Tell me about Costco

[SDSorority]

Hi everyone. Tell me about Costco. We just got one about a month ago. Is it worth the membership fee? Do they have gluten-free items and produce?

TIA for any information!!

 

[Ashlotte]

Hi everyone. Tell me about Costco. We just got one about a month ago. Is it worth the membership fee? Do they have gluten-free items and produce?

TIA for any information!!

We LOVE Costco and buy all sorts of things there: furniture, electronics, Disney Cruises , rugs, checks, money market accounts, rental cars, holiday gift baskets, photos, glasses, toys, books, clothes, cat food and litter, stamps, and food. If the Costco near you sells gas, that is always the best deal around.

They do have lots of gluten free items, as that is very popular right now. They also have produce, but in larger quantities and not as much organic as I would like.

 

[APiratesLifeForMe2]

Hi everyone. Tell me about Costco. We just got one about a month ago. Is it worth the membership fee? Do they have gluten-free items and produce?

TIA for any information!!

I love Costco and have been a member for over 6 years. I am gluten free and find many items safe for me (with the exception of their fresh bakery items). Lots of good produce, meats and seafood. I also love their furniture and they often carry decent name brand clothing.

 

[maplevale]

Like anything it depends on your preferences and your shopping/eating habits!

We love Costco - for us, bread, milk, cheese and eggs are cheaper then a conventional grocery store. Bulk items like Goldfish, apple sauces, granola bars etc. Diapers and formula have saved us a ton!

On the flip- the meat is more expensive. But compared to the local stores it is WAY nicer. Same with produce (which means instead of 4 kinds of fruit we maybe get 2 and eat it all week).

LOVE the clothing and gifts sections. Some unique items and good prices (books, movies etc.)

We have the Executive Membership. It costs more - but we have easily gotten our % back to cover the cost (in turn then saving us at least the 'regular' membership fee). And I am not a crazy $400 cart Costco shopper -

 

[Disney Dynamite]

I love my Costco membership. When my husband and I first joined last year, I thought the membership was pretty pointless for our family of two, but we've used it way more than I expected. In addition to the things other posters have mentioned, I love the Costco brand paper towels, and I can buy a gallon of milk cheaper at Costco than almost anywhere else in my city. Their Sonicare toothbrush heads are also a steal. Ours has a really nice produce department - I've been very impressed with it.

 

[DizMe]

I love Costco! But be careful...many items may seem like a good deal because you're buying in bulk, but in fact you are paying more. You have to check the prices against other stores to know whether or not you're getting a good deal, and that takes some time to figure out.

Another caution is to go in with a list and stick to those areas/items or you can easily end up spending 3 times what you intended

Lots of great deals and wonderful products, but you do have to be careful or you'll find a whole bunch of things you "need" that you never even knew about

 

[michelleh1]

You should be able to go and check it out without buying a membership. Just stop by member services and let them know you want to see what they offer. I love their coupon books and feel like I save money on name brand products.

 

[vikster1]

You should be able to go and check it out without buying a membership. Just stop by member services and let them know you want to see what they offer. I love their coupon books and feel like I save money on name brand products.

Yes, you can go in and look around. However, you can't buy anything without the membership.

I have a Costco and Bj's. They have different things. Milk is always much cheaper than the grocery store.

Just watch the expiration dates on the dips and refrigerated items.

 

[wendow]

We've been Costco members for almost 7 years. Joined in Dec 2006 I'm a huge fan. We buy pretty much anything we can there.

They do have a ton of gf and df food items. Ours carries almond flour, coconut oil, flax meal, quinoa, coconut milk, almond milk and tons of other foods that fit our special diet nicely and for less money

The meat is better quality and cheaper, imo. Organic beef is way cheaper than organic beef elsewhere.

We buy eggs, yogurt, almost all produce, coffee, nuts, diapers, toilet paper, paper towels, tissues, etc.

We don't buy a ton of things like crackers, granola bars, chips or soda. I'm not sure how those things compare price-wise. If I buy a 'junk' food, I don't want Costco size quantities

So, we buy a lot there, eat it all and save a ton of money. But we are a family of 6 and we rarely eat out. If we had less people and didn't eat at home as much as we do, I'm not sure I'd feel it was worthwhile.

We also do the Executive membership. I *do* routinely spend $400 per cart

 

[wendow]

Another caution is to go in with a list and stick to those areas/items or you can easily end up spending 3 times what you intended

Lots of great deals and wonderful products, but you do have to be careful or you'll find a whole bunch of things you "need" that you never even knew about

This is good advice. There is about 1/3 of the store I never venture into. I stick to my list and my known aisles

 

[jnfr2424]

I am a 10 year Costco member! One of the best places to buy electronics!! From the Tv blu ray camera printer I've brought it there. They have a great return policy and what everyone else had previously posted is the truth!!!! Also tires and even vacations you can get great deals. Happy Shopping

 

[NYCDiane]

I had memberships to both at one time a few years back. I stuck with BJs, though.

What I didn't like about Costco was that:

1. They didn't take coupons

2. You can't use credit cards

3. I found some of their prices to be much higher than BJs.

Things might have changed but I'm going to stick w/BJs. If Costco would give out a free trial membership so I could go check it out again, I would consider joining again. Unfortunately (for them), they don't so I'll be sticking with BJs.

