is that they did had a CLASS ACTION suit against them.

 

[My2CrazyGirls]

OP here! I just wanted to thank everyone for their input! I went to Costco today, looked around, and decided to join! We did the executive membership and received $20 gift card back for joining. Then my husband and I also signed up for the amex and each got $25 back for signing up. They did have the Kirkland peanut butter! I got the organic strawberry jam, real maple syrup, strawberries, peppers, cucumbers, a bathing suit for my little one, my husband actually bought a shirt and other stuff. The meat looks GREAT. I am VERY picky with meat, I won't even buy it at Giant unless I get the Nature's Promise. However I actually bought regular bonless skinless chicken breast (2.99 pound) as well as filet mignon (11.99 a pound). I am used to paying much more. We will be eating some this weekend and freezing the rest. We got a bunch of stuff and spent almost $250!

I am surprised to be so excited about Costco. It is a million times better than Sam's. Sam's sells way too much junk IMO. The only problem was the gas line was sooooooooooo long that we skipped it!

Thanks again!

 

[Tiger926]

OP here! I just wanted to thank everyone for their input! I went to Costco today, looked around, and decided to join! We did the executive membership and received $20 gift card back for joining. Then my husband and I also signed up for the amex and each got $25 back for signing up. They did have the Kirkland peanut butter! I got the organic strawberry jam, real maple syrup, strawberries, peppers, cucumbers, a bathing suit for my little one, my husband actually bought a shirt and other stuff. The meat looks GREAT. I am VERY picky with meat, I won't even buy it at Giant unless I get the Nature's Promise. However I actually bought regular bonless skinless chicken breast (2.99 pound) as well as filet mignon (11.99 a pound). I am used to paying much more. We will be eating some this weekend and freezing the rest. We got a bunch of stuff and spent almost $250!

I am surprised to be so excited about Costco. It is a million times better than Sam's. Sam's sells way too much junk IMO. The only problem was the gas line was sooooooooooo long that we skipped it!

Thanks again!

Congrats!!! Welcome to the wonderful world of Costco!

You are so lucky that the prices at US Costcos are so reasonable for meat. Our chicken breast is $6.13/lb here, but at the grocery store it is over $8.00/lb.

Have a great time shopping at Costco! Our store is a few minutes from our house, and we go at least 1-2x a week.

Tiger

 

[bedogged]

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NOt sure that is quite accurate. I love SAMS and they are open later on the weekends than Costco. But what I have heard about Costco is that they did have a CLASS ACTION suit against them.

I think you have it wrong. Until recently Sam's Club had a discrimination class action law suit against it. My daughter has worked for Sam's Club for over 10 years and was not a part of the suit. I am a member of both. I can say that in my opinion and family experience, Sam's Club DOES shamefully discriminate against woman

 

[brunette8706]

I think you have it wrong. Until recently Sam's Club had a discrimination class action law suit against it. My daughter has worked for Sam's Club for over 10 years and was not a part of the suit. I am a member of both. I can say that in my opinion and family experience, Sam's Club DOES shamefully discriminate against woman

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No, I am not wrong. Costco had a class action suit against women.

http://genderclassactionagainstcostco.com/costco94.pl

http://genderclassactionagainstcostco.com/costco94.pl?wsi=0&websys_screen=public_case_developments

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OP Glad you decided to join Costco, they do have great products and great home and auto insurance.

 

[cornflake]

If I were to list the suits against Walmart for their labour practices the thread would move into double digits.

Costco has been named more than once, by more than one survey as one of the best places to work in the country. They do start their workers at significantly above minimum wage and provide access to benefits in a way that Walmart does not.

Costco has also never been accused of the kind of abuses that Walmart repeatedly has.

 

[My2CrazyGirls]

BTW, we tried the peanut butter and I like it better than the Whole Foods one. And we tried the ground coffee and it is decent. I love Dunkin Donuts ground (the kind you buy in the Dunkin Donuts, not the kind from the grocery store (they are different) but it costs me $24 to buy 3 pounds of that. The 3 pounds of Kirkman was 12.99!

