# Never been to Costco? What huge businesses/experiences have you foregone? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 25, 2025, 11:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/never-been-to-costco-what-huge-businesses-experiences-have-you-foregone/1020112 "2025-06-25T11:37:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![Tatterdemalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/43a26b/32.png) [@Tatterdemalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tatterdemalion)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2025, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/never-been-to-costco-what-huge-businesses-experiences-have-you-foregone/1020112/141 "2025-06-29T01:25:20Z")
The jury agreed. ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2025, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/never-been-to-costco-what-huge-businesses-experiences-have-you-foregone/1020112/142 "2025-06-30T17:07:58Z")
Lots of reasons - I only did it once, but it was because I didn’t feel like cooking but if I drove to pick the food up, I probably wouldn’t be able to park when I got back. ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2025, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/never-been-to-costco-what-huge-businesses-experiences-have-you-foregone/1020112/143 "2025-06-30T17:54:39Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > Speaking of which, I have used Uber exactly zero times in my life. If I need transportation on a one-time basis, I will pick up the “telephone” and call this wondrous service called “a taxi”. I used to call a car service when I was at home - right up until I got a call on a snowy day saying that 1) I was given the wrong price when I booked the ride the day before - it would now be $20 more and 2) They hadn’t yet found a driver. A few more updates on their lack of a driver until it was nearly time to leave - the Uber was at my house in five minutes. I pretty much always take Uber/Lyft when I’m away from home unless there’s a line of taxis waiting outside the airport/hotel. Pretty sure some of the Uber/Lyft rides I’ve gotten were car service/cabs anyway. Never been to Costo but have been to BJs. Never been to Hobby Lobby. Never been to Whole Foods. Never been to an actual national park although I’ve been to non-parks managed by the National Park Service like Ellis Island and the Gateway Recreation Area. Never been to Europe. ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2025, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/never-been-to-costco-what-huge-businesses-experiences-have-you-foregone/1020112/144 "2025-06-30T18:52:25Z")
> [@doreen](#): > > Never been to Costo but have been to BJs. Did you mean TJ’s? ---
**Author:** ![BippityBoppityBoo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bippityboppityboo/32/5745_2.png) [@BippityBoppityBoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BippityBoppityBoo)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2025, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/never-been-to-costco-what-huge-businesses-experiences-have-you-foregone/1020112/145 "2025-06-30T18:54:35Z")
> [@Jeff\_Lichtman](#): > > Did you mean TJ’s? BJ’s is another big box discount club/store. Not related toTJ’s or Trader Joe’s. [https://www.bjs.com/](https://www.bjs.com/) ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2025, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/never-been-to-costco-what-huge-businesses-experiences-have-you-foregone/1020112/146 "2025-06-30T18:54:49Z")
Nope , I meant [BJs](https://www.bjs.com/) ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2025, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/never-been-to-costco-what-huge-businesses-experiences-have-you-foregone/1020112/147 "2025-06-30T22:30:32Z")
I’ve never been a member of a warehouse club, and to the best I can recall I’ve never set foot in a Costco or Sam’s Club. My parents did have a BJ’s membership for a while when I was in college, though. As someone who lives alone I just don’t have much need to buy things in bulk. Although I’ve been to most major fast food chains at least once, to the best of my recollection I’ve never been to a Jack-In-the-Box. I’ve never been to Las Vegas and I’ve never set foot in a casino. Although I’ve been to Europe, I’ve never been to one of Europe’s most popular tourist destinations – France. I think I have a tendency to be a bit contrarian, and I don’t want to go to the same places all the American tourists go. I’ve also never been to Great Britain outside of Heathrow Airport (But I have been to Northern Ireland, so I have been to the UK). ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2025, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/never-been-to-costco-what-huge-businesses-experiences-have-you-foregone/1020112/148 "2025-07-01T06:02:13Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > > [@Dinsdale](#): > > > > Depending on how long the lines are, and how much you value your time, that might eat into your savings. Also, if the Costco is not terribly convenient, getting gas there might only make sense if you went there to shop. > > Yeah, why I never went to the old one for gas. It’s not worth the membership fee for gas alone, but it is a nice addition. I saved enough on our last two computers to pay the fee for at least a few years, and there are some things I prefer there. > It helps that the new place is only a few blocks away from the place I get gas anyway, within walking distance. Not that I’d walk to Costco. Getting there is fine, but getting back with all that stuff is another matter. I agree that it wouldn’t be worth it if it wasn’t convenient. I have a Costco that’s pretty close to me so I go there. I didn’t have a membership until they built that one. ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2025, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/never-been-to-costco-what-huge-businesses-experiences-have-you-foregone/1020112/149 "2025-07-01T15:58:08Z")
I forgot to mention in my last post, I’ve never been to an NFL football game nor a Major League Baseball game. I’m just not that much of a sports fan. I have, however, been to lots of high school and college football games since I was in the marching band, and one minor league baseball game when I was a kid. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Bredin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/96bed5/32.png) [@John\_Bredin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Bredin)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2025, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/never-been-to-costco-what-huge-businesses-experiences-have-you-foregone/1020112/150 "2025-07-01T17:02:45Z")