 

[Ashlotte]

I am a 10 year Costco member! One of the best places to buy electronics!! From the Tv blu ray camera printer I've brought it there. They have a great return policy and what everyone else had previously posted is the truth!!!! Also tires and even vacations you can get great deals. Happy Shopping

Ah, yes. I forgot tires in my list. We have also bought tires, car batteries, two tvs, and cameras. We have been members since the 90's and would not consider getting rid of our membership. We have the executive membership, which I believe is $100. Our rebate check is always well over that (most recent was $150), so the membership cost is totally covered with the rebate for us. Love Costco!

Also for some reason we like to go to other Costcos when we are out of town because they often carry totally different stuff. When we go to Maui, we always stop by the one there to get groceries, and they have all sorts of great things to buy and take home to give as gifts (macadamia nut chocolates, Kona coffee, beach towels, etc). We also stopped by one in California on a road trip and were excited/shocked/jealous to discover Costcos in California sell hard alcohol, which is against the law in Oregon. That Costco also had WAY more organic snack food than we do. We stocked up (on the liquor and the organic snacks).

 

[wiigirl]

I love Costco and have been a member for over 6 years. I am gluten free and find many items safe for me (with the exception of their fresh bakery items). Lots of good produce, meats and seafood. I also love their furniture and they often carry decent name brand clothing.

 

[dawnhaze]

I don't know about gluten free items, but I thought it was worth the membership fee when I was shopping for a 4 person household. Now that I shop for a 2 person household, I don't have a membership anymore. I just don't use large quantities of stuff fast enough anymore.

 

[stacielee]

I had memberships to both at one time a few years back. I stuck with BJs, though.

What I didn't like about Costco was that:

1. They didn't take coupons

2. You can't use credit cards

3. I found some of their prices to be much higher than BJs.

Things might have changed but I'm going to stick w/BJs. If Costco would give out a free trial membership so I could go check it out again, I would consider joining again. Unfortunately (for them), they don't so I'll be sticking with BJs.

Pretty much the same here, but it was between Sam's Club, which we had for several years, and Costco. Decided this year to try Costco... we are going back to Sam's Club. Costco had a couple of things that Sam's Club doesn't, but not enough that I would go there instead of Sam's Club. I think you get used to buying certain things and when you go somewhere else and they don't have what you want, you're disappointed. And the lines!!! AWFUL at Costco. Prices are pretty comparable between the 2, gas is pretty much the same price at both, and usually cheaper than regular gas stations. But the lines... AWFUL!!! Can't say that enough! I'm sure it doesn't help that I'm in the Phoenix area and the snowbirds are back, which makes it even worse.

 

[mhsjax]

Yes, you can go in and look around. However, you can't buy anything without the membership.

I have a Costco and Bj's. They have different things. Milk is always much cheaper than the grocery store.

Just watch the expiration dates on the dips and refrigerated items.

IT must vary somewhat. We pay less at Costco for milk, but I know prices in grocery stores vary from state to state, city to city.

 

[mhsjax]

I had memberships to both at one time a few years back. I stuck with BJs, though.

What I didn't like about Costco was that:

1. They didn't take coupons

2. You can't use credit cards

3. I found some of their prices to be much higher than BJs.

Things might have changed but I'm going to stick w/BJs. If Costco would give out a free trial membership so I could go check it out again, I would consider joining again. Unfortunately (for them), they don't so I'll be sticking with BJs.

I think everyone should check out these types of stores. Sams, Costco, BJs. I know for me, I won't set foot in a BJs. I find it to be dirty and very limited in what they offer. Didn't help that I once purchased meat there that turned out to have a lovely green slimy film on the bottom. Haven't set foot in there since. I have friends that love it and buy all their meat there. I just can't bring myself to go there.

ETA: We have Sams and Costco memberships. We like them both for different things.

 

[bdcp]

They used to offer a free 30 day membership when they opened a new store, do they not do that anymore?

We use them quite a bit for paper products, trash bags, vitamins, frozen chicken breasts, milk. The milk is cheaper and comes in gallon containers lasts quite a while as they keep it very cold in a walk in fridge. Some items are in too large of quantities for DH and I. A lot of small businesses shop there.

As for other stores, BJ's was always my favorite for their products, but the only one around here is farther away. We used to belong to Sam's too, but quit going there as it's location stinks. Costco is on our way home from work, actually about 1 mile from work so easy to use.

 

[Phlip]

I had memberships to both at one time a few years back. I stuck with BJs, though.

What I didn't like about Costco was that:

1. They didn't take coupons

2. You can't use credit cards

3. I found some of their prices to be much higher than BJs.

Things might have changed but I'm going to stick w/BJs. If Costco would give out a free trial membership so I could go check it out again, I would consider joining again. Unfortunately (for them), they don't so I'll be sticking with BJs.

Costco has their own coupons from their vendors-
Costco accepts the American Express card.
Check the unit price on items carried at both Costco and BJ's. The BJ's near me carries a smaller size for a slightly lower price. Costco's item is a better value.
Costco has a much better return policy.
BJ'S does have great prices on diapers, formula and baby food. Use a manufacturers coupon and it's a steal. But I don't need that stuff any more.
I drive past 2 BJ's to shop at Costco.