 

[wishesuponastar]

We love Dunkin Donuts coffee too but it would kill me to pay $24 for it. We get the Folgers at Costco, I forget the price. DH didn't care too much for the Kirkland.

 

[Chim Chiminy]

We are weekly shoppers at Costco, with an executive membership. They gave a military discount when we signed up, which was nice.

We love the quality of the in house Kirkland brand. Regularly buy paper products, meat, chicken, dog food, veggies, fruits, frozen veg., pizzas. We have a son in college and I split a lot of our bulk purchases so he has food to cook in his dorm. Also always fill up on gas. The line is always long, but moves quickly.
We joke that we are stealing every time my husband gets a hot dog/drink combo from the food court. How can they sell that for $1.50? What a bargain!

And for parties/sleepovers, we call in and order pizza. We like it better than any of the delivery places around.

 

[Judique]

We are weekly shoppers at Costco, with an executive membership. They gave a military discount when we signed up, which was nice.

We love the quality of the in house Kirkland brand. Regularly buy paper products, meat, chicken, dog food, veggies, fruits, frozen veg., pizzas. We have a son in college and I split a lot of our bulk purchases so he has food to cook in his dorm. Also always fill up on gas. The line is always long, but moves quickly.
We joke that we are stealing every time my husband gets a hot dog/drink combo from the food court. How can they sell that for $1.50? What a bargain!

And for parties/sleepovers, we call in and order pizza. We like it better than any of the delivery places around.

In Maryland, I rarely have to wait in line for gas. In Virginia, I don't even bother - the line is impossible! I think the Maryland line is better because there is both Wawa and Safeway gas very close and both are pretty competitive to the Costco price, within 3-4 cents.

 

[My2CrazyGirls]

In Maryland, I rarely have to wait in line for gas. In Virginia, I don't even bother - the line is impossible! I think the Maryland line is better because there is both Wawa and Safeway gas very close and both are pretty competitive to the Costco price, within 3-4 cents.

Which MD one do you go to? I went to Arundel Mills and the gas lines were about 10 cars deep each line. I might try the Glen Burnie one next.

 

[Judique]

Which MD one do you go to? I went to Arundel Mills and the gas lines were about 10 cars deep each line. I might try the Glen Burnie one next.

Brandywine. I love our Costco...I think it is a bit better than all the ones in the area. maybe I'm biased by my familiarity with it.

Sounds like you are north. I am south. Once in a while I go to Arundel....even parking for the mall gets to be a hassle! I usually drop in there coming and going from BWI...I'm always dropping a kid of or picking them up. One year they were both working for the same company flying in and out twice a week...I did the Arundel Mills Costco all the time that year.

 

[My2CrazyGirls]

Brandywine. I love our Costco...I think it is a bit better than all the ones in the area. maybe I'm biased by my familiarity with it.

Sounds like you are north. I am south. Once in a while I go to Arundel....even parking for the mall gets to be a hassle! I usually drop in there coming and going from BWI...I'm always dropping a kid of or picking them up. One year they were both working for the same company flying in and out twice a week...I did the Arundel Mills Costco all the time that year.

I don't like the Arundel Mills Mall very much. I did really enjoy the Costco though, hard to imagine a nicer one, you are lucky

 

[hjvigz72]

ABSOLUTELY!!!!!

And I agree with "Wishesuponastar". I also upgrade to the executive to get the 2% back. The check I get in the mail more than pays for the cost of the membership. I buy as much there as I can.

A woman and I were in the grocery store on Monday talking about the cost of Birthday Cake, for example. The Little Teeny Cake in the bakery there was going to cost her $22, with her discount card! A birthday cake at COSTCO, which is at least twice the size of said cake would have been about $16. Even if she ended up throwing out cake had she stopped at COSTCO first, she would have saved money.

Do it, you won't regret it!