> [@Cardigan](#): > > Never: > Used public transportation (no busses, trains, subways, or ferries) > [@elbows](#): > > Never learned to drive, owned a car, had a car payment or loan, insurance fee, licence, never pumped gas. Matter and antimatter, like the Lazarus episode of Star Trek! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2025, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/never-been-to-costco-what-huge-businesses-experiences-have-you-foregone/1020112/151 "2025-07-01T17:03:58Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > Yeah - I also have never used Uber Eats, GrubHub, etc. Can’t imagine why folk would spend such a premium for food, but apparently many folk feel differently. I have a neighbor who frequently gets her breakfast from UberEats, and since we’re a gated place, the driver hangs the bag on one of the gates. A few days ago, I saw a bag on the ground by the gate when I returned from my morning walk. It was torn open from the bottom. I thought somebody stole her food, but why tear it open from the bottom? Then, as I entered the gate I saw some blueberry muffin crumbs on the sidewalk. Squirrel! ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2025, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/never-been-to-costco-what-huge-businesses-experiences-have-you-foregone/1020112/152 "2025-07-01T17:09:42Z")
Costco, never. Sam’s Club, never. I pretty much only haunt King Soopers with an occasional trip to Safeway. Once I learn a layout of a store, I stick with it. I can get in and out in 15 minutes. There are a couple of local stores (not chains) that I will go to. Lot’s of burger chains too. Sonic, never 5 Guys, never And about 100 more. McDonalds and A&W and Wendy’s is where I go. I usually try to go to local restaurants, not chains, but when you need a quick fill up… Yeah, McD’s is the lowest of the low. But for a quick gut bomb, they fill the niche. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Bredin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/96bed5/32.png) [@John\_Bredin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Bredin)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2025, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/never-been-to-costco-what-huge-businesses-experiences-have-you-foregone/1020112/153 "2025-07-01T17:10:13Z")
I’ve never been to a high school or college inter-school sports event, not even my own high school or college when I was attending. And I’ve never been to a NFL game, but I have toured two NFL stadiums (stadia?), Soldier Field and Lambeau Field. I’ve attended a fair number of MLB games and a few NHL games. But I’ve never been to the successor to Comiskey Park (whatever they’re calling it now) despite living in metro Chicago. I _think_ I went to one White Sox game when I was a kid and Comiskey was still standing. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Bredin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/96bed5/32.png) [@John\_Bredin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Bredin)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2025, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/never-been-to-costco-what-huge-businesses-experiences-have-you-foregone/1020112/154 "2025-07-01T17:27:54Z")
Never been on a cruise. But I’d actually like to make an transatlantic _crossing_ in an ocean _liner_. Which my wife thinks is funny because it’s all sea days, so even more of a cruise than a cruise ship. But to me a cruise seems pointless while a crossing is more like taking the train from Chicago to New York: traveling from point A to point B to get to point B, but with a different experience when you have the time to spare. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2025, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/never-been-to-costco-what-huge-businesses-experiences-have-you-foregone/1020112/155 "2025-07-01T18:26:45Z")
In 1980 I took the QE2 from New York to France. It was high class back then, I don’t know if it still is. Tip: go east to west, not west to east. We lost an hour every night due to the time change. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2025, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/never-been-to-costco-what-huge-businesses-experiences-have-you-foregone/1020112/156 "2025-07-01T18:37:07Z")
> [@wguy123](#): > > Uber, Door Dash, etc… why would we want the same food delivered, but not as fresh and a lot more expensive? My partner would much rather have takeout than ‘eat in’. But it’s never occurred to either of us to have food delivered. We have so much good food within a short drive that I can hop in the car and be back with food that’s still hot. Oh, and I have a long list of “big places” I’ve never been. But I’m not smug about it; I’ll admit I do have Costco envy sometimes… ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2025, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/never-been-to-costco-what-huge-businesses-experiences-have-you-foregone/1020112/157 "2025-07-01T20:12:21Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Never read a word… of Harry Potter. > [@FairyChatMom](#): > > No Harry Potter. > [@pullin](#): > > No Harry Potter for me either. > [@sunacres](#): > > Harry Potter… kids were all over it, but I never read a word of it. > [@zimaane](#): > > I’ve never read a Harry Potter book. Do give at least the first book a try. It’s a delight. _(eta: or the audiobooks read by Jim Dale or Stephen Fry)_ At least read the first chapter. I mean, it opens with a kid who has to live under the stairs. A kid. Under the stairs. You just know things are going to change… ---
**Author:** ![sunacres](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@sunacres](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sunacres)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2025, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/never-been-to-costco-what-huge-businesses-experiences-have-you-foregone/1020112/158 "2025-07-02T00:15:46Z")
> [@digs](#): > > Do give at least the first book a try. It’s a delight. I’m sure it is, but then again, I’ll bet visiting Japan or China or Korea would be eye-opening. but for some reason after a lifetime of broadening my cultural horizons, I’m just done. There is so much close to home that I’ve missed and it’s time now to relish the many many things that I’ve already tasted but not yet savored. My kids are way into Harry Potter and more power to them, I’m just trying to focus on the stones left un-turned closer to home. Sorry! ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2025, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/never-been-to-costco-what-huge-businesses-experiences-have-you-foregone/1020112/159 "2025-07-02T19:03:11Z")
I’m sorta into Harry Potter because I read a very early review in Publisher’s Weekly, and I bought the first book. It’s a first American edition and apparently worth quite a bit of money since the first print run wasn’t huge. But my sister _really_ got into them (and the movies). ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2025, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/never-been-to-costco-what-huge-businesses-experiences-have-you-foregone/1020112/160 "2025-07-02T19:33:17Z")
I have never gambled because I hate the feeling of adrenaline. Without which I’m pretty sure there’s no point to gambling. I don’t like winning things. I always feel so sorry for whoever lost that the whole thing is painful. Also crowds and noise make me ill. Not enjoying adrenaline or winning or crowds or noise makes me a natural for not having done a whole lot of things. When I was younger I used to imagine this made me cultured and refined. Now I know all it is, is sensory fragility, a physiological quality I was born with. Although, of course, I _am_ cultured and refined. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/never-been-to-costco-what-huge-businesses-experiences-have-you-foregone/1020112.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/never-been-to-costco-what-huge-businesses-experiences-have-you-foregone/1020112.md?page=